Happy 35th Birthday, Pacman

By Jorge Zavala | Creative Director

Nom, nom, nom. We all know that phrase quite well, and with the advent of social media we've been accustomed to using it across platforms in reference to eating, crunching, and - ultimately, munching on something. However, its origins truly come from an adorable yellow character known to the world as PAC-MAN. On May 22nd, 1980, this simple yet lovable video game phenomenon was born in the land of the rising sun, Japan. On May 22nd, 2015 - 35 years after the seasoned and international icon became a household name - Chicago, and the world, celebrated PAC-MAN's birthday.

The insider-only celebration, which took place in NAMCO USA's brand new and exciting dining/entertainment venue, Level 257. The establishment, inspired by PAC-MAN himself, is a vibrant mix of savory cocktails, delish hors d'oeuvres, and a wide-range of entertainment options, which include some of the most popular arcade games and even bowling lanes for guests. In addition to the evening's elixirs and gaming, the highlight of the evening included a rare appearance in the Western Hemisphere of PAC-MAN's own creator, Toru Iwatani.

When Mr. Iwatani was asked to describe (via a translator) how he feels about PAC-MAN 35 years later, he had this to say:

"PAC-MAN is is for everyone, the world has embraced his essence and accepted him as one of their very own. We don't know what the future will bring for our friend (PAC-MAN), but it is certain that we would like future generations to continue enjoying (the game)."

The VIP reception, which included a diverse-array of industry-insiders, style-icons, and media from Chicago, Japan, and France, was a delightful blend of creativity and casual elegance. Throughout the evening, guests could not help but sip on a delicious glass of chardonnay while dancing to the 1982 original hit song, "PAC-MAN Fever" by the original creator, Jerry Buckner of Buckner and Garcia.

Several exciting pieces of PAC-MAN memorabilia was available for VIP insiders, including a limited-edition 35th Anniversary PAC-MAN collectors t-shirt and sunglasses. In addition to the highly-coveted swag-bags, Chicago bakery Toni Patisserie presente the official birthday cake to PAC-MAN and his guests.

Guests had the chance to speak with their long-time gaming idols, make new friends, and enjoy savory treats throughout the evening. One guest made it a point to mention to a friend that "(he'd) never seen anything like this...it's truly a wonderful time and a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Now, you can't have a PAC-MAN-themed event without craft YELLOW cocktails! Ah, yes, and there was also a fusion elixir, a pink one we might add, that was a healthy mix of poignant and fun. Of course, gaming is much more fun when you have one of these in your hand.

Some of NAMCO's who's who made a special guest appearance to celebrate PAC-MAN's big 3-5. While their English was limited, each one of them expressed a fervid interest in securing the happiness of every gamer, every experience with PAC-MAN for future generations to come.

Celebrating PAC-MAN was more than an anniversary, a birthday bash, and a rendezvous: it was a celebration of time and how so much has changed in 35 years, yet how the important things, like a child discovering the cute yellow creature for the first time, are ever-present. Congratulations to Level 257, NAMCO, and all the wonderful individuals who made the anniversary bash a success. Oh, and happy birthday, PAC-MAN: you are aging gracefully, my friend.