• Interpreting Pac-Man

  

  Written by Zeromage 4 Comments
  Last Updated:: July 5, 2008

  I came across a great article about different interpretations of Pac-Man which references Old-Wizard’s Top 10 Arcade Games List.

  Here’s a quote:

  “Old Wizard’s Interpretation about Unity for a Common Goal or Some Shit

  Drawn from Old Wizard’s recent countdown of the top arcade games, this one is the least cogent interpretation I’ve seen, though it is compelling because it places emphasis solely on the ghosts and it draws most literally from the game’s “text.” I quote it in its entirety:

  While there is no background story or disernable plot, woven into the game is a complicated philosophy. The four villanious cast members: Inky, Pinky, Blinky and Clyde share a commonality: They are united kinsmen who have placed a jihad on Pac-man. Aside from the ghost’s differences in naming, they maintain a unified front once they emerge from their crypt to chase Pac-man. Together they stand. Clyde, with his uncharacteristic name is held in the same esteem by the other ghosts. Pinky, questionably a female, is given the same voting rights as the rest. Together they stand, divided they fall. The lesson learned is that you should be accepting of differences when you are united with a common goal, even if you’re named Clyde, who made me wet the bed at night as a child. Pac-man: The most basic arcade game out there, revered by the adults that suckled on its tender joystick in their youth, yet all the while teaching us a lesson that can change the world, if we all just learned to accept Clyde.

  This is a playful interpretation. It’s not meant to be taken seriously, but it is remarkable for its faithfulness.”

  Check out the full article here.

4 Comments

1. #1 Tristan says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

   Thanks for the reference! I wrote that Pac-Man post. Here’s an article suggestion for you guys: Best Pieces of Gaming Literature.
2. #2 the REAL zeromage says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

   Not this piece of crap thats for sure!
3. #3 Tristan says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 4:11 am

   What piece of crap? This site or my article?
4. #4 the REAL zeromage says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 1:38 am

   Your article is great this website sucks!