Catalog IP, also referred to as the Namco Creators' Program and OPEN GAME, was a Japan-only program led by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The Catalog IP initiative allowed indie and student game developers to utilize various Namco properties, including Pac-Man, for creating iOS, Android, and web-based programs.
The program was first launched in 2015, in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Namco-Bandai company merge. In 2017, the program allowed usage of IPs from Jaleco and Data East. The service was officially discontinued in March 2018, but leftover submissions continued being released up until June 2019. The majority of games were delisted from digital stores and websites in April of 2020.
General information[]
Artwork for Pac-Tune, a game created through the Catalog IP program
Each Catalog IP release was created independently from Bandai Namco, generally from indie or student developers; though each game still required approval from Namco prior to release. Namco would earn some level of monetization from the Catalog IP releases, either via an advertising royalty system or a paid-in-advance fee.
A developer could choose from several Namco franchises when making a game, including multiple at once. As such, games based on other properties can also be filled with references to the Pac-Man series, or already existing games could receive Pac-Man-themed DLC (neither of which are currently documented on this page). Some non Pac-Man-related games released through the program include Mappy Showdown!, Bradig (based on Dig Dug), and Touch the Mappy.
Most (if not all) titles were released exclusively in Japan, and are difficult to access overseas. There are workaround methods for playing them, however, including the following:
- Android titles can be downloaded from .APK files from third-party websites.
- iOS titles can be downloaded on a jailbroken device via third-party .IPA files; prior to the April 2020 delistings, they could also be downloaded by creating a Japanese iTunes account.
- Certain web-based games can be played via the Flashpoint PC emulator; however, some feature region-locking code that can only be bypassed with a VPN.
Pac-Man releases[]
(Note that some titles may be derived from Japanese.)
- The CARD - Respectable PACMAN - A game where cards with a random outcome are flipped over to control the movements/functions of Pac-Man and the Ghosts.
- Dodge and Dash Pac-Man - Pac-Man automatically moves upward, and you must maneuver him to dodge ghosts.
- EYERESH with Pac-Man - A health application to help eyes by looking at a 3D video of Pac-Man eating Pac-Dots.
- Gachi Escape - Serious Escape Pac-Man - A collection of two puzzle games featuring the Ghosts.
- Mega Run meets Pac-Man - A 2D runner featuring Pac-Man and friends. Effectively a reskin of 2012's Mega Run from Get Set Games (although this release was handled by Kemco).
- MilboxTouch VR PAC-MAN - VR remake of the original Pac-Man. One of few titles released in the US.
- Mobile e-Sports with Pac-Man - Some sort of betting game.
- Mogpac - Pac-Man must proceed along the path while avoiding cookie-cutout ghosts. Different set conditions are required to complete each level.
- Pac-Man Infinite Tower - A puzzle game where you must keep Pac-Man safe without crushing him.
- Pac-Man Note - Escape from the Page - Help Pac-Man escape pages by solving the puzzles and completing the objectives.
- Pac-Man Omikuji (when hesitating) (迷ったときのパックマンおみくじ) - The player navigates the Pac-Man maze in first-person, and the game makes a suggestion of something for them to do in real life (a place to go, a type of food to eat, etc.).
- PAC-MAN RUN - Appears to be a 3D endless runner, similar to the Flash game Run.
- Pac-Man Shanghai Mahjong - A standard Mahjong game with Namco graphics.
- Pac-Man's Nippon Journey - An RPG game where Pac-Man travels across Japan, visiting various locations. There are several minigames as well.
- PAC MEME - Dry Eye Alarm - The "meme" part appears to be a mistranslation. Game says it "prevents dry eyes"; likely some sort of VR simulation.
- Pac-Pong - Launch the ping pong balls into Blinky's basket.
- Pac-Run - Unrelated to PAC-MAN RUN; it is an endless runner-platforming game with visuals based on Pac-Land.[1]
- Pac-Tune - Likely a rhythm game, or possibly something similar to Nintendo's Electroplankton. Also appears to have a music creation mode.
- Pixel Runner! - Simple 2D running game with Pac-Man. Characters/level themes from Mappy, Dig Dug, Mr. Driller, and Wagyan Land can also be unlocked (alongside other Pac-Man characters).
