Pac-Man's Arcade Party

Pac-Man's Arcade Party is an arcade multi-game compilation released in 2010 by Namco-America. The machine was released in commemoration of Pac-Man's 30th anniversary.
Pac-Man's Arcade Party is connected to a series of Pac-Man anniversary machines, which were predominantly designed for the U.S. market. It is the successor to Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga and Pac-Man 25th Anniversary, and would be followed by Pac-Man's Pixel Bash in 2018.
== Overview ==
Rather than being based on the hardware-accurate "Cosmodog" hardware (which debuted in Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga), the Pac-Man's Arcade Party compilation uses Namco System 246 architecture (a derivative of the PlayStation 2), with software emulation of the included games. While arguably less faithful than the previous "anniversary" machines, the emulation is still accurate to the arcade originals in performance, save for some games having issues in sound emulation.
The Pac-Man's Arcade Party machine features a "continue" option upon getting a game over, in which the player can insert another quarter to resume their game (while continuing off of their high score). This feature can also be disabled by the arcade operator.
== Games ==
Pac-Man's Arcade Party features the following games across all machine models:
* Pac-Man (1980)
* Pac-Mania (1987) (North American version)
* Galaxian (1979)
* Rally-X (1980)
* Bosconian (1981)
* Galaga (1981)
* Dig Dug (1982)
* Xevious (1982)
* Mappy (1983)
* Rolling Thunder (1986)
* Dragon Spirit (1987)
* Galaga ‘88 (1987)
"Home version" model machines also include Ms. Pac-Man (1982). The game is not included on coin-operated models due to the legal issues surrounding the property; whereas arcade machines without coin slots are void of the game's royalties. Titles that were originally in horizontal resolution (Rally-X, Bosconian, and Rolling Thunder) are letterboxed in vertical resolution.
== Software revisions ==
There appear to be two different revisions of the Pac-Man's Arcade Party ROM: the original version from 2010, and a later version from 2017. Both versions feature considerable differences from each other.
=== 2010 version ===
The 2010 version uses a menu system with a scrolling wheel of games, showing their logos and a gameplay screenshot. Upon selecting a game, the player is shown a "Rules" and "Controls" screen. This will lead to the game's attract sequence, with the player able to either start the game or back out to the main menu (using the B button). There is a time limit of two minutes on the menu select screen.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJZ1_YpUK6U
Some games in the 2010 version appear to play their audio at a slightly higher pitch (similar to Namco Museum 50th Anniversary), including Ms. Pac-Man; though the original Pac-Man is pitched correctly.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PalTbvsLiq8
=== 2017 version ===
The 2017 version uses a different menu design than the original release, featuring simpler animation and no sound effects. The "Rules" and "Controls" information is written below each game on the menu rather than as a separate screen; the timer is removed. All games' attract sequences are skipped entirely; this also causes a slight audio skip at the start of some games (including Pac-Man).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fcB9LeoVgQ&t=43s The audio pitch issue applies to more games in the 2017 revision, including the original Pac-Man.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LLw6VHR9w0
== Machine models ==
Several different Pac-Man's Arcade Party machine models are known to have been produced, including:
*Original model (2010): uses a near-identical form factor to the original Bally Midway cabinets.
*"Cabaret" model (2010): uses a smaller cabinet design (standing approx. 8.5" shorter) with a sunken-in marquee. Only released as a "home version" model without a coin slot; features an "imitation" molded coin slot with no functionality.
*"Cocktail" model (2010): a sit-down cocktail table model, featuring two sets of joysticks on opposite sides. Only released as a "home version" model.
*"Bartop" model (2017): a smaller tabletop variant. Only released as a "home version" model.
*Unknown wooden table model (mid-2010s): A large wooden table featuring two game screens with four joystick panels. Only known to have been distributed at arcades vended by Namco USA.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PdMSTT9BSY&t=60s
== Trivia ==
*The included version of Pac-Man is based on the Japanese Puckman ROM, but replaces the ghost names with the English ones. Oddly, the "PUCKMAN" text is left intact, though is only visible for a split-second due to the credits screen being automatically skipped.
*The gamelist and overall emulation quality of Pac-Man's Arcade Party is noted as being very simillar to Namco Museum 50th Anniversary. Given that the game runs on Namco System 246 hardware, it is theorized (albeit unconfirmed) that Arcade Party was modified from (or otherwise modeled after) 50th Anniversary's PlayStation 2 release.
*Each included game (at least in the 2010 revision) retains its original Namco copyright byline. The sole exception to this is Ms. Pac-Man, which features no legal notation (presumably as the compilation could not credit Bally Midway).
*While Pac-Man's Arcade Party was technically released in Japan, it did not enter full production in the region; with only select, Namco-operated arcades featuring the machine.
*A Pac-Man's Arcade Party machine appears in the school cafeteria in the Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures TV series; the same 3D model of the machine was also used in Pac-Man Museum.
*A customized Pac-Store-branded Arcade Party machine is known to have been featured in a "Pac-Store Hawaii" pop-up location in 2018.
== Gallery ==
Pacmans-arcade-party-pac-store-hawaii.jpg|Customized model seen at Pac-Store Hawaii
== References ==
Category:Compilations
Category:Games
Category:Arcade Games