Pac-Man Available NOW on Live Arcade

[bapenguin]

Fire up those 360's and gobble up some ghosts as the arcade classic Pac-Man (see how I did that with the color?) is available for download for 400 points.

‘Pac-Man’ includes:

* More than 250 exciting, addictive levels, mazes and action-packed fun
* Original music and sound effects
* High definition graphics
* Leaderboards
* Achievements


Full press release Inside (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=370443#post370443).

Dead Rising and Pac-Man in one day! W00t!

[bapenguin]

Twenty-five Years After Gobbling His First Ghost, Pac-Man Chomps on to Xbox Live Arcade August 9

‘Pac-Man’ may be celebrating 25 years, but the timeless game still plays like its 1981. This Wednesday, August 9, ‘classic’ becomes the new ‘next-gen’ with the arrival of ‘Pac-Man’ on Xbox Live Arcade. The little yellow pellet-eater from Namco/Bandai is the latest retro title to debut as part of the Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays program and is packed with tons of features exclusive to Xbox 360.

GAME FOCUS:

‘Pac-Man’ for Xbox Live Arcade will take gamers down memory maze, with original gameplay and hundreds of levels. Graphics have been upgraded to high-definition but still maintain the charm and retro-look of the original iteration.

GAME FEATURES:

‘With high-definition graphics, Xbox Live Achievements and Leaderboards, the Xbox Live Arcade version of this all-time classic game provides hours of fun.

‘Pac-Man’ includes:

* More than 250 exciting, addictive levels, mazes and action-packed fun
* Original music and sound effects
* High definition graphics
* Leaderboards
* Achievements

WHEN CAN I GET IT: Download ‘Pac-Man’ today, Wednesday, August 9, at 1am PST on Xbox Live Arcade. Pac-Man’ (Namco/Bandai): 400 Microsoft Points

For more information please visit Xbox.com

[soco]

if only namco would use their patent to take this game, and maybe some other live arcade games, make an even simpler version, and allow you to play those during load screens :) even cooler would be simple arcade games that worked like PiP for DVDs and HD DVDs :)

i'm all for pacman when i get home, but is the original music really anything to brag about? it had like 3 20 second songs, didn't it?

[Freak705]

I just downloaded the trial, and it plays well. Of course I suck at Pacman so I hardly get past the 2nd level. I'll probably buy this anyways, alongside Geometry Wars and Galaga when I go buy some points. If I bought it, I'd actually make an effort to try and be good, so I could get my money's worth :p

You can scale the size of the game on the screen, and set options in terms of how many points it takes to earn a life, to how many lives you start with. The side art fits in well, and isn't obtrusive or distracting in any way *coughfroggercough* Little things, but they add to the experience.

[MSUStud911]

Yeah, I'll probably end up getting this. The only Arcade title I haven't bought since XBLA Wednesdays started has been SFII.

[LilAbner]

Why not release Ms. Pac-Man? It is generally thought to be the better game of the two.

BTW, LOL @ high-definition graphics.

[BleedTheFreak]

Why not release Ms. Pac-Man? It is generally thought to be the better game of the two.

BTW, LOL @ high-definition graphics.

Maybe they are going in order? After all, you wouldn't release Double Dragon II then go back and release Double Dragon, right?

Say, wouldn't an HD XBL Double Dragon be awesome?

[Borys]

Does anyone know a place when I can see a 1280x728 screen of this XBLA Pac-Man? If it is indeed in high-resolution (and not stretched / scaled) then imagine how good Castlevania: SOTN will look like!

[bapenguin]

Does anyone know a place when I can see a 1280x728 screen of this XBLA Pac-Man? If it is indeed in high-resolution (and not stretched / scaled) then imagine how good Castlevania: SOTN will look like!

There's a few on the site but it's scaled down: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/viewer.aspx?productId=1509&assetTypeId=1&shotId=1

[Everlost_MI]

Ghost and zombies on the same day. What more could you ask for?

I guess vampires and mummies but this will do.

[Borys]

There's a few on the site but it's scaled down: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/viewer.aspx?productId=1509&assetTypeId=1&shotId=1

Thanks, bap.

I see, it looks the same as the old Pac-Man, like on MAME. Cool. Is this art on the sides (flyers?) on screen too?

[BleedTheFreak]

Thanks, bap.

I see, it looks the same as the old Pac-Man, like on MAME. Cool. Is this art on the sides (flyers?) on screen too?

Yeah. It's the art from the sides of the arcade machines, isn't it?

EDIT: By the way, I think that (like Galaga) they have those high res pictures there just to say "look! It's HD Pac Man!"

Like how SFII has a high res Capcom logo and splash screen, but the rest of the game looks like it belongs on a 19" screen.

