Namco plans 'Pac-Man' birthday bash

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LOS ANGELES, May 19 (UPI) -- Japanese video game company Namco is throwing a 30th birthday party for "Pac-Man" in Los Angeles and releasing anniversary versions of his games.

Namco said it will be celebrating the birthday of the game and its eponymous star with a Los Angeles party and the release of "Pac-Man Championship Edition" for the iPad and iPhone, the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.

The company said the game was played more than 10 billion times during the 20th century and it's listed by Guinness World Records as the "most successful coin-operated game" ever.

"Pac-Man is a gateway game," said Kenji Hisatsune, president, chief executive and chief operating officer of Namco Networks America. "It's simple, with well-established rules and boundaries. The game play is short and quick, but highly addictive and fun. Gamers and non-gamers alike recognize Pac-Man and can pick the game up very easily."