- Pixel Super Stars - The player and CPU take turns flicking their character (referred to as "erasers") at each other, in hopes of knocking their opponent off the table. Crossover with multiple Namco franchises, most prominently Pac-Man.
- Trace It Pac-Man - You must trace your finger over the maze, and get to the goal while simultaneously filling the maze as much as possible. You cannot go over already marked tiles or run into ghosts. Pac-Man will follow the path you set for him.
Several games based on RPG Maker hardware were also released. They are too difficult to document, as hundreds are available on the website, and are all exclusively in Japanese.
Unreleased Games[]
A handful of Pac-Man-themed Catalog IP games were announced in a news article by Inside-Games, which ended up never being released.[2] These include:
- Gaming Diet Body Fat Pac-Man (ゲーミングダイエット 体脂肪パックマン)
- Ghost Revenge
- Pac-Man is your teacher?! Learn with Imakiku (パックマンが先生に？！イマキクで楽しく学ぼう)
- Pac-Man Kisekae (パックマン きせかえ)
- Pac-Man vs. Friends - Explosive Racing (パックマン vs 仲間たちの爆裂レーシング) - was briefly reworked into a crossover game with the Bokosuka Girls franchise, before being fully canceled.[3]
An unnamed Pac-Man game also appears (listed as "HTML5 cross-platform casual game"), but this appears to just be an early version of PAC-MAN RUN.
Catalog IP "game jam"[]
In November of 2015, Bandai Namco held a game jam based around the Catalog IP project, which also served as a "contest".[4] Around 60 developers participated in the game jam, producing 14 unique games; seven of these games were directly themed after Pac-Man, including:
- Attack Pac-Man
- Namco Pac Pac
- Pac-Man Sky - selected as award-winner
- Pac-Rogue - selected as award-winner
- Save the Pac-Man
- Stealth Pac-Man - selected as award-winner
- Wakuwaku Akabei Land ("Akabei" referring to Blinky)
Other games from the game jam included Adventures of Valkyrie: The Movie, Amazing4, Battle City Type4, Galaga Vs., Great Nyamco War, Mitai! Aitai! Hagashitai!, and Wonder Momo's Counterattack. Great Nyamco War was selected as an award-winner.
It does not appear that any of these games were ever released publicly. Namco implied that the game jam entries were eligible for release, but they had to be re-sent through as normal Catalog IP submissions; some games were seemingly considered for publishing by their developers, but ultimately were not.
Trivia[]
- In a 2017 interview, the lead director of the Catalog IP project, Daisuke Masui, was asked what the motive was behind freely licensing the Namco IPs. Masui replied that the main goal was simply to keep the franchises in circulation; specifically with new, derivative works. He claimed that in the "internet age", he felt that any franchise - no matter its popularity - could fall to irrelevancy if it sits unused.[5]
- Masui also states that Namco did not actually earn much revenue from the Catalog IP project. While monetization systems were in place, the cost of running the project effectively "broke even" with any earnings; as the main purpose of the project was moreso for brand exposure, earned revenue was not considered a priority to Namco.[5]
- While a number of Catalog IP submissions were presumably rejected, Masui claims that the majority of Catalog IP pitches were actually accepted into the program.[5]
- There were plans to bring the Catalog IP program outside of Japan, but research had to be put into certain laws and regulations of other countries, in addition to "crushing the problems" with the Japanese service. Despite Namco's efforts, the program was never launched overseas.[4]
- Some of the apps incorrectly spell Pac-Man as "Packman" below their app icon, even if the correct spelling is used elsewhere.
External links[]
- Catalog IP Website (archived by Wayback Machine)
- Open Game Website (archived by Wayback Machine)
- Mega Run meets Pac-Man Website
- Pac-Man's Nippon Journey Website
References[]
- ↑ https://rgames.jp/games/pac-run
- ↑ https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2015/07/03/89085.html
- ↑ https://www.hmv.co.jp/newsdetail/article/1509305011/ [dead link, re-citation needed]
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2015/12/07/11696.html
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://www.4gamer.net/games/374/G037428/20170314024/