Q 01/05

In which year was Pac-Man first released in Japan?

A) 1984

B) 1982

C) 1978

D) 1980

Answer · why

D) 1980

Pac-Man debuted in 1980: it was location-tested in a Shibuya, Tokyo arcade on May 22, 1980, and reached North American arcades later that same year.

Q 02/05

Under what title was Pac-Man originally released in Japan?

A) Kuchi Man

B) Puck Man

C) Muncher

D) Paku Paku

Answer · why

B) Puck Man

The Japanese title was Puck Man, from paku paku taberu, an onomatopoeic phrase for gobbling food; the name became Pac-Man for the North American relea...

Q 03/05

Why was the game's title changed for its North American release?

A) Puck was already trademarked by a hockey brand

B) Americans could not pronounce it

C) Vandals could turn the P on the cabinet into an F

D) Midway wanted a shorter name for marquees

Answer · why

C) Vandals could turn the P on the cabinet into an F

Midway also had the cabinet art redrawn before showing the game to US distributors.

Q 04/05

Who designed Pac-Man, leading a nine-man team at Namco?

A) Toru Iwatani

B) Tomohiro Nishikado

C) Masaya Nakamura

D) Shigeru Miyamoto

Answer · why

A) Toru Iwatani

Toru Iwatani designed Pac-Man; he had joined Namco hoping to build pinball machines and instead created the company's first video game, Gee Bee, in 19...

Q 05/05

Which audience did the designer specifically set out to attract with a cute, non-violent game?

A) Pinball players

B) Children under ten

C) Business travellers

D) Women

Answer · why

D) Women

The designer aimed Pac-Man at women, seeing arcades as seedy places full of war and sports games, and hoped couples would make them more welcoming.