Tech Shout!

Microsoft together with Namco Bandai Games have unveiled everybody’s favorite arcade game Pac-Man, for the Xbox 360 game console. But, it’s not the same as the one that hit arcades way back during the pop-culture days of the ‘80s. The newly release version is called “Pac-Man Championship Edition”, and features the first new Pac-Man mazes in over 26 years!

The reinvented Pac-Man game for the Xbox 360 was unveiled in New York at the first-ever Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship, presented by Quiznos.

And, as a special surprise from the original creator of Pac-Man, Toru Iwatani, and Namco Bandai, the 10 tournament competitors became the first in the world to play and compete against each other on the “Pac-Man Championship Edition”, even before its launch on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

The “Pac-Man Championship Edition” game is the same beloved “Pac-Man” game that was played in pizza parlors and arcades of the swinging ‘80s, but the only thing is that the new version is updated with new features such as new mazes that dynamically change shape during gameplay, six new timed game modes, new soundtracks and high-definition (HD) graphics.

Listed below are the details of the “Pac-Man Championship Edition” game:

Classic 2-D “Pac-Man” presentation with a new, modern look in HD

Six new, timed game modes:

The Championship Mode: This is the main game mode designed by NAMCO BANDAI Games and Iwatani specifically for the championship round of the Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship. This mode as well as all others within the “Pac-Man” Championship Edition” - features redesigned mazes with wide maze walls and a widescreen configuration to better enable high-speed game play.Timed limit of five minutes.

Challenge Mode 1 (Patience and Reward Course): This mode is an evolution of the Championship Mode. Patience mazes strategically offer fewer Power Pellets, and Reward mazes provide a large number of Power Pellets -providing unique challenges and rewards for the player. Timed limit of 10 minutes.

Challenge Mode 2 (The Darkness Course): In this mode, only the area directly around Pac-Man and the ghosts is visible and the maze walls are completely hidden. Timed limit of 10 minutes.

Extra Mode 1 (The Freeway Course): An extremely high-speed mode for advanced players, this mode features warp-speed Pac-Man and ghosts and plenty of tunnels. Timed limit of five minutes.

Extra Mode 2 (The Manhattan Course): A mode inspired by the streets of Manhattan - the home of the first-ever Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship. Timed limit of five minutes.

Extra Mode 3 (The Overall Course):
A mix of all other modes resulting in extreme mazes for the most devout Pac-Man fans. Timed limit of 10 minutes.

Xbox LIVE leaderboards, Achievements and Gamerscore

Rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board

Costs 800 Microsoft Points

Available for download only on Xbox LIVE Arcade on the Xbox 360 starting at 9 a.m. GMT (5 a.m. EDT) on Wednesday, June 6, 2007

According to Iwatani, the creator of Pac-Man and cuurently a professor at Tokyo Polytechnic University, “I’m deeply honored that people view ‘Pac-Man’ as my lasting legacy and am so excited to come full circle by releasing the ‘Pac-Man Championship Edition’ with its exciting new mazes and modes on Xbox LIVE Arcade on the Xbox 360.”

“It gives me great joy to know that my final contributions in my corporate career were to crown the Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship and to leave the world with an amazing new ‘Pac-Man’ game for generations to enjoy,” he added.

This certainly is great news. We are sure that all you fans of the yellow pill munching fellow and his host of ghosts will definitely love the remake of this game. I can already hear the “waka waka waka” sound ringing in my head!