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But what of the original - Mr Brian Pac-Man? Why was he fired? What is he doing now? Digitiser met up with Brian at a secret location in London to discuss the past, present and future of videogaming.  TELL US HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN THE PAC-MAN GAME?
"Well, it's like this: I'd had a small role in Taito's Space Invaders as that little spaceship that goes across the top of the screen - you know the one. You hit it and you got a score boost, which was kinda my idea, but anyway... I looked a little different in those days, too. More flying saucer-like. Anyway, Namco contacted my agent and says to him 'We got this game going down, Manny, which we think would suit one of your clients perfectly.' So I get this call from Manny telling me he's got me this audition lined up. I wasn't too interested at the time, 'cause I'd just taken over as the lead in Pong, you know, playing the ball. It didn't bring in much money, but it was a steady job, which in this business, is all you can hope for. "So, I go along to the audition, and at the time I was wearing my costume for Pong because I didn't have any other clothes. You know, at that time no-one was too interested in Pong, because you had this whole other generation of games coming along, and the takings weren't too good on the old games, which is why I was so hard-up. "Right, so I walk into this audition and there are these three guys in there and before I've even said a word they start going wild. Totally crazy. They're punching the air, crying, shaking each other's hands and stuff. I thought I'd upset them somehow, and when they asked to if I could gobble and wanted to see me swallow a load of pills, I almost walked out. I wasn't to know at the time that the role required me to float around a maze and scoff down pills and stuff. Then they gave me the script which had just two words on it: 'Wakka wakka'. I read that, they loved it, and there and then they offered the part, and a lot of money. So long as I wore the costume, I was Pac-Man." WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DAY AS PAC-MAN LIKE?
"Well, I knew straight away that things wouldn't be good. I mean, there was a buzz about the game that you couldn't deny, but the guys there treated me like dirt, like I was just something they could sell. When I went in on the first day they were just building the maze. It was this incredible, blue neon thing, but when I tried to get a closer look I was dragged away by security. "I hit it off straight away with Pinky, who was one of the guys playing the ghosts. He was totally depressed, though. He said the other ghosts had made fun of his name, and threw cups of coffee over him. We kind of became soul mates." WAS THERE A LOT OF CONFLICT DURING THE MAKING OF THE GAME?
"Hell, yes. I mean, once I made friends with Pinky, the other ghosts turned up on me. The worst one was Clyde. He was real mean. I remember one time during a rehearsal, I'd just swallowed a power pill and was supposed to chase after Clyde, who had turned blue. Well, that guy just refused to go along with it. He steadfastly refused to be chased by me. He lied outright and told the management that I'd accused him of stealing my trousers - which was absurd, because as you know I don't wear trousers - I don't even have any legs! I got called up into the manager's office and was given a carpeting. That was the beginning of the end, I think. SO WHAT REASON DID THEY GIVE FOR FIRING YOU?
"They said I just wasn't emoting enough. They said I wasn't up to the role. That I seemed to have too much pent-up aggression. I guess they were right, though, because when I was called into the office and ordered to leave the set, I trashed the guy's office. "It's terribly sad, because I just know it wasn't my fault. It was those ghosts, Clyde, Blinky and the others, and their constant gossiping that got me fired. Poor Pinky lasted until the end, but I heard he died a few years back. He'd become an alcoholic, apparently, because of the stress of the whole thing. Worst of all, the guy they got to replace me - the guy they have now - was, and I admit I don't know how true this is, the brother of Clyde. I mean, where's the fairness in that?" WHAT HAVE YOU DONE SINCE?
"I've had roles in a couple of tennis games as the ball. Smash Tennis and Super Tennis were both mine, and I played the Death Star in Super Star Wars, which was a big thrill. But, you know, there isn't a great deal of work for a guy who was nearly Pac-Man. I dunno, I hear they're making a new Pac-Man game in 3D. Maybe I'll call them up and see what they can offer me." BRIAN PAC-MAN, THANKYOU.
Check out our features archive   |
Few people realise that the Pac-Man we all know and love isn't the original.
Months into the development of the original Pac-Man game, Namco sensationally
fired the main character, and replaced him with a then-unknown Pac. That's the
Pac-Man who went on to star in such classics as Pac-Land, and Pac-Mania, and
more recently Pac-Attack, and whose face adorns a million items of
merchandising.