Something to await forward to: Pac-Man is one of a small number of video games that even people who don't know a PC from a PlayStation recognize. To celebrate it turning forty last year, Cook and Becker have released a 300+ page book detailing the history of the franchise, and in that location are some enticing collector's editions.

As reported by The Verge, Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon is described every bit "the beginning-ever official history book" examining the series, "from creator Toru Iwatani'southward "pizza slice" inspiration to the game'southward incredible success in arcades and beyond."

The standard hardcover version of the volume arrives later this year, priced at $39. Archetype video game fans might be tempted to opt for the collector'south edition, which includes an exclusive Pac-Human being arcade token, a brand-new vinyl pressing of the song Pac-Human Fever by Buckner & Garcia—information technology reached number nine in the United states charts in March 1982—and a very absurd Pac-Man slipcase. This edition is limited to two,000 copies and will cost $99. Meanwhile, super-fans can grab i of the 40 collector'southward editions signed by Iwatani himself for $299.

"With untold stories, new details, and archival imagery, Pac-Man: Nascency of an Icon showcases the franchise'due south complex history from Tokyo to Chicago to Boston, unpacking the stories of video game industry stalwarts Namco and Midway Manufacturing," reads the clarification.

As some people know, the game was originally called Puck-Homo, but US distributor Midway changed it to Pac-Man. The company was worried about anyone defacing the arcade machines to read something less family unit-friendly.

Another interesting Pac-Man fact relates to the Atari 2600 version, which was such an awful port of the arcade game that it was blamed, alongside ET, for the 1983 video game crash—despite selling 7