More World News Videos
- Video duration
- 00:32
'Father of Pac-Man' dies, aged 91
'Father of Pac-Man' dies, aged 91
Masaya Nakamura, founder of Japanese toy and game software maker Bandai Namco Holdings and the 'Father of Pac-Man', has died at the age of 91.
Up Next
Brexit bill clears first legal hurdle
- Video duration
- 00:48
- Video duration
- 00:48
Brexit bill clears first legal hurdle
Brexit bill clears first legal hurdle
A law allowing Prime Minister Theresa May to exit from the European Union cleared its first legislative hurdle. The bill could complete the legislative process by March.
Up Next
Kia to keep exporting cars from Mexico
- Video duration
- 01:21
- Video duration
- 01:21
Kia to keep exporting cars from Mexico
Kia to keep exporting cars from Mexico
The automaker plans to keep shipping cars to the US from Mexico despite Trump's "America First" battlecry.
Up Next
Rolf Harris: Jury in trial retires
- Video duration
- 01:17
- Video duration
- 01:17
Rolf Harris: Jury in trial retires
Rolf Harris: Jury in trial retires
The jury in the 86-year-old's groping trial in London has retired to consider its verdicts. (Video courtesy: ABC News 24)
Up Next
Jordan barbers offer free haircuts
- Video duration
- 00:35
- Video duration
- 00:35
Jordan barbers offer free haircuts
Jordan barbers offer free haircuts
A new initiative in Jordan is offering haircuts and shaves to those less able to afford frequent trips to the barber.
Up Next
Is Trump on a collision course with the EU?
- Video duration
- 01:23
- Video duration
- 01:23
Is Trump on a collision course with the ...
Is Trump on a collision course with the EU?
There are fears Donald Trump is on a collision course with the EU, after the US President's top trade adviser accused Germany of using a "grossly undervalued" euro to gain a competitive advantage.
Up Next
Yemen government workers without wages
- Video duration
- 00:55
- Video duration
- 00:55
Yemen government workers without wages
Yemen government workers without wages
Thousands of government employees are being left unpaid as Yemen's political and economic crisis worsens.
Up Next
David Taylor sad and angry witnesses 'didn't help'
- Video duration
- 00:48
- Video duration
- 00:48
David Taylor sad and angry witnesses ...
David Taylor sad and angry witnesses 'didn't help'
Following his murder trial in Bali, David Taylor says he's sad to know the police officerâs life could have been saved, but âa little bit angry" at witnesses âwho claim to have seen the person on the beach, but didnât help himâ.
'Father of Pac-Man' dies, aged 91
Masaya Nakamura, founder of Japanese toy and game software maker Bandai Namco Holdings and the 'Father of Pac-Man', has died at the age of 91.
Japanese video game publisher Bandai Namco has announced that Namco founder Masaya Nakamura, known as the "Father of Pac-Man", has died at the age of 91.
Nakamura, who can be credited as one of the people responsible for building the Japanese video game industry that saw incredible worldwide success in the 80s and 90s, died on January 22, the group said in a statement. It did not give details of the cause of his death.
In 1955 Nakamura founded Nakamura Manufacturing, a company which created and installed mechanical amusement rides during Japan's post-war recovery. A trained engineer, he would apparently service and run the rides himself.
In the 70s the businessman saw potential in the video game industry, making several shrewd moves — including the purchase of Atari's aborted Japanese division — and hiring a team of designers and engineers to create original software for arcade machines.
He also changed the name of the company to Nakamura Amusement Machine Manufacturing Company, which later became Namco. In the early days, he reportedly tested his employees' games himself to judge their entertainment value.
Pac-Man, the company's most iconic title, was created by one Nakamura's new hires, Toru Iwatani, and was published in 1980. Because of Nakamura's hand in developing arcade games as a form of entertainment in the first place, he is often referred to as the father of the pop culture icon, which is listed by Wikipedia as the second highest grossing arcade game of all time.
The company also created the first multi-cabinet multiplayer arcade game, in Final Lap, and was Nintendo's first licensee to make games for its fledgling Nintendo Entertainment System (although Nakamura would go on to publicly criticise the company for what he saw as monopolistic behaviour).
Much later, Namco would dominate the 3D fighting and light-gun genres both at home and in arcades with titles including Tekken, Point Blank and Time Crisis.
The original Pac-Man, which created a new genre of game in a landscape of space shooters and sports simulators, is still popular to this day. The brand has seen a resurgence this decade, with the most recent traditional-style game being Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 in 2016. Recent years have also seen the release of Pac-Man 256 on smartphones, a series of TV shows and games aimed at kids, and the inclusion of the character in Nintendo's popular fighting game series Super Smash Bros.
Nakamura stepped down as Namco CEO in 2002, almost 50 years after founding it. He continued to serve as an advisor to the company, even after it merged with rival Bandai in 2005, and for his achievements was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government in 2007.
With Reuters
2 comments
New User? Sign up