Exciting Pac-Man Exhibit at the Paley Museum from Jan. 16 to Jan. 31
Pac-Man is unquestionably one of the most iconic characters in video games. Before Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog even existed, Pac-Man was eating up quarters in arcades. The yellow dot muncher turned 45 last year. In commemoration of his historic milestone, the Paley Museum in New York City is opening a special exhibit in the beloved yellow circle’s honor.
The Paley Center for Media’s Pac-Man Exhibit
The exhibit will run from January 16th to January 31st. The Paley Museum’s official site discusses what all will be featured at the exhibit. There will be various Pac-Man games available for guests to play to their heart’s content without quarters. Some of the games include the Pac-Man Pixel Bash arcade cabinet and the modern arcade games Pac-Man Battle Royal Chompionship (no, that is not a typo) and World’s Largest Pac-Man. There will also be console games such Pac-Man World 2: Re-Pac. In addition, you can pay an extra fee to use the PaleyGX Studio and play VR games.
In addition to games, there will be a timeline spanning the yellow circle’s last forty-five years. There will also be artifacts such as a Pac-Man Atari 2600 box and game cartridge, a metal lunch box, and a vinyl of the hit single “Pac-Man Fever.” Visitors can watch gameplay footage on a big screen and dive into the behind-the-scenes world of the games. There will also be an arts-and-crafts station for “kids of all ages,” which might mean that adults can join in the fun too if they want.
On January 31st, there will be extra fun with a Family Day. Family Day will feature a visit from Pac-Man himself for a meet-and-greet. It’s likely that there will be plenty of adults wanting to take pictures with the icon in addition to kids. There will also be giveaways and a raffle, along with the arts and crafts and gameplay.
“For more than four decades, Pac-Man has proven that a single idea can change the world, turning arcades into gathering places, pixels into personality, and a yellow circle into one of the most enduring and beloved icons of gaming and interactive entertainment,” stated Maureen J. Reidy, the president and CEO of the Paley Center for Media. “We look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages to this exciting new exhibit and thank Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. for their support.”
The Legacy of Pac-Man
It’s hard to overstate this icon’s legacy. The creator, Toru Iwatani, aimed to create a game that would appeal to all ages and genders, and utilizing simple gameplay and appealing character designs, he succeeded in his goal. Even forty-five years later, anyone can jump into the maze and figure out that you have to eat the dots and avoid the ghosts. Anyone can get drawn into those bright colors and iconic sound effects.
Last year, there was plenty of merchandise to celebrate the dot muncher’s forty-fifth birthday, including a cookbook full of novelty recipes. One might wonder why this exhibit wasn’t held last year, but who cares? The exhibit looks like it will be a lot of fun and a worthy dedication to that beloved yellow circle. If you happen to live in the New York City area and you’re a fan of video games, you might want to go check it out.
This Sounds Fun! How Much Will It Cost?
If you have an Annual Paley Family Membership (which costs $125 per year), you can just wander into the museum for free. If you don’t have a membership, you can buy tickets for half-hour slots. Adults cost $21.50 per half-hour, children under twelve are free, access to the PaleyGX Studio costs $11.00, and for veterans, students, teachers, seniors, and first responders, tickets cost $17.50. Tickets can be purchased on the Paley Museum’s official website.
Pac-Man will forever be part of video game culture. The appeal of eating dots through a maze will never wear out. Even in our era of HD 4K graphics and hundred-hour open-world games, the simple exploration through the maze will always draw people in. If your kids haven’t played Pac-Man, introduce them to it. They’ll likely thank you.
