Pac-Man Fever


Book Description

If you're a child of the early 1980s it is likely that you were consumed by the ubiquitous Pac-Man video games that seemed to be everywhere at the time. The game not only spawned a worldwide craze but a million-selling gold record for the Buckner & Garcia duocalled "Pac-Man Fever".In so many ways, "Pac-Man Fever" became the soundtrack for an era and the unofficial theme song of one of the most popular video games in history. This book captures the story of that song and history that led it to be the unlikely smash hitof 1982.This eBook is specifically designed for fans of the song, the Pac-Man game, and the 1980s. The stories in the book were derived primarily from interviews and conversations with Jerry Buckner. Not only will you read about the history of the music but we've included exclusive and extended Pac-Man Fever downloadable tracks of the song (including a karaoke version) as well as sheet music. Also included are never before seen behind the scenes photos and links to videos and other exclusive multimedia content. Get the story behind the unlikely '80's hit that defined a worldwide craze in an exclusive digital music e-book commemorating the 40-anniversary of the Pac Man video game.This is a digital music ebook which means you get...* DOWNLOADS! Exclusive Pac-Man Fever music from the original album including Pac-Man Fever, Froggy's Lament, Ode to a Centipede, Do the Donkey Kong, Hyperspace, The Defender, Mousetrap, Goin' Berzerk, Country version of Pac-Man Fever... it's never sounded so good!* KARAOKE! You also get the karaoke version plus lyrics so you're ready to perform!* SHEET MUSIC! Get your band together to play Pac-Man Fever!* BEHIND THE SCENES! Get exclusive video content behind the scenes and how the song became the anthem for one of the most popular video games in history * SUPER-FAN! Get the inside story of how Pac-Man Fever became a worldwide hit a 80's pop-culture fixture If you want to enjoy and re-live music from the 1980's, have fun singing Pac-Man Fever karaoke, and/or play Pac-Man Fever with your band...




Atari Age


Book Description

The cultural contradictions of early video games: a medium for family fun (but mainly for middle-class boys), an improvement over pinball and television (but possibly harmful) Beginning with the release of the Magnavox Odyssey and Pong in 1972, video games, whether played in arcades and taverns or in family rec rooms, became part of popular culture, like television. In fact, video games were sometimes seen as an improvement on television because they spurred participation rather than passivity. These “space-age pinball machines” gave coin-operated games a high-tech and more respectable profile. In Atari Age, Michael Newman charts the emergence of video games in America from ball-and-paddle games to hits like Space Invaders and Pac-Man, describing their relationship to other amusements and technologies and showing how they came to be identified with the middle class, youth, and masculinity. Newman shows that the “new media” of video games were understood in varied, even contradictory ways. They were family fun (but mainly for boys), better than television (but possibly harmful), and educational (but a waste of computer time). Drawing on a range of sources—including the games and their packaging; coverage in the popular, trade, and fan press; social science research of the time; advertising and store catalogs; and representations in movies and television—Newman describes the series of cultural contradictions through which the identity of the emerging medium worked itself out. Would video games embody middle-class respectability or suffer from the arcade's unsavory reputation? Would they foster family togetherness or allow boys to escape from domesticity? Would they make the new home computer a tool for education or just a glorified toy? Then, as now, many worried about the impact of video games on players, while others celebrated video games for familiarizing kids with technology essential for the information age.




Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon


Book Description

This is a gorgeous, hardcover retrospective, the first-ever history of PAC-MAN. Full of historical imagery, concept designs, marketing photos and more, the book examines the game’s design philosophy and origins through the artists, designers, developers, and other creative teams who brought PAC-MAN to life. This new non-fiction book will journey from creator Toru Iwatani's "pizza slice" inspiration to the game’s incredible success in arcades and beyond. The book also dives into PAC-MAN’s unprecedented impact on pop culture, with more than 40 new interviews from key players around the world.




Pac-Man*r Collectibles


Book Description

From its introduction in 1980, Pac-Man has been the favorite of millions of video gamesters. In the wake of its popularity has come a stream of Pac-Man products that were gobbled up by its fans. Here are many of the products shown in 415 color photographs with complete descriptions and prices, and covering everything from the games themselves to plush Pac-Man figures, from magazines and puzzles to videos and animation cels.




Arcade Fever The Fan's Guide To The Golden Age Of Video Games


Book Description

Arcade Fever is a full-color illustrated history of video arcade games, with tributes to more than 50 classic games like Pong, Space Invaders, Pac Man, Q-Bert, Frogger, and TRON. Learn which game caused a yen shortage in Japan -- and which games inspired breakfast cereals, Saturday-morning cartoons, episodes of Seinfeld,and #1 pop-music singles. Meet the visionary musicians, writers, animators, cabinet artists, and other unsung heroes of the video game industry. The perfect gift for anyone who spent their childhood in video arcades, Arcade Fever is a pop-culture nostalgia trip you won't want to miss! John Sellers writes for Entertainment Weekly, Premiere, TV Guide, and other national magazines. He is also the author of Pop Culture Aptitude Test: Rad, 80s Version. He was the World Champion of Donkey Kong in 1983 and appeared on the television show "That's Incredible!"




