Namco released the original arcade game Pac-Man in 1980.
Namco launched Pac-Man in Japan on May 22, 1980, under the title Puck Man. The game reached North American arcades later in 1980 through Bally Midway, with its name changed to Pac-Man to reduce the risk of cabinet vandalism. Its maze, pellets, ghosts, fruit, and distinctive character design helped it become one of the most recognizable arcade games ever made.
Pac-Man was designed by a Namco team led by Toru Iwatani. Iwatani said the character’s shape was inspired by a pizza with a slice removed, although the game’s broader design also drew on the Japanese concept of eating. The four ghosts have different movement behaviors, giving the maze a strategic element beyond simple reflexes.
A common mix-up is confusing Pac-Man’s Japanese launch year with Ms. Pac-Man’s release year. Ms. Pac-Man arrived in 1982 and was developed from an unauthorized modification of the original game.