Basically the story goes like this: A programmer named Tod Frye was hired to port Pac-Man to the 2600, which wasn't easy given the console's limitations. Eventually, he created a prototype to show to Atari. With the Christmas 1981 approaching, Atari just released the prototype as the final product, which is why the port barely resembles the original game. Despite the poor quality of it, the game ended up selling 7 million units, becoming the best-selling game on the 2600, while Frye made a huge sum of money because he was paid 10 cents per cartridge sold.
I don't know if anyone noticed, but all the sound effects from this game where used in sitcom tv shows in the 90's, where there were episodes when teenagers or the family where around the TV playing the NES and you would here these sound effects.
When I was a teenager I got this game and figured out the pattern as the game got harder. I could clear every level in the same manner. I wish I had a video of it, but I played for 10 hours straight one time and the score was astronomical. I finally had to quit because I wasn't going to die. I have no doubt it would have been a world wide high score. Oh the memories of playing such a horrible port.
I read a story about this pacman version on the atari 2600. The programmer was forced to make the program fit on a 2KB Cartridge, because the 4KB memory chips were too expensive for Atari to make. Because of that, the ghosts flicker, the machine code had to be smaller. After this game, the programmer left atari (to become a member of activision maybe ?)
In Atari 2600 version, only one ghost at a time can be displayed giving a flickering effect in all four ghosts. They have a great capture card because all four ghosts can still be seen on RUclips just like if you play it on a CRT TV. Other RUclips videos that I saw, I can only see one or two ghosts because their capture card had trouble dealing with one ghost per frame with a total of four ghosts.
This was the first home video game I ever played. I got an Atari must have been 1981 or so because that is when Atari Pac-Man was released, I think my grandmother got it for us. She also got us an original Nintendo with light gun late 80's. Yes, I played them all. Almost. I never played Intellivision, Sega Master System or those Japanese consoles that never made it to the US. Sharp X68000, FM-Towns, FM-Towns Marty, SuperGrafx, etc. I also owned Super Nintendo, Genesis, N64, PS 1 2 3, Xbox, Wii.
@thegamerguy17 2600 Pac-Man was my first introduction to the game in the mid 80's, and it was the only one I knew for many years. Because I was only able to judge it by itself, I saw no problem with it. It was, to me, what I imagine the arcade version was to others. To some extent, I appreciate that there are valid criticisms to be made. But they only arise when comparing to the arcade version, and do not affect the overall gameplay. Plus the flickering ghosts were not as bad as people make out.
the 2600's Roms were too small to port the arcade version -- they say. At lastPacman still looks cute, he chews in a different motion in this one. Anyone knows Munchkin on Odyseey though? The Unreal Tournament of PacMans. Comes with an Editor and the dots are insanely nice -- they wander through the maze. Makes the Arcade of Pac man look static. The power pill dots even have a blining effect. What a game, especially considering THAT consoles' limited hardware. Check it out =)
It may have been awful as a port but me and my family had lots of fun with this game and I don't remember anybody complaining about not being a faithful port. People still enjoyed it a lot.
I agree both this and ET were awesome and they should not have caused the Video Game Crash of 1983 and I am glad that it happened because if you think it's a miracle in disguise because if that never happened Nintendo would not have released the Nintendo Entertainment System but both this game and ET were awesome because they were only 4-bit or heck these were in the early parts of gaming. So I agree with you COMPLETELY!!!
Ah, this was a time when gaming was truly at its purest. Today, people plays things like "Super Mario Bros." and "The Legend of Zelda", and they just don't understand the simplicity. Them whipper snappers are spoilered with their "soundtracks" and their "D pad"! What what's with having an "A" AND "B" button, plus "select" and "start"? Wasn't one button enough? I can't make sense of them "nintendo" controllers. Give me an Atari controller anyday!
Actually Pac Man did cause it. Michael Paccson aka "Pac Man" was known at that time went around smashing consoles in various locations to the point that retailers would refuse to stock them in fear of Pac Man showing up to smash their consoles.
too bad you guys at Cubex/Longplays do this just as a hobby, cause quite frankly Tsunao deserves serious buck$ just for even thinking of volunteering to play this putrid, worthless malignancy that filthens the name PacMan and all of gamedom in general. I hereby bestow upon Tsunao the title of The Ballsiest, Most Courageous gamer on the Longplays' Stable! bravo for enduring another electronic atrocity!
wow... this game was PURE shit. I remember being so excited to go to my big brother's friend Mourice's house because he said he had pac man... I had to be about 6years old. what I saw would scar me for life. I was never so disappointed. what a piece of shit. THIS is why there was a videogame crash... the atari 5200 was a piece of trash two... controllers with cheap rubber boots instead of springs, guaranteed to break. Thank GOD for nintendo.
