Mazes, monsters and multicursality. Mastering Pac-Man 1980–2016

Newman, J (2016) 'Mazes, monsters and multicursality. Mastering Pac-Man 1980–2016.' Cogent Arts & Humanities, 3 (1). p. 1190439.

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Abstract

This paper explores the creation and codification of techniques for playing, beating and breaking Namco’s Pac-Man (1980). The findings are based on original archival research that draws on a range of early video game strategy publications in addition to more recent technical investigations of the game’s code. With titles such as “How to Beat the Video Games”, these mass-produced pulpy, paperbacks were concerned with revealing successful gameplay strategies for popular arcade games of the period. Providing a close reading of “Mastering Pac-Man” guide, this article explores the book’s distinctive construction of the game comparing it with more recent investigations of Pac-Man’s code. The article analyses the influence of the arcade context in which Pac-Man was accessed and performed and considers how an (imperfect) knowledge of the game’s structure and systemic operation gave rise to a particular understanding of its ludic potential.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Pac-Man; video game; strategy guide; walkthrough; arcade; coin-op; gameplay
Divisions:	Bath School of Design
UoA:	Cultural, Communication Studies & Media
Date Deposited:	03 Jun 2016 15:45
Last Modified:	21 Dec 2023 19:16
ISSN:	2331-1983
URN:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/7817

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