PacMan

[Johnny Nighttrain]

May 09, 2003 - Well, here it is -- that "baffling game" that you've heard IGNcube rumoring about. Nintendo insiders have confirmed that the company is working with Namco to bring an all-new Pac-Man title to GameCube. And guess what? A running demo of the odd creation will be shown at the Electronics Entertainment Expo 2003. Keep reading.
So what is it? It's a bit hard to explain. Insiders allege that, unbeknownst to Namco, designer Shigeru Miyamoto and a team at EAD began work on a Pac-Man demo for Game Boy Advance. After 30 days or so on the project, the team had created a full remake of the title, at which point it was shown to amazed employees at Namco. Afterward, it was decided that making a GameCube version, which could be linked to the GBA build could heighten the experience further. So one was created.

What's the big idea? Once the GBA title is linked with the GCN version, all sorts of unique things start to happen, say sources. First, the experience has been designed with four players in mind: one player -- with the GBA, controls Pac-Man, while three GameCube players control three separate ghosts. The person playing with the GBA can see the action on the handheld's screen in classic Pac-Man form. However, the GameCube players can't. Instead, the action on the television screen is split into three play circles -- each showing an isometric 3D view of the Pac arena; no GameCube player can see the full maze. Because GCN gamers can't see the whole maze, the search for Pac-Man is made all the more difficult and entertaining.

The title is so far still being described by sources as little more than a "full-blown demo." Pac-Man for GameCube is said to have simple, cute graphics.

IGNcube will have more on the game from E3 2003. Stay tuned.

this sounds very very interesting, and i have high hopes for it. im sure i won't be disapointed by it.

anyways, Miyamoto must have fuckin flipped when he found out that he could have a shot at working on a PacMan game. im happy for the guy, since im pretty sure he's very excited about the project.

[Sqoon]

Also posted this in the Headlines, and maybe I didn't reveal what I was feeling, but I think this sounds really incredible. I hope they don't forget to make some good mazes for single player though.

[Johnny Nighttrain]

im sure they won't forget. Nintendo's deal has always been one player experience comes first (with obvious exceptions).

i'd actually like to know how Miyamoto feels about this project right now. PacMan is his biggest source of inspiration, so im sure he's really giving it his all.

well, that is if he's actually involved in the game (which i think he'd want to be).

[PKBMax]

This sounds great.

Namco's Pac Man remakes to date have been largely uninspired. Sometimes it takes someone without an emotional tie to the franchise, to create a truly unique take on a classsic.

I can't wait to see more about this from E3.

[Opaque]

that's pretty fucking cool, but how neat would that shit be to play alone? exactly...

[Johnny Nighttrain]

Originally posted by PBMaX
Sometimes it takes someone without an emotional tie to the franchise, to create a truly unique take on a classsic.

that could be true, but that isn't the case here. people at Nintendo (some more so then others) feel very passionate about PacMan. like i said, it's Miyamoto's biggest source of inspiration.

[PKBMax]

Originally posted by Lucas Barton
that could be true, but that isn't the case here. people at Nintendo (some more so then others) feel very passionate about PacMan. like i said, it's Miyamoto's biggest source of inspiration.

You're not getting what I'm saying.

Sure the people at Nintendo are passionate about Pac Man. It's one of the best games ever created. I mean, I'm passionate about Pac Man. Any self-respecting gamer should be passionate about Pac Man. Pac Man should be an inspiration to anyone who loves games.

My point is that Namco would have never had the balls to take a chance with their icon. They would never dare to move in a different direction, as they are too close to the franchise. This usually results in stagnation, as is the case with the lackluster Pac Man platform games.

In this case someone from the oustide, who did not feel the internal pressure to conform to a pre-determined standard, took a chance.

Looks like it paid off.

[Johnny Undaunted]

Sounds pretty cool on paper alone. The Pac-Man World games shouldn't be considered Pac-Man games in my opinion (neither shoud all the lame spinoffs such as Pac-Man 2 and Pac-in-Time).

[Johnny Nighttrain]

PBMax: i misunderstood, but i do agree.

[Opaque]

I get what PBMaX is saying... it's not that they dont care about it, it's just that they aren't afraid to change it...