Last Updated on October 20, 2023
Fans of the wacka-wacka (Pac-Man, not Fozzie Bear) might be interested to know that very few special editions of PAC-MAN: Birth of an Icon remain.
PAC-MAN: Birth of an Icon details
The first-ever comprehensive history of PAC-MAN is from publisher Cook and Becker.
Packed with historical imagery, concept designs, marketing photos, and more, the book examines the game’s design philosophy and origins through the artists, designers, developers, and other creative teams who brought PAC-MAN to life.
From creator Toru Iwatani’s “pizza slice” inspiration to the game’s incredible success in arcades and beyond, PAC-MAN: Birth of an Icon tells the full story of one of the most iconic video games of all time.
The book also dives into PAC-MAN’s unprecedented impact on pop culture, with more than 40 new interviews from key players around the world.
A full history of PAC-MAN
With untold stories, new details, and archival imagery, PAC-MAN: Birth of an Icon showcases the franchise’s complex history from Tokyo to Chicago to Boston, unpacking the stories of video game industry stalwarts Namco and Midway Manufacturing.
The book is written by Arjan Terpstra (writer of our Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Anniversary Art Book) and Tim Lapetino (author of Art of Atari and other books), and made in close conjunction with BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
About the authors
- Arjan Terpstra is a Dutch video game journalist and author. He is the author of several books on video game history, including the Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Anniversary Art Book and The Art of Atari.
- Tim Lapetino is an American video game journalist and author. He is the author of several books on video game history, including Art of Atari and The Art of Donkey Kong.
If you’re a fan of Pac-Man and his crazy world of extended family and ghosts, this is worthy of a place on your bookshelf.
The 2020 Special Edition of the book is down to the final few copies of its 2000 copy print run, with the limited signed version of 60 picked up long ago. Happily, you can still find the 2021 standard edition in plentiful supply – and at a nicer price (under £40).