[bapenguin]

Yeah. It's the art from the sides of the arcade machines, isn't it?

EDIT: By the way, I think that (like Galaga) they have those high res pictures there just to say "look! It's HD Pac Man!"

Like how SFII has a high res Capcom logo and splash screen, but the rest of the game looks like it belongs on a 19" screen.

Yeah with a lot of the old games (the direct conversions) it's basically like running an emulator and applying post processing filters/scaling on the images. Some games though (Joust/Robotron) actually have new graphics that are hi-def.

[BleedTheFreak]

Yeah with a lot of the old games (the direct conversions) it's basically like running an emulator and applying post processing filters/scaling on the images. Some games though (Joust/Robotron) actually have new graphics that are hi-def.

Actually, Joust having new graphics always makes me think the rest of them will have re-drawn HD graphics. With Pac-Man I don't really mind though, I'm actually very pleased with this arcade title. And Cloning Clyde. That's just awesome.

I avoided SFII after I tried the trial. That is one game that I was VERY disapointed in the lack-luster graphics. I loved it when I was in high school. 10 years ago. But I guess I expect more now in a game like that, even a retro game. Plus, the games retarded hard, and I used to be really good at it! Maybe I'm old and my reflexes are busted. ;)

[Midda]

Pac-Man is the one game I've never been able to get very good at. I think the highest I've ever gotten to is like, the third level or something :( I'm so noob.

[BrainDrain]

250 levels? Isn't the level basically the same each time, just different ghost patterns? (been ages since I played pac man)

[soco]

the real question is if it still has the split-screen glitch in level 256, and if anyone can get passed it :D

[Mortis]

I hate Pac-Man, getting the Runeman achievement in Prey was enough for me.

Edit: It seems the achievements are pretty easy to get so I may have to give in and buy it. :o

[BleedTheFreak]

the real question is if it still has the split-screen glitch in level 256, and if anyone can get passed it :D

Since there are only 250 levels, I think they took care of that. ;)

[Kelegacy]

Are people really that excited about Pac-Man? I mean, c'mon...it's Pac-Man.

[agentgray]

Are people really that excited about Pac-Man? I mean, c'mon...it's Pac-Man.
Where's Thompson now? This game promotes drugs. Drugs, I tell ya!

[UnderHero5]

Are people really that excited about Pac-Man? I mean, c'mon...it's Pac-Man.
I agree. Seems like these Live Arcade fans will get excited over anything.
How many times are we going to get excited over yet another release of Pac-Man?
It's Pac-Man.

[BleedTheFreak]

I agree. Seems like these Live Arcade fans will get excited over anything.
How many times are we going to get excited over yet another release of Pac-Man?
It's Pac-Man.

I was pretty jazzed about it. I can't otherwise play pac-man. I dont have it on a cell phone, nor do I feel like plugging my old SNES back in. I certainly don't have it with Achievements or in HD with access to a leaderboard. And it's $5. It's a no brainer to me.

[EGO]

$5 would be a no-brainer for Ms. Pac-Man, but for Pac-Man, I'll pass. I don't care if they're trying to milk the public by releasing them in order. I'll wait then.

[Mysterio]

It's too bad the controller's analog stick doesn't control Pac-Man nearly as well as the stick on the arcade machine. It doesn't "roll" well around corners. :(

[funtownarcade]

I was pretty jazzed about it. I can't otherwise play pac-man. I dont have it on a cell phone, nor do I feel like plugging my old SNES back in. I certainly don't have it with Achievements or in HD with access to a leaderboard. And it's $5. It's a no brainer to me.
Type Pac Man in any search engine there are a thousand free online versions.

Also Ms Pac Man was more popular, so it would have made sense if they released it, the double dragon analagy makes no sense, since double dragon 1 was the more popular one. You dont see anyone complaining about not having Street Fighter 1 before 2 was released.

[Intruder]

How many times are we going to get excited over yet another release of Pac-Man?
It's Pac-Man.


Thats kinda what I was thinking, and I love XBox Live. Ok Cloning Clyde cool, new Frogger with new graphics cool, Street Fighter with online multiplayer cool. But Pac-man??? I can just download 20 different version on my PC from free sites of PacMan. I am more interested in the classic titles that we hardly see anymore and the new original titles, rather than the rehashed titles that have had a gazzillion different releases over the years.

[BleedTheFreak]

Type Pac Man in any search engine there are a thousand free online versions.

Also Ms Pac Man was more popular, so it would have made sense if they released it, the double dragon analagy makes no sense, since double dragon 1 was the more popular one. You dont see anyone complaining about not having Street Fighter 1 before 2 was released.