Good For Both Of You Guys For Saying All Of That Stuff. But For Me, I Played 'Pacy Boy' On Mr IPad. And One Time, I Got To Like 75614 Points Like Before I UnInstalled It Then ReInstalled It. So, Yah.
guys the reason why the vid dosen,t have that much views is because this s one of the worst games ever people wouden,t buy it and atari got 5 million unslod copies
I bet those 5 million unsold copies of atari 2600 pacman games are dumped somewhere in a land field,well if so,let's see in we can excefate them and sell them on ebay. Eventrough, this version is still better then ET and action 52,haha.
Basically the story goes like this: A programmer named Tod Frye was hired to port Pac-Man to the 2600, which wasn't easy given the console's limitations. Eventually, he created a prototype to show to Atari. With the Christmas 1981 approaching, Atari just released the prototype as the final product, which is why the port barely resembles the original game. Despite the poor quality of it, the game ended up selling 7 million units, becoming the best-selling game on the 2600, while Frye made a huge sum of money because he was paid 10 cents per cartridge sold.
Also try a homebrew game called pacman 4k and play it with harmony flashcart. It's much better. compared to the original version.
I don't know if anyone noticed, but all the sound effects from this game where used in sitcom tv shows in the 90's, where there were episodes when teenagers or the family where around the TV playing the NES and you would here these sound effects.
Theshark15z *Were
They also used them in La Rosa de Guadalupe
When I was a teenager I got this game and figured out the pattern as the game got harder. I could clear every level in the same manner. I wish I had a video of it, but I played for 10 hours straight one time and the score was astronomical. I finally had to quit because I wasn't going to die. I have no doubt it would have been a world wide high score. Oh the memories of playing such a horrible port.
I'm your 10th like les goooooo
And btw cool story man
I read a story about this pacman version on the atari 2600. The programmer was forced to make the program fit on a 2KB Cartridge, because the 4KB memory chips were too expensive for Atari to make. Because of that, the ghosts flicker, the machine code had to be smaller. After this game, the programmer left atari (to become a member of activision maybe ?)
My favorite atari game. Sometimes I still leave the idle screen 📺 on when not playing to help me sleep. Played this a lot at a very young age.
When your mother buys you a video game from the resale shop.
In Atari 2600 version, only one ghost at a time can be displayed giving a flickering effect in all four ghosts. They have a great capture card because all four ghosts can still be seen on RUclips just like if you play it on a CRT TV. Other RUclips videos that I saw, I can only see one or two ghosts because their capture card had trouble dealing with one ghost per frame with a total of four ghosts.
This game sounds remind me the childhood
Wow I probably haven't seen/played this game in 24 years! THanks!
This was the first home video game I ever played. I got an Atari must have been 1981 or so because that is when Atari Pac-Man was released, I think my grandmother got it for us. She also got us an original Nintendo with light gun late 80's. Yes, I played them all. Almost. I never played Intellivision, Sega Master System or those Japanese consoles that never made it to the US. Sharp X68000, FM-Towns, FM-Towns Marty, SuperGrafx, etc. I also owned Super Nintendo, Genesis, N64, PS 1 2 3, Xbox, Wii.
I still have this game xD! Those sounds are so nostalgic...
@thegamerguy17 2600 Pac-Man was my first introduction to the game in the mid 80's, and it was the only one I knew for many years.
Because I was only able to judge it by itself, I saw no problem with it. It was, to me, what I imagine the arcade version was to others.
To some extent, I appreciate that there are valid criticisms to be made. But they only arise when comparing to the arcade version, and do not affect the overall gameplay.
Plus the flickering ghosts were not as bad as people make out.
Pacman on Atari 2600. Nice dude!
3:18 I love that sound, there the other atari games that have that same sound, and I also hear that from the movie, Santa Clause the Movie.
the 2600's Roms were too small to port the arcade version -- they say. At lastPacman still looks cute, he chews in a different motion in this one. Anyone knows Munchkin on Odyseey though? The Unreal Tournament of PacMans. Comes with an Editor and the dots are insanely nice -- they wander through the maze. Makes the Arcade of Pac man look static. The power pill dots even have a blining effect. What a game, especially considering THAT consoles' limited hardware. Check it out =)
That hurt - thought I was finally gonna see the ending.
