'Father of Pac-Man' Masaya Nakamura dies

The founder of video game company Bandai Namco, which released cult game Pac-Man, has died at the age of 91, the firm has announced.

Masaya Nakamura established Nakamura Manufacturing, which went on to become the Nakamura Amusement Machine Manufacturing Company (Namco) in 1956.

...

He was known as the "father" of Pac-Man because it was a Namco release in 1980.

The game was developed by Toru Iwatani and in 2016 was named the highest-grossing arcade game of all time by the website US Gamer.

BBCNews.com, 01/30/17 - 'Father of Pac-Man' Masaya Nakamura dies.

More nostalgia from my childhood disappears like tears in rain... ah, plunked down many a quarter on that ghost gobbling dude! And on the dudette version too! Kept me (mostly) out of trouble. Instead being a gamer, I learned how to program pixels to move around the screen and get "shot" which, at that very moment, cured me of having to play any video games.

Thank you Masaya Nakamura and Bandi Namco for the distraction!

RIP sir, you gave many a kid innocence joy. Many an adult fond memories!

RIP buddy.

You gave us cherries to eat when we were scared

You gave us the ability to eat our troubles away

A never ending maze to crawl through

Connecting the dots and turning corners

May you rest in peace and may no fruit leave you vulnerable to being eaten.

The cheesy Buckner & Garcia one-hit wonder, Pac Man Fever...

The golden era loses another

Thanks for the memories, Masaya Nakamura

That's sad, all the great game makers are leaving us.

Wasn't he in a movie last year, the name of it fails me.

RIP.

a reply to: LuXTeN

I haven't seen that (movie) mentioned in any of the news released.

Good write up at polygon.com - Namco's Founder and 'Father of Pac Man' dies at 91.

ETA - Are you thinking of the programmer, Toru Iwatani? I think he was in that movie Pixels and Pac Man bites his hand (only saw the preview... so no help there).

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

Thanks for that link and

Yes it was Pixels thank you!

I'm happy that he lived a long and prosperous life. He died happy.

RIP Nakamura San

Reat in peace Mr. Nakamura.

To be fair Pac Man was created by Toru Iwantani. Nakamura owned the company, but I wouldn't call him the "Father" of Pac Man.

I was 17 when I first encountered that game, wow I feel so incredibly old now.

RIP

“If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.”

Marcus Brigstocke



Personally I hated the game (OK, being honest, I was terrible at it, maybe that's why) but loved the music.

originally posted by: LightSpeedDriver

“If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.”

Marcus Brigstocke

And any other of the Namco games! Like galaga... just hanging out in space, shooting everything that comes your way, while listening to repetitive electronic music... lol

Even the "Game Over" sound is classic! As is the term itself.

What would life had been without Pacman?

What blows me away is how good some people were at it.

originally posted by: nOraKat
What would life had been without Pacman?

What blows me away is how good some people were at it.

No kidding! And like the very first time they played it! Usually, it is shoulder twisting, slamming the joy stick while half shouting obscenities while getting dirty looks from the attendants--at least my experiences seemed be more that than cruising through levels.

Now it is like little kids with Angry Birds! *thinking to self: How the heck did you know how to do THAT!??*