Well, I wasn't aware DD I was more popular, so bear that in mind.

I also wasn't aware Ms Pac Man was more popular, you've clearly done much more research on this than me, so my apologies.

I know what I like. I like Pac Man, and the only way I can play it (and I'm sorry, but I'm NOT playing it on a PC with a fucking *keyboard*) is either hook up an old system, or download it and enjoy the achievement unlocking as well as a good, solid title.

If it's not your cup of tea, that's cool.

[BJohn]

Also Ms Pac Man was more popular, so it would have made sense if they released it...

Could you define "more popular"? I am well aware Ms. Pac-Man is commonly looked back upon as a "better" game, but I was also under the impression it was commercially less successful than the original. Not only were thousands of Pac-Man machines cannibalized to make Ms. Pac-Man, but the arcade craze had started to plateau by the time of release.

At any rate I am a little upset they used that modernized Pac-Man art. It looks nothing like the original cabinet.

[Acidpoptart]

Can someone explain the differences between PacMan and Ms PacMan? Does she flirt with the ghosts to save her self, or something?

[BleedTheFreak]

Can someone explain the differences between PacMan and Ms PacMan? Does she flirt with the ghosts to save her self, or something?

I'm not totally sure. Ms. Pac Man's fruit bounces around the level, she has a bow in her head, and she might be more responsive than Pac Man, but that last part may be my imagination and not being used to using the 360 controller for Pac Man movements?

[Orosco]

If they released Pong on XBLA, someone here would claim its a great deal for $5.

[BJohn]

In addition to the fruit moving around the level, the mazes change. If I remember correctly there are four different mazes and they are significantly more difficult than the standard Pac-Man maze... some killer cul-de-sacs and multiple warp tunnels.

[Freak705]

If they released Pong on XBLA, someone here would claim its a great deal for $5.I'd buy it. Seriously. Just having the convenience of it sitting on my 360 HDD would be worth it, instead of me scouring the internet trying to find a flash version that plays well. And at $5, well... it's $5. Not much at all!

[BleedTheFreak]

I'd buy it. Seriously. Just having the convenience of it sitting on my 360 HDD would be worth it, instead of me scouring the internet trying to find a flash version that plays well. And at $5, well... it's $5. Not much at all!

I don't know if I'd buy pong, but I'd certainly be up for Ricochet! That was a lot of fun. I think it was made by the guys that ended up doing Lionheart. And Red Alert?

[Zanzibar]

Say, wouldn't an HD XBL Double Dragon be awesome?
Yes. Yes it would. Hair grab, repeated knee to the face, lift and flip. Most viscerally satisfying hand-to-hand combat mechanic ever.

I remember my friend and I playing all the way to the end - neither one of us had played to the end before, and were shocked to realize that we needed to fight each other for the girl. I won ;)

[Orosco]

I dunno, Pac Man just reeks of lazyness. No multiplayer at all? Think about it, 2 pac mans on the same maze, each trying to get more pellets than the other player. It would have been awesome, luring the ghosts on to the other player, but nope, just a lame-ass, no frills re-re-re-release of Pac Man. Very disappointing.

[funtownarcade]

I don't know the exact numbers but I see Ms Pac Man machines all over but have never seen an original Pac Man one, believe it or not regular Pac Man, this version, is the same level over and over again! Ms was the one where the level actually changed, it was faster, and had cut-scenes, I think that is the one most people have played. If you buy it and enjoy it that’s cool, what I'm upset about is really the lack of Xbox Live Arcade titles, this is a new method to deliver games that could really put the power of getting into peoples hands to lots of small developers that otherwise would be unable to make games, and those are the type of places I think real innovation can happen, not big corporations making the next WW2 FPS sequel. Instead we see sprinkled releases of ports like this of games already widely available on classic collections for cheap, and a lot of times those collections actually include extras such as history of the games, insight into the development with interviews, etc., at least the midway greatest hits one that I have did.

[92miata]

please help. i bought a xbox arcade disc which included ms pac man for like 5 bucks. is there any way to transfer this to the 360?????

please help, i paid for it. thanks so much!!!!

[rival81]

Umm...you mean for the original Xbox?? I don't think they sell discs for the 360 do they?

[Freak705]

There hasn't been an Arcade disc from Microsoft yet on the 360, but there is one coming, though it'll only have pre-XBLA Wednesdays content. You're out of luck on transfering it, 92miata.

[dena miscreant]

Ms. Pac-Man is coming to the arcade, though.

[92miata]

yeah. it is lame microsoft won't let the people who purchased the ms. pac man arcade disc for the original xbox transfer the game to the 360. am i wrong for not wanting to spend 400 points or microsoft for not giving me 400 points.....:)

thanks for the bad news