PAC-MAN– one of the most iconic videogame characters in history – will celebrate his 35th birthday. With the character coming to the big screen this summer in Sony Pictures’ Pixels, the studio is joining in to celebrate with a global birthday party of epic proportions. In cities around the world and online, film talent will join with moviegoers and special guests to celebrate with birthday cakes, free play of the PAC-MAN arcade game, and special events localized to each city.
Moviegoers around the world can join in PAC-MAN’s birthday fun at Facebook.com/PixelsMovie to watch and share the latest Pixels trailer and to receive updates on the launch of the Pixels Defense mobile game from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. that will feature PAC-MAN and other video game characters from the movie.
In Tokyo – the city of PAC-MAN’s birth – audiences joined in on the fun by attempting to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Largest Human Image of PAC-MAN. At the event at Tokyo Tower, actor Shingo Yanagisawa and popular comedian and social media sensation Naomi Watanabe will join hundreds of moviegoers to create the largest PAC-MAN ever created by human beings.
In Chicago, Professor Toru Iwatani, the creator of PAC-MAN, and BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC. will be at Level 257™, a brand new dining and entertainment facility created by NAMCO USA INC. inspired by PAC-MAN. The special 1980s-style event included free game play including a chance to play the fabled 255th and 256th levels of PAC-MAN, PAC-MAN’s official 35th birthday cake, and opportunities to play against the legendary gamer Billy Mitchell, the first person to ever achieve a “perfect score” on PAC-MAN.
In partnership with Dave & Buster’s, all 75 locations across North America will celebrate the big man’s birthday by offering a free play on the over-sized, multi-player PAC-MAN BATTLE ROYALE arcade game to all guests with a Power Card. In addition, fans nationwide will have the chance to enter to win thousands of D&B Dollars to celebrate all summer long.
In the UK, PAC-MAN will celebrate his birthday with a special thrill – he’ll be launched into space. PAC-MAN’s journey will be captured by a special GoPro camera unit and shared on his birthday.
And in Spain, four of that country’s biggest YouTube stars will face off on the game for the ultimate bragging rights. As they engage their followers to look on, both online and in person, there could be as many as 21 million watching the videogame competition.
Finally, from Paris at the French Open, Serena Williams, who has a cameo role in Pixels, is planning a special greeting for her co-star as well.
Catch PAC-MAN in cinemas when Pixels opens in cinemas this July.
