Pac-Man's Arcade Party is an arcade multi-game compilation released in 2010 by Namco-America. The machine was released in commemoration of Pac-Man's 30th anniversary.
Rather than being based on the hardware-accurate "Cosmodog" hardware (which debuted in Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga), the Pac-Man's Arcade Party compilation uses Namco System 246 architecture (a derivative of the PlayStation 2), with software emulation of the included games. While arguably less faithful than the previous "anniversary" machines, the emulation is still accurate to the arcade originals in performance, save for some games having issues in sound emulation.
The Pac-Man's Arcade Party machine features a "continue" option upon getting a game over, in which the player can insert another quarter to resume their game (while continuing off of their high score). This feature can also be disabled by the arcade operator.
Games[]
Pac-Man's Arcade Party features the following games across all machine models:
"Home version" model machines also include Ms. Pac-Man (1982). The game is not included on coin-operated models due to the legal issues surrounding the property; whereas arcade machines without coin slots are void of the game's royalties. Titles that were originally in horizontal resolution (Rally-X, Bosconian, and Rolling Thunder) are letterboxed in vertical resolution.
Software revisions[]
There appear to be two different revisions of the Pac-Man's Arcade Party ROM: the original version from 2010, and a later version from 2017. Both versions feature considerable differences from each other.
2010 version[]
The 2010 version uses a menu system with a scrolling wheel of games, showing their logos and a gameplay screenshot. Upon selecting a game, the player is shown a "Rules" and "Controls" screen. This will lead to the game's attract sequence, with the player able to either start the game or back out to the main menu (using the B button). There is a time limit of two minutes on the menu select screen.[2]
Some games in the 2010 version appear to play their audio at a slightly higher pitch (similar to Namco Museum 50th Anniversary), including Ms. Pac-Man; though the original Pac-Man is pitched correctly.[2][3]
2017 version[]
The 2017 version uses a different self test screen, referencing the Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga & Pac-Man 25th anniversary collections but removing the IRQ. It also uses a different menu design than the original release, featuring simpler animation and no sound effects. The "Rules" and "Controls" information is written below each game on the menu rather than as a separate screen; the timer is removed. All games' attract sequences are skipped entirely; this also causes a slight audio skip at the start of some games (including Pac-Man).[4] The audio pitch issue applies to more games in the 2017 revision, including the original Pac-Man.[5]
Machine models[]
Several different Pac-Man's Arcade Party machine models are known to have been produced, including:
Original model (2010): uses a near-identical form factor to the original Bally Midway cabinets.
"Cabaret" model (2010): uses a smaller cabinet design (standing approx. 8.5" shorter) with a sunken-in marquee. Only released as a "home version" model without a coin slot; features an "imitation" molded coin slot with no functionality.
"Cocktail" model (2010): a sit-down cocktail table model, featuring two sets of joysticks on opposite sides. Only released as a "home version" model.
"Bartop" model (2017): a smaller tabletop variant. Only released as a "home version" model.
Unknown wooden table model (mid-2010s): A large wooden table featuring two game screens with four joystick panels. Only known to have been distributed at arcades vended by Namco USA.[6]
Trivia[]
The included version of Pac-Man is based on the Japanese Puckman ROM, but replaces the ghost names with the English ones. Oddly, the "PUCKMAN" text is left intact, though is only visible for a split-second due to the credits screen being automatically skipped.
The gamelist and overall emulation quality of Pac-Man's Arcade Party is noted as being very similar to Namco Museum 50th Anniversary. Given that the game runs on Namco System 246 hardware, it is theorized (albeit unconfirmed) that Arcade Party was modified from (or otherwise modeled after) 50th Anniversary's PlayStation 2 release.
Each included game (at least in the 2010 revision) retains its original Namco copyright byline. The sole exception to this is Ms. Pac-Man, which features no legal notation (presumably as the compilation could not credit Bally Midway).
Pre-release Pac-Man's Arcade Party machines at E3 2010.
When Pac-Man's Arcade Party was showcased at E3 2010 (roughly five months before its release), the machine featured a considerably different design. Most of its artwork is directly modeled after the Pac-Man 25th Anniversary cabinet; replacing the side artwork's branding with the Pac-Man 30th Anniversary logo, and removing all visual references to Ms. Pac-Man (save for three added blue ghosts from the game).[7][8]
While Pac-Man's Arcade Party was technically released in Japan, it did not enter full production in the region; with only select, Namco-operated arcades featuring the machine.
The machine model was originally textured as a Pac-Man 25th Anniversary cabinet, though was changed to Pac-Man's Arcade Party prior to the Ghostly Adventures series' debut.[9]
A customized Pac-Store-branded Arcade Party machine is known to have been featured in a "Pac-Store Hawaii" pop-up location in 2018.
