Pac-Man History - I need a little help

Scott C

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In reviewing various Web sites for Pac-Man related history (I am working on a presentation), Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man) has the following to say:

"Following Ms. Pac-Man, Bally Midway released several other unauthorized spin-offs, such as Pac-Man Plus, Jr. Pac-Man, Baby Pac-Man and Professor Pac-Man, resulting in Namco severing business relations with Midway.[10][75]"

I understand and recall the story behind Ms. Pac-Man and Namco suing Midway for that, but I also understand the above games were done with Namco's permission. Further, that Namco offered Pac-Mania to Midway in 1987 whom turned it down, so they offered it to Atari.

Can anyone offer any offer sides or evidence about what really happened? Thanks.

Scott C.
 
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Namco owned a large part of Atari by the mid-80s time frame (hence Pac-Mania, Dragon Spirit, Final Lap, Galaga '88), so I'd imagine Midway was never even considered, especially if there was bad blood from years before.

Likewise, Namco released Atari games in Japan (Temple of Doom, Gauntlet, Super Sprint, etc. etc.). I have a Namco Gauntlet CP and bezel here.
 
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Those games (Pac-Man Plus, Jr. Pac-Man, Professor Pac-Man, and Baby Pac-Man) were not lisenced by Namco. In 1984, Namco gave Midway one more game before they lost partnership, Pac-Land.
Wikipedia is not always accurate, anyone can write an article.
 
I would search and see if anyone (maybe atariscott) shot video of the CAX presentation by the guy(s) who made crazy otto/ ms pac man. I caught a small part of the end of it as well as the following presenter which was the guy who made the google pac man. Not sure what info you need/want but even the small part I caught from the ms pac creator was interesting. Interesting how ms pac was not released in Japan until many years later on consoles. Also interesting how the guys who created ms pac sued over baby pac or jr pac due to the fact that they created the idea of a baby pac man in the cut scene during ms pac. Also interesting how they lost in court over profits for more recent re releases of the game due to the wording of their original contract which specified their rights to coin operated releases of the game.
 
Never use Wikipedia to do your homework.

CITATION NEEDED
Yes, I generally agree with that. However, I was hoping most of the collecting community (those in the know) were the contributors, not some hairy monkey. :)

I recall seeing a couple of other Pac-Man History sites over the years (really good, detailed sites), but am unable to find them now. :(

Scott C.
 
Namco licenced Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man and Pac-Land to Midway. All other Pac games were created by GCC or Midway in the early 80's. The only Pac game that Namco made that didnt come to the US was Pac'n Pal. I do remember seeing one Pac'n Pal cocktail back in the day and thinking it was some bootleg. Hehe.
 
Namco licenced Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man and Pac-Land to Midway. All other Pac games were created by GCC or Midway in the early 80's. The only Pac game that Namco made that didnt come to the US was Pac'n Pal. I do remember seeing one Pac'n Pal cocktail back in the day and thinking it was some bootleg. Hehe.

Was Pac 'n' Pal released in Japan?
I've never seen a cab.
 
Found this pic of the cocktail on the inernets...


That was at the Namco Pac-Man 30th anniversary event in Japan, right?

Interesting, My Libble Rabble prototype is in that same cabinet.

Here's the POP:
 

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I bought a board on ebay years ago. Its a conversion for Super Pac cocktail.

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Namco licenced Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man and Pac-Land to Midway. All other Pac games were created by GCC or Midway in the early 80's. The only Pac game that Namco made that didnt come to the US was Pac'n Pal. I do remember seeing one Pac'n Pal cocktail back in the day and thinking it was some bootleg. Hehe.

To add to this, from the GCC founder's speech, Namco got paid from game one for the use of the Pac characters and was never in the dark on these games.
 
Great info, everyone. I learned a lot about Pac-N-Pal.

BTW, my presentation rocked the house! :)

Scott C.
 
shertz said:
Namco licenced Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man and Pac-Land to Midway. All other Pac games were created by GCC or Midway in the early 80's. The only Pac game that Namco made that didnt come to the US was Pac'n Pal. I do remember seeing one Pac'n Pal cocktail back in the day and thinking it was some bootleg. Hehe.
To add to this, from the GCC founder's speech, Namco got paid from game one for the use of the Pac characters and was never in the dark on these games.

Check out Benj Edwards' article with some of the GCC folks:

https://www.fastcompany.com/3067296...ed-ms-pac-man-a-35th-anniversary-oral-history

Both Namco and Midway were well-aware of Ms. Pac-Man during its development and even contributed suggestions (ex: Midway convinced GCC to go from Crazy Otto to a 'true' Pac-Man sequel. Namco suggested changing GCC's early design for the Ms. Pac character which had long hair.) Like Ms. Pac-Man, GCC built Jr. Pac-Man on the original Pac-Man code, thus Namco should have received a portion of every Jr. Pac-Man sale (kit or dedicated). GCC also programmed the Atari home versions of Ms. Pac-Man and Jr. Pac-Man, which Atari licensed from Namco-America.

I think the games that got Bally/Midway in trouble with Namco were Baby Pac-Man and Pac-Man Plus. Not sure if Namco got any % from sales of the Plus kit (which like Ms. Pac-Man used the original Pac-Man code) or Baby Pac-Man (which didn't use any original Pac-Man code but did feature the Pac-Man monster characters).
 
Those games (Pac-Man Plus, Jr. Pac-Man, Professor Pac-Man, and Baby Pac-Man) were not lisenced by Namco. In 1984, Namco gave Midway one more game before they lost partnership, Pac-Land.
Wikipedia is not always accurate, anyone can write an article.

Believe anything Jr. Pac says on this topic. I doubt there is anyone out there that knows more about it.
 
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