Pac-Man turned 30

Google plays Pac-Man
By Rob Pegoraro
It is a dark day for productivity in offices everywhere.

Google is honoring the 30th anniversary of the classic video game Pac-Man with a “Google Doogle” logo that doubles as a fully playable version of the game, complete with what I remember as the correct sound effects. Just click the “Insert Coin” button to start playing, use your keyboard’s cursor keys to navigate around a maze that includes a version of Google’s logo–and, then, if you came of age in 1980s, watch as familiar reflexes take hold.

This is easily the greatest homage to Namco’s arcade classic since a bunch of overactive NYU students staged a live version of the game around Washington Square Park called–what else?–Pac-Manhattan.

A Google blog post notes that this is the Mountain View, Calif., company’s first playable Google Doogle, advises that it’s around for the next two days and explains how to activate a hidden feature–bringing Ms. Pac-Man into the game.

I found it was too difficult to control Ms. Pac-Man with the W, A, S and D keys while steering around her mate with the cursor keys, but it’s been a long time since I played Pac-Man in any form. How’d that work for you? Have you found any other Easter eggs in the game?

By Rob Pegoraro | May 21, 2010; 2:15 PM ET”

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