This new Pac-Man machine brought me closer to my teens

Pac-Man is a classic arcade game that deserves all the love. Guiding an abstract mouth in pursuit of dots in a ghost-patrolled maze is pure joy. As good as it is, I never thought the greedy yellow circle would bring my family closer together, but that’s exactly what happened this summer. Ever since the Arcade1Up Pac-Man Deluxe arcade machine displaced a storied old cat tree In the corner of my office, I’m battling for high scores with my eldest teenager.

In adolescence, figuring out what you want to do and what you want to be is the hardest time. Try to do all these things at the same time During the pandemicAnd as a parent, when your kids are unhappy you can feel it in your bones. But accepting the unpleasant truth that you can’t do anything about it is one of life’s hardest lessons. My advice, no matter how well-meaning, holds little significance right now. My eldest daughter mostly answers any question about her day with a scornful expression and a single word, “Okay.” Play Days With Kids Lego BlocksBike rides in the woods, and swimming trips are long over.

Part of growing up is growing away from your parents, especially during adolescence. As a father who always loved hanging out with his kids, that rejection was a bitter pill that even Pac-Man would struggle to swallow. I needed a solid sales pitch if I wanted them to hang out with me now, so I was delighted when the beeps and bloops of the new arcade machine brought curious teenagers to my office. They watched me play, and I could see they were eager for a shot. Thus began a summer quest for high scores and the bragging rights that came with it.

simply irresistible

The Arcade1Up Pac-Man Deluxe Arcade Machine came packaged in two boxes. This easy-to-build cabinet features a 17-inch color LCD screen, a light-up marquee, and authentic arcade controls. It runs 14 Namco games, including Galaxian, Galaga, Dig DugAnd rolling ThunderBut as the artwork attests, that’s all there is to it. Pac Manand you get PAC Land, Pac-Man Plus, Super Pac-Man, Pack and SailAnd Pac Mania with the original.

Pac-Man debuted in Japan in 1980. PuckmanThe nine-man development team, led by Toru Iwatani, wanted to create a game that had universal appeal. With 300,000 cabinets sold by 1987, adorning every arcade in the country, we can agree they succeeded. The name change for the North American release came amid fears that mischievous vandals would change the first letter. The arcade was the perfect place for Pac-Man, but it has since been ported to every possible system and device, generating an estimated lifetime sales of $15 billion.