PAC-MAN Turns 35 and celebrations are announced

Hard to believe that one of the most iconic video game characters in history is 35 this year! With the character coming to the big screen this summer in Sony Pictures' PIXELS (July 24), the studio has announced that it will join in to celebrate in the global birthday party. Cities around the world and online will join moviegoers, special guests and film talents to celebrate with many events planned. 

Moviegoers around the world can join in PAC-MAN's birthday fun at Facebook.com/PixelsMovie to receive updates on the movie and the launch of Pixels Defense mobile game from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. that will feature characters from the movie. The latest trailer has also been uploaded there. 

“It is hard to believe that 35 years has passed since we created PAC-MAN. It has been very exciting to see the world accept him as their own. Like any creator, I wanted to make something lasting, but this has surpassed everything I hoped for. I also feel very proud that PAC-MAN is playing an important role in Pixels – the visual effects of the giant PAC-MAN in New York will be extraordinary, and something that you’ve never seen on film before.  My birthday wish is that PAC-MAN can continue to make people happy,” said Professor Toru Iwatani, the creator of PAC-MAN at today's announcement in Culver City, California.

Some of the events include...

In Tokyo – the city of PAC-MAN’s birth – audiences will join in the fun by attempting to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Largest Human Image of PAC-MAN on May 21, 2015.  At the event at Tokyo Tower, actor Shingo Yanagisawa and popular comedian and social media sensation Naomi Watanabe will join hundreds of moviegoers to create the largest PAC-MAN ever created by human beings.

In Chicago, Professor Toru Iwatani, the creator of PAC-MAN, and BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC. will be at Level 257™, a brand new dining and entertainment facility created by NAMCO USA INC. inspired by PAC-MAN. A special 1980s-style event on Friday evening from 7pm-midnight will include gaming industry VIPs, free game play including a chance to play the fabled 255^th and 256^th levels of PAC-MAN, PAC-MAN’s official 35^th birthday cake, live performances of the 1982 hit song “PAC-MAN Fever” by the original artist, Jerry Buckner of Buckner & Garcia and a personal appearance by PAC-MAN himself!  The celebration continues the next day with celebrity discussion panels, photo opportunities, prizes and game play contests including opportunities to play against the legendary gamer Billy Mitchell, the first person to ever achieve a “perfect score” on PAC-MAN. 

In partnership with Dave & Buster’s, all 75 locations across North America will celebrate the big man’s birthday by offering a free play on the over-sized, multi-player PAC-MAN BATTLE ROYALE arcade game to all guests with a Power Card. In addition, fans nationwide will have the chance to enter to win thousands of D&B Dollars to celebrate all summer long.

In the UK, PAC-MAN will celebrate his birthday with a special thrill – he’ll be launched into space.  PAC-MAN’s journey will be captured by a special GoPro camera unit and shared on his birthday.

And in Spain, four of that country’s biggest YouTube stars will face off on the game for the ultimate bragging rights.  As they engage their followers to look on, both online and in person, there could be as many as 21 million watching the videogame competition.

Finally, from Paris at the French Open, Serena Williams, who has a cameo role in Pixels, is planning a special greeting for her co-star.