Pac-Man Video Game History and Background

On May 22, 1980, the Pac-Man video game was released in Japan and by October of the same year, it was released in the United States. The yellow, pie-shaped Pac-Man character, who travels around a maze trying to eat dots and avoid four mean ghosts, quickly became an icon of the 1980s. To this day, Pac-Man remains one of the most popular video games in history. Inventing Pac-Man If you ever thought that the Pac-Man character looked like some kind of food, then you and Japanese game designer Toru Iwatani think alike. Iwatani was eating pizza when he came up with the idea for the Pac-Man character. Iwatani has more recently said that the Pac-Man character is also a simplification of the  Kanji character for mouth,  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹kuchi.   While a pizza with a slice out of it turned into the main character of Pac-Man, cookies became the power pellets. In the Japanese version, the pellets look like cookies, but they lost their cookie look when the game came to the U.S. Apparently, Namco, the company that made Pac-Man, was hoping to create a video game that would entice girls to play as well as boys. And everyone knows that girls like food, right? Hmmm. Anyway, a relatively nonviolent, food-based video game with cute little ghosts and a bit of humor did appeal to both genders, which quickly made Pac-Man an unquestionable success. How He Got His Name The name Pac-Man continues the eating theme of the game. In Japanese, puck-puck (sometimes said paku-paku) is a word used for munching. So, in Japan, Namco named the video game Puck-Man. After all, it was a video game about a pizza eating super-powered cookies. However, when it was time for the video game to be sold in the U.S., many were worried about the name Puck-Man, mostly because the name sounded a bit too similar to a particular four-letter word in English. Thus, Puck-Man underwent a name change and became Pac-Man when the game came to the States. Playing Pac-Man Its probably a very rare person who has never played Pac-Man. Even for those who may have missed it in the 1980s, Pac-Man has been remade on nearly every video game platform since then. Pac-Man even appeared on the front page of Google (as a playable game) on Pac-Mans 30th anniversary. However, for those few who are unfamiliar with the game, here are the basics. You, the player, control the yellow, circular Pac-Man using either keyboard arrows or a joystick. The goal is to move Pac-Man around the maze-like screen gobbling up all 240 dots before the four ghosts (sometimes called monsters) get you. The four ghosts are all different colors: Blinky (red), Inky (light blue), Pinky (pink), and Clyde (orange). Blinky was also known as Shadow because hes the fastest. The ghosts begin the game in the ghost cage in the center of the maze  and roam around the board as the game progresses. If Pac-Man collides with a ghost, he loses a life, and the game restarts. If Pac-Man eats one of the four power pellets available on each level; the ghosts all turn dark blue and Pac-Man is able to eat the ghosts. Once a ghost is gobbled up, it disappears—except for its eyes, which run back to the ghost cage. Occasionally, fruit and other objects appear on the screen. If Pac-Man gobbles those up then he earns a point bonus, with different fruit worth different values. While all this is happening, Pac-Man makes a wocka-wocka sound that is nearly as memorable as the yellow character itself. The game ends when Pac-Man has lost all (usually three) of his lives. When You Win Many people are impressed with themselves if they get to level five or six on Pac-Man. However, there are always those die-hards out there who are determined to finish the game. Despite how popular Pac-Man was in the 1980s, it actually took 19 years for the first person to ever finish Pac-Man. That amazing feat was reported to be accomplished by 33-year-old Billy Mitchell, who finished Pac-Man with a perfect game on July 3, 1999.   