• Entertainment -> Video Games and Board Games

• 0 Comment

What is the history behind classic arcade games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong?

Henretta Lenglet

Well, let me tell you, those classic arcade games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong bring back some serious memories for me. I mean, who could forget the hours we spent at the local arcade, trying to beat those high scores?

Anyway, let's get to the history behind these games. Pac-Man was actually created by a Japanese game designer named Toru Iwatani back in 1980. The concept was pretty simple - you play as Pac-Man, a yellow circle with a mouth, and your objective is to eat all the dots in a maze without getting caught by the ghosts. What made Pac-Man so popular was its appeal to both casual and experienced gamers, and its cute and colorful design. It quickly became a hit in the United States as well, and by 1982, Pac-Man had become a cultural phenomenon, with merchandise and even a cartoon show.

Donkey Kong, on the other hand, was created by Shigeru Miyamoto, who went on to become one of the most influential figures in the gaming industry. Donkey Kong was released in 1981 and was actually Miyamoto's first big hit. The game featured the character of Mario, who was originally called Jumpman, and his objective was to rescue his girlfriend, Pauline, from the clutches of a giant ape named Donkey Kong. What made Donkey Kong unique was its use of multi-level platforms and its innovative gameplay mechanics. It quickly became a classic and cemented Miyamoto's reputation as a game designer.

Both Pac-Man and Donkey Kong were groundbreaking games in their own way and set the standard for many games to come. They paved the way for more elaborate and complex games, and they remain beloved classics to this day.