10 Hidden Meanings Behind Iconic Video Game Characters
2. Pac-Man Is Actually... "A Woman Eating"?
This absolute megastar of the video game world was one of the earliest mascots in the industry. His simple, yet effective, debut title became a worldwide hit and inspired many gamers and developers alike to get excited about the future of the medium.
Having such a powerful and profound effect on the industry makes Pac-Man seem like a flawless character, but there's a secret behind his design that may surprise you.
To celebrate the game's 30th anniversary, the creator Toru Iwatani sat down with Wired to answer questions about the legendary figure.
Shockingly, he revealed that Pac-Man was designed to appeal to women, which was "achieved" by making it a game about eating.
Iwatani mentioned that arcades were full of violent games aimed towards men, and that to appeal to women, he wanted to capture things that they liked. His impression of what this could be included "fashion, or fortune-telling, or food, or dating boyfriends".
Additionally, the physical design of Pac-Man is based upon a full pizza with one slice taken out. Therefore, food and eating are integral to the character and was supposedly responsible for capturing the female market.
It's undoubtedly true that he stole the hearts and minds of many, but whether it was a result of the eating motif is certainly debatable.