#32: The Origins of Pac-Man
Pac-Man is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. Even if you don’t play video games, you know what Pac-Man looks like. The signature yellow blob, engaging maze, and spooky, colorful ghosts have all become immediately recognizable across cultures. Believe it or not, the original sketches for the game look almost exactly like the final product we all know.
These photos show the original drawings by Pac-Man’s creator, Toru Iwatani. Pac-Man was released in 1980 and is based on these simple but brilliant beta drawings. Iwatani developed Pac-Man for the company Namco. He wanted to make a game that appealed to everyone, not just teenage boys and men. We think he did a pretty good job.