Pac-Man’s original Japanese name was Puck Man when Namco released the arcade game in 1980.
The name referred to the character’s puck-like shape and eating action. Namco designer Toru Iwatani created the game to offer an alternative to the space-shooting titles that dominated arcades. Its maze design, pellets, fruit, and four colored ghosts made the game approachable while giving experienced players strategic goals.
The title was changed to Pac-Man for international release because arcade operators feared that the letter P in Puck could be altered into an obscene word. Pac-Man became a cultural phenomenon and helped broaden video-game audiences beyond the young male players associated with many earlier arcade games.