Some men are born to spark a revolution. Some men are born to leave a legacy. Even those you haven’t heard of. Just like the great Masaya Nakamura. Why is he great? Because he is responsible for creating the greatest arcade video game ever!
Whether you were born in the 80s, 90s, 00s or like 10 years ago, you have played Pac-Man. Be it on a computer, a hand held video game console or at the arcade. YOU HAVE PLAYED PAC-MAN! (If you haven’t, well, what have you been doing with your life?)
All we ever cared about was munching on those little dots in the maze. And sometimes those larger ones that helped us enter ‘God mode’ for a bit and give our 4 enemies – Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde – a run for their money. Yes, that’s what they’re called. No matter how old you are, the game is as gripping as it gets.
So who do we thank for creating something as simple and genius as Pac-Man? None other than Mayasa Nakamura. Pac-Man wasn’t just a game. It was an icon of pop culture. Nakamura had created something that will live on forever.
Pac-Man has entertained millions for decades and it continues to do so. When it was launched, it had very few rivals like Space Invaders. But true to its character, it ate every competition alive. It went on to be declared the most successful coin-operated video game ever, in 2008, by the Guinness Book of World Records, having been played over 10 billion times.
And the count continues.
Nakamura started a small company called Namco in 1955. Initially, it was only two mechanical horses on a rooftop of a department store. With the help of game designer, Toru Iwatani, Pac-Man came to life in 1980. And there was no looking back.
Pac-Man’s design was inspired by a pizza with a missing slice and the name ‘Pac’ was derived from the sound it made while devouring its prey.
It goes without saying that Nakamura is a legend. He gave us countless hours of fun. And for that, we owe him. He’s not our typical hero, but he gave us a hero. A yellow coloured one. And that hero gave us countless memories over the years. He completed our childhood.
On 22nd January, aged 91, Masaya Nakamura breathed his last. But he left a legacy ‘pac’ed with fun. He created many other games as well. But he will forever be remembered for Pac-Man.
May he rest in peace.