@triplestar100 yeah, they really should have finished it before releasing it....
This was the very first game I'd played, at age 6.
It may have been awful as a port but me and my family had lots of fun with this game and I don't remember anybody complaining about not being a faithful port. People still enjoyed it a lot.
Nostalgia FTW! :-)
I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAD THIS GAME I STILL HAVE THE PACMAN NOT THE ATARI
I agree both this and ET were awesome and they should not have caused the Video Game Crash of 1983 and I am glad that it happened because if you think it's a miracle in disguise because if that never happened Nintendo would not have released the Nintendo Entertainment System but both this game and ET were awesome because they were only 4-bit or heck these were in the early parts of gaming. So I agree with you COMPLETELY!!!
Los juegos de estas consolas Atari, hacen que uno mire a la NES, aun con su hardware limitado, como si fuera un PS5
@egg64 I think that line was supposed to be sarcastic.
Ah, this was a time when gaming was truly at its purest. Today, people plays things like "Super Mario Bros." and "The Legend of Zelda", and they just don't understand the simplicity. Them whipper snappers are spoilered with their "soundtracks" and their "D pad"! What what's with having an "A" AND "B" button, plus "select" and "start"? Wasn't one button enough? I can't make sense of them "nintendo" controllers. Give me an Atari controller anyday!
This game took only 5 weeks to make from beginning to the end
Actually Pac Man did cause it. Michael Paccson aka "Pac Man" was known at that time went around smashing consoles in various locations to the point that retailers would refuse to stock them in fear of Pac Man showing up to smash their consoles.
Incorrect. The 2600 had an 8 bit 6502 variant cpu.
Why would you even play this?!
its fun
@@shrekisurdad5969 you really replied to a comment i made when i was 10 huh
@@alekks830 yea
Funny! A game that's so bad it's good!
the atari 800 version is much much better than this one even though the atari 800 is an older model than the atari 2,600
Isn't the 800 a computer?
Hays Coleman Atari 800 computer came out in 1979, while 2600 came out in 1977.
Research before you comment things like this.
too bad you guys at Cubex/Longplays do this just as a hobby, cause quite frankly Tsunao deserves serious buck$ just for even thinking of volunteering to play this putrid, worthless malignancy that filthens the name PacMan and all of gamedom in general. I hereby bestow upon Tsunao the title of The Ballsiest, Most Courageous gamer on the Longplays' Stable! bravo for enduring another electronic atrocity!
NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM :)
thumbs up if you played youtube snake on this!
I still have the cartridge!!!!!
What Do You Mean That You Still Have The Cartridge Of It.
Do You Have An Atari 2600 Or Someting Like That.
ABOMINATION
wow... this game was PURE shit. I remember being so excited to go to my big brother's friend Mourice's house because he said he had pac man... I had to be about 6years old. what I saw would scar me for life.
I was never so disappointed. what a piece of shit. THIS is why there was a videogame crash... the atari 5200 was a piece of trash two... controllers with cheap rubber boots instead of springs, guaranteed to break. Thank GOD for nintendo.
Sega does what Nintendon't
I think E.T was the ultimate end-crash for Atari.
woa man, you did longplays of the 2 worst games on the atari 2600!!! why didn't you longplayed some of the good ones???
In my opinion, every game on every Atari system is equally horrible in every aspect.
I got 7602. Beat my score.
4508 on level 1
Good For Both Of You Guys For Saying All Of That Stuff.
But For Me, I Played 'Pacy Boy' On Mr IPad.
And One Time, I Got To Like 75614 Points Like Before I UnInstalled It Then ReInstalled It.
So, Yah.
Which Pac-man Game Was That Son.
@@MiiMakerWhich Pac-man Game Was That Son.
@@aydenmk7454 Pac-man for Atari 2600
Quelle horreur! Même pour Atari 2600, ça ne vaut pas de la m....
Did not like this version. Too noisy etc.
shannonm75 it's not bad
I know I’m a few years late mate but it has less noise then the real pac man lmafo
guys the reason why the vid dosen,t have that much views is because this s one of the worst games ever people wouden,t buy it and atari got 5 million unslod copies
I bet those 5 million unsold copies of atari 2600 pacman games are dumped somewhere in a land field,well if so,let's see in we can excefate them and sell them on ebay.
Eventrough, this version is still better then ET and action 52,haha.