Pac-Man is a classic arcade game that deserves to be loved. Guiding an abstract mouth around a ghost-patrolled maze in pursuit of circling dots is pure joy. While the game is great, I never thought that the greedy yellow circle would bring my family closer together, but that’s exactly what happened this summer. Since the Arcade1Up Pac-Man Deluxe Arcade Machine replaced a cat tree In the corner of my office, I was struggling to get good grades with my oldest child.
As a teenager, figuring out what you want to do and who you want to be is the hardest thing. Try to balance all of that. during the pandemic. And as a parent, you can feel it in your bones when your child is unhappy. But accepting the uncomfortable truth that there’s not much you can do about it is one of life’s hardest lessons. My advice, no matter how well-intentioned, is worthless right now. My older daughter usually answers every question about her day with a scowl and a single word, “Fine.” Play dates with Lego blocksThe bike rides in the woods and the swimming trips are gone.
Part of growing up is turning away from your parents, especially during your teen years. As a dad who always loved playing with his kids, that rejection was a bitter pill that even Pac-Man would struggle to swallow. If I wanted them to play with me now, I needed a solid sales pitch, so I was thrilled when the beeps and pops of my new arcade machine drew curious teens into my office. They watched me play, and I could see them itching to try one. So began a summer pursuit of good grades and the bragging rights that came with it.
Simply irresistible
The Arcade1Up Pac-Man Deluxe Arcade Machine comes flat packed in a few boxes. This easy-to-assemble cabinet features a 17-inch color LCD screen, illuminated signs, and authentic arcade controls. It runs 14 Namco games, including Galaxy, Galaga, Peach PeachAnd Rolling ThunderBut as the artwork proves, this is all about Pac-Manand you get Pac-Land, Pac-Man Plus, Super Pac-Man, Pac and youAnd Pac-Mania next to the original.
Pac-Man started out in Japan in 1980 under the name Puck Man. The nine-man development team, led by Toru Iwatani, wanted to create a game with global appeal. With 300,000 cabinets sold by 1987, gracing every arcade in the country, we can agree they succeeded. The name change for the North American release came amid concerns that mischievous vandals would change the first letter. The arcade was the perfect setting for Pac-Man, but it has since been ported to every system and device imaginable, racking up an estimated $15 billion in sales over its lifetime.
Photo: Simon Hill