How to Win at Pac-Man


Book Description




Mastering Pac-Man


Book Description

Since his creation in 1980, PAC-MAN(TM) has taken the world by storm. This little yellow fellow launched a new genre of video games that appealed to boys, girls, men, and women. Over thirty years later, PAC-MAN is easily found in arcades, restaurants, bars, casinos, living rooms, and mobile devices everywhere! Whether you're playing on a vintage machine or a modern gaming system, Mastering PAC-MAN is the key to boosting your scores and conquering the game. In this fully illustrated and comprehensive guide, master gamer Ken Uston reveals his secrets to this timeless game. Learn the strategies behind the game's main patterns and secrets to becoming a true Pac-Master: Basic patterns for battling monsters Strategies for slow & fast games Playing PUC-ONE(TM) Improvising your own patterns Hustling Portable PAC-MAN Head-To-Head(TM) PAC-MAN Eat-And-Run(TM) Mazeman(TM) From its initial publication, Mastering PAC-MAN set the standard for videogame guides. Now, back by popular demand, this detailed manual is available for a new generation and remains an essential addition to the library of every serious gamer and game collector. Readers interested in related titles from Ken Uston will also want to see: Ken Uston on Blackjack (ISBN: 9781626548961), Million Dollar Blackjack (ISBN: 9781626548954), Ken Uston on Blackjack (ISBN: 9781626548961), Million Dollar Blackjack (ISBN: 9781626548954).




Fangasm


Book Description

Once upon a time not long ago, two responsible college professors, Lynn the psychologist and Kathy the literary scholar, fell in love with the television show Supernatural and turned their oh-so-practical lives upside down. Plunging headlong into the hidden realms of fandom, they scoured the Internet for pictures of stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki and secretly penned racy fan fiction. And then they hit the road—crisscrossing the country, racking up frequent flyer miles with alarming ease, standing in convention lines at 4 A.M. They had white-knuckled encounters with overly zealous security guards one year and smiling invitations to the Supernatural set the next. Actors stripping in their trailers, fangirls sneaking onto film sets; drunken confessions, squeals of joy, tears of despair; wallets emptied and responsibilities left behind; intrigue and ecstasy and crushing disappointment—it’s all here. And yet even as they reveled in their fandom, the authors were asking themselves whether it’s okay to be a fan, especially for grown women with careers and kids. “Crazystalkerchicks”—that’s what they heard from Supernatural crew members, security guards, airport immigration officials, even sometimes their fellow fans. But what Kathy and Lynn found was that most fans were very much like themselves: smart, capable women looking for something of their own that engages their brains and their libidos. Fangasm pulls back the curtain on the secret worlds of fans and famous alike, revealing Supernatural behind the scenes and discovering just how much the cast and crew know about what the fans are up to. Anyone who’s been tempted to throw off the constraints of respectability and indulge a secret passion—or hit the road with a best friend—will want to come along.




No More Poems!


Book Description

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rhett Miller teams up with Caldecott Medalist and bestselling artist Dan Santat in a riotous collection of irreverent poems for modern families. In the tradition of Shel Silverstein, these poems bring a fresh new twist to the classic dilemmas of childhood as well as a perceptive eye to the foibles of modern family life. Full of clever wordplay and bright visual gags--and toilet humor to spare--these twenty-three rhyming poems make for an ideal read-aloud experience. Taking on the subjects of a bullying baseball coach and annoying little brothers with equally sly humor, renowned lyricist Rhett Miller's clever verses will have the whole family cackling.




Pac-Man History


Book Description

""Pac-Man History"" explores the remarkable journey of one of gaming's most iconic characters, tracing its evolution from a simple maze-chasing game to a global cultural phenomenon. This engaging book delves into the creation, impact, and enduring legacy of Pac-Man, offering readers a comprehensive look at how this yellow, pellet-munching hero revolutionized the video game industry and popular culture. The book chronicles Pac-Man's development by Toru Iwatani at Namco, its meteoric rise to fame, and its lasting influence on gaming and beyond. It argues that Pac-Man represented a pivotal shift in game design, appealing to a broader audience and paving the way for more inclusive gaming experiences. By examining the technological limitations of the early 1980s and the prevailing game design philosophies, readers gain insight into the context that made Pac-Man's success so groundbreaking. Through a blend of technical details, cultural analysis, and personal anecdotes, ""Pac-Man History"" offers a unique perspective on how a single game can have far-reaching effects. The book's accessible style and interdisciplinary approach make it valuable for game enthusiasts, industry professionals, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and culture.