Tim Lapetino spent all of 2020 plumbing the depths of Pac-Man for daily updates for his Twitter account, 365ofPac. But this project wasn’t just a fun distraction, it was also research for his next book… Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon.
Set to be published by Cook and Becker this Summer, Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon will look back at “historical imagery” and “concept designs” from the game’s genesis, as well as check in with an international cast of characters that helped make Pac-Man a star.
Co-written by Arjan Terpstra, and created with the full assistance of Bandai Namco, the book promises to explore the complete 40-year history behind one of video gaming’s first franchises:
Full of historical imagery, concept designs, marketing photos and more, the book examines the game’s design philosophy and origins through the artists, designers, developers, and other creative teams who brought Pac-Man to life.
This new non-fiction book will journey from creator Toru Iwatani’s “pizza slice” inspiration to the game’s incredible success in arcades and beyond. The book also dives into Pac-Man’s unprecedented impact on pop culture, with more than 40 new interviews from key players around the world.
With untold stories, new details, and archival imagery, Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon showcases the franchise’s complex history from Tokyo to Chicago to Boston, unpacking the stories of video game industry stalwarts Namco and Midway Manufacturing.
In addition to the “Standard Hardcover Edition”, Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon will also be available in a “Collector’s Edition” that comes packaged in a Pac-Man-shaped slipcase. Inside, readers will be treated to an exclusive arcade token and a brand-new 7″ vinyl pressing of “Pac-Man Fever” by Buckner & Garcia.