A Scandal in Gaming Mitchell completed all 255 levels of Pac-Man. When he reached level 256, half the screen became jumbled. This is an impossible level to complete and thus the end of the game. It took Mitchell about six hours to win the game and he did so with the highest possible score—3,333,360 points. Mitchell went on to record record-breaking runs in Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Centipede, and became a mini-celebrity, named as Gamer of the Century, featured in Life magazine in 1982 and in the 2007 movie The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. In 2018, however, Twin Galaxies, the American organization that tracks video game records, announced their discovery that some of Mitchells record-breaking runs were not achieved on an arcade machine, but rather using emulation software, a violation of the rules. All of Mitchells titles, including his Guinness World Records, have since been stripped. Pac-Man Fever In the early 1980s, the nonviolent and goofy nature of Pac-Man made it a phenomenal attraction. In 1982 an estimated 30 million Americans spent $8 million a week playing Pac-Man, feeding quarters into machines located in arcades or bars. Its popularity among teenagers made it threatening to their parents: Pac-Man was loud and stunningly popular, and the arcades where the machines were located were noisy, congested places. Many towns in the United States passed statutes to regulate or restrict the games, just as they were allowed to regulate pinball machines and pool tables to combat gambling and other immoral behaviors. Des Plaines, Illinois, banned people under 21 from playing video games unless they were accompanied by their parents. Marshfield, Massachusetts, banned video games outright. Other cities used licensing or zoning to limit video game playing. A license to run an arcade could stipulate that it had to be at least a certain distance from a school, or it could not sell food or alcohol. Ms. Pac-Man and More The Pac-Man video game was so immensely popular that within a year there were spin-offs being created and released, some of them unauthorized. The most popular of these was Ms. Pac-Man, which first appeared in 1981 as an unauthorized version of the game. Ms. Pac-Man was created by Midway, the same company authorized to sell the original Pac-Man in the U.S. Ms. Pac-Man became so popular that Namco eventually made it an official game. Ms. Pac-Man has four different mazes with varying numbers of dots, compared to Pac-Mans only one with 240 dots; Ms. Pac-Mans maze walls, dots, and pellets come in a variety of colors; and the orange ghost is named Sue, not Clyde. A few of the other notable spin-offs were Pac-Man Plus, Professor Pac-Man, Junior Pac-Man, Pac-Land, Pac-Man World, and Pac-Pix. By the mid-1990s, Pac-Man was available on home computers, game consoles, and hand-held devices. Lunch Boxes and Other Collectibles As with anything super popular, merchandising went wild with the Pac-Man image. You could purchase Pac-Man T-shirts, mugs, stickers, a board game, plush dolls, belt buckles, puzzles, a card game, wind-up toys, wrapping paper, pajamas, lunch boxes, sheets, bumper stickers, plus so much more. In addition to buying Pac-Man merchandise, kids could satisfy their Pac-Man cravings by watching a 30-minute Pac-Man cartoon that started airing in 1982. Produced by Hanna-Barbera, the cartoon lasted for two seasons. In case you really wanted that wocka-wocka sound to stay in your head, listen again to the 1982 song by Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia called Pac-Man Fever, which made it all the way up to No. 9 on Billboards Top 100 chart. Although the decade of Pac-Man Fever might be over, Pac-Man continues to be loved and played year after year. Sources Crecente, Brian. King of Kong Star Stripped of High Scores, Banned from Competition. Variety April 12, 2018.Gallagher, Marcus, and Amanda Ryan. Learning to Play Pac-Man: An Evolutionary, Rule-Based Approach. The 2003 Congress on Evolutionary Computation, 2003. CEC 03. 2003. Print.Goroff, David B. The First Amendment Side Effects of Curing Pac-Man Fever. Columbia Law Review 84.3 (1984): 744–74. Print.Lucas, Simon. Evolving a Neural Network Location Evaluation to Play Ms. Pac-Man. IEE 2005 Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Games. Ed. Graham Kendall and Simon Lucas. Essex University, 2005. Print.Moore, Mike. Videogames: Sons of Pong. Film Comment 19.1 (1983): 34–37. Print.Rife, Katie. King of Kongs Billy Mitchell Has Been Stripped of All His High Scores, Banned From Competitive Gaming. AV News April 12, 2018.Yannakakis, Georgios N., and John Hallam. A Generic Approach for Generating Interesting Interactive Pac-Man. IEE 2005 Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Games. Ed. Graham Kendall and Simon Lucas: Essex University, 2005. Print.

Essay Steps Towards An Ecosociety Dealing With Air...

Steps Towards an Ecosociety: Dealing with Air Pollution This essay identifies and explains the problem of pollution facing humanity today. It will also propose one of the first ideas which could more effectively limit air pollution, Emission Credit Trading. This can be seen as one of the first steps in the development of an ecosociety. The notion of a viable ecosociety has created considerable problems in terms of deciding the most effective and efficient policies to be implemented. Air pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems here at home, and throughout the rest of the world. Air pollution is also perhaps one of the more politically sensitive problems because of the numerous economic,†¦show more content†¦There are many reasons that pollution has come to the foreground of twentieth century politics. The most important is the effect it has on human life. This does not place the effects that it has on our natural environment as secondary, however, it seems that unless we as human beings are directly aff ected, we tend to look the other way. The EPAs 1990 report on urban air quality trends estimates that over 100 million Americans live in areas where pollution exceeds federal air quality standards, as well air pollution is responsible for more then 50,000 to 60,000 premature deaths each year (Bryner, 3) Air pollution is also the main cause of global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer. If the earths temperature rises by a mere five degrees, the resulting catastrophe would be immeasurable. It is important to realize that global warming is a direct result of the depletion of ozone in the atmosphere. quot;A greater variety of greenhouse gases are created by a myriad of essential human activities, including the generation of power, industrial production, transportation, agriculture and forestry. Mitigating climate change will require major changes in life-style, especially those that consume large amounts of fossil fuelsquot; (Vig and Kraft 313). We can see that no matter where we look, air

Diwali †Festival of Lights Free Essays

Diwali  (also spelled  Devali  in certain regions) or  Deepavali,[1]  popularly known as the â€Å"festival of lights†, is an important five-day festival in  Hinduism,Jainism, and  Sikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday in  India,[2]  Nepal,  Sri Lanka,  Myanmar,Mauritius,  Guyana,  Trinidad Tobago,  Suriname,  Malaysia,  Singapore,[3]  and  Fiji. We will write a custom essay sample on Diwali – Festival of Lights or any similar topic only for you Order Now The name â€Å"Diwali† is a contraction of â€Å"Deepavali† (Sanskrit:   Dipavali), which translates into â€Å"row of lamps†. [4]  Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas  or  dipas) in  Sanskrit:   ) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali. Diwali commemorates the return of  Lord Rama, along with  Sita  and  Lakshman, from his fourteen-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king  Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of  Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen  diyas  (oil lamps) and burst firecrackers. [5] In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment of  moksha  or  nirvana  by  Mahavira  in 527 BC. [6][7]  In Sikhism,  Deepavali  commemorates the return of  Guru Har Gobind Ji  to  Amritsar  after freeing 52 Hindu kings imprisoned in Fort  Gwalior  by defeating Emperor  Jahangir; the people lit candles and diyas to celebrate his return. This is the reason Sikhs also refer to Deepavali as  Bandi Chhorh Divas, â€Å"the day of release of detainees†. The festival starts with  Dhanteras  on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival,  Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon  Naraka  by  Lord Krishna  and his wife  Satyabhama. Amavasya, the third day of Deepawali, marks the worship ofLakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord  Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the  Bali, and banished him to  Patala. It is on the fourth day of Deepawali,  Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went to  patalaand took the reins of his new kingdom in there. The fifth day is referred to as  Yama Dvitiya  (also called  Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes. ————————————————- Spiritual significance In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness into light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it’s a celebration of South-Asian identities. 5] While Deepavali is popularly known as the â€Å"festival of lights†, the most significant spiritual meaning is â€Å"the awareness of the inner light†. Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the  Atman. The celebration of Deepavali as the â€Å"victory of good over evil†, refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks one’s true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite,  immanent  and  transcendent  reality. With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings  ananda  (joy or peace). Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light. While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman). How to cite Diwali – Festival of Lights, Papers

Most people know that good nutrition is important Essay Example For Students

Most people know that good nutrition is important Essay for good health. Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) are the daily amounts of essential nutrients that will preventdeficiencies in most healthy people. But not many people realize the importance a healthydiet can have on their health for years to come. To help us stay healthy a person shouldeat a variety of foods, maintain ideal weight, avoid too much fat, and eat foods withenough starch and fiber. A good diet helps children grow, develop, and do well in school. It also helps young and older adults to work productively and feel their best. A healthydiet can also lessen the risk factors for obesity and high blood pressure. For our benefit,the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department ofAgriculture has issued Dietary Guidelines. These guidelines are designed to helpAmericans choose the recommended number of daily servings from each of the fivedifferent food groups; Bread, Meat, Vegetable, Fruit, and Dairy. The Nutrition FactsLabel is made to help you buy foo ds that will meet the Dietary Guidelines. Mostprocessed foods now carry nutrition information. People need energy and essential nutrients. These nutrients are essential because thebody cannot make them and has to get them from food. Energy needs vary by age. Adultsneed less food than younger and more active individuals. People who are less active or aretrying to lose weight will eat less food and have problems meeting their nutrient needs. Almost all Americans need to be more active, because an inactive lifestyle is unhealthy. Inorder to stay at the same body weight, people need to balance the amount of energy infood with the amount of energy the body uses. People need to put more energy into dailyactivities. The pattern of eating is also important. Snacks provide a large amount ofcalories for many Americans. Unless nutritious snacks are part of the daily diet, snackingwill cause weight gain. Also binge eating and fasting will add to weight problems. Maintaining weight in older peop le is important because they usually lose weight as they 3age. Some of that weight is muscle. People need to exercise regularly to maintain muscle,to feel better and to reduce the risk of falls and broken bones. The quality and variety of food in the United States allow almost everyone to have anutritious diet. Nutrients are divided into five major groups; proteins, carbohydrates, fats,vitamins and minerals. Each of these food components have a special function in the body,and all of them together are needed for overall health. The body uses energy to functionand keep itself at a constant temperature. Scientists have been able to find out that thebody gets its fuel from carbohydrates, fats, and protein. CarbohydratesCarbohydrates are the most available foods in the world. Carbohydrates in foods, likewhole grain breads and cereals, provide calories and nutrients and also increase dietaryfiber. Dietary fiber, like lettuce, if eaten daily, can decrease the risk of colon cancer. Ifthere isnt enough carbohydrates in the body during exercise, the body tires faster. Research has proven that a daily diet high in carbohydrates is helpful. Most sportsnutritionists recommend a meal high in carbohydrates 3 or 4 hours before an event. Carbohydrates provide most of the energy in almost all peoples diets. The best sourcesfor carbohydrates are grains, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits. FatsEveryone thinks that fat in the diet is bad, but really the body needs it. Fat providesenergy by giving calories to the body. They are the most concentrated source of energy inthe diet. People need to watch how much fat they eat, not do without it entirely. Becausefat sources have little water in them, they take up less room, so we eat more fat withoutgetting full. So thats why it is easy to get fat on a high-fat diet. Obesity increases the riskfor high blood pressure and eventually for stroke. It is also associated with heart disease. There is evidence that certain kinds of cancer like colon, lung, and bladder cancer run in 4people who have high-fat diets. It is also known that breast and uterine cancer are morecommon in obese women. Best sources of fat are margarine, vegetable/plant oils, nuts,meats, cheese, and cream. ProteinThe main purpose of protein in the body is to build and repair tissues. Most of thebodys protein is located in the muscle tissue. Every cell in the body is partly made ofproteins. As a child grows, his muscles are built from proteins. A person with burns oropen sores need protein to heal these wounds. Also, if carbohydrates, starches, or fats areunavailable, protein can be used to supply energy. Everyone needs some proteineveryday. How much is needed depends on body size, rate of growth, and each personshealing requirements. The best sources of protein are eggs, milk, fish, meat, poultry, andnuts. Globalization and music Essay Because fat sources have little water in them, they take up less room, so we eat more fat without getting full. So thats why it is easy to get fat on a high-fat diet. Obesity increases the risk for high blood pressure and eventually for stroke. It is also associated with heart disease. There is evidence that certain kinds of cancer like colon, lung, and bladder cancer run in 4 people who have high-fat diets. It is also known that breast and uterine cancer are more common in obese women. Best sources of fat are margarine, vegetable/plant oils, nuts, meats, cheese, and cream. Protein The main purpose of protein in the body is to build and repair tissues. .