How Pac-Man Is The Most Influential Game Of All Time
1. Mascots And Marketability
Consequently, while the gameplay itself was obviously integral in propelling Pac-Man into the gaming stratosphere, it was actually the main character himself who was the biggest draw. Despite, you know, being a circle with a mouth, the title character single-handedly birthed gaming mascots as we know them today. Before he came along, no game really had any identifiable personalities or features outside of a title. Everyone remembers the Space Invaders, but nobody remembers who was fighting them.
Over the years, gaming mascots have solidified some of the biggest names in the industry. 30 years after they launched, Mario and Link are still the faces of Nintendo, while characters like Crash Bandicoot - and to an extent Master Chief - allowed Sony and Microsoft not only a foothold in the industry, but popular culture in general. Pac-Man accomplished the same thing in 1980, but not only was he tasked with making a name for a platform holder, but making a name for all of gaming itself.
Though mascots might be seen as "childish" or something the industry has moved on from, their role in normalising gaming shouldn't be overstated, with it being argued that:
"Pac-Man not only popularised electronic play in the early 1980s, but also put a friendly and understandable face on the similarly new world of personal technology."
Combined with the accessibility of its gameplay, Pac-Man as a marketing figure broke boundaries, single-handedly shifting the perception of video games being only for dorky dudes living in arcades, to a pursuit beloved by people of any age and gender. This universal appeal was something the developers were eager to capitalise on, with other releases like Ms. Pac-Man broadening the appeal to women especially (even if sexing her up was probably a bit of a dodgy decision in hindsight), relying on mascots to usher in a new wave of fans.
In a way, the power of that marketing is probably why most people only know Pac-Man as a symbol today. It was powerful enough to cross boundaries that had limited games before, acting as an image of inclusion, accessibility and mainstream acceptance that's endured despite countless technological innovations. Put simply, he's a mascot that deserves more respect than being a throwaway gag in a terrible Adam Sandler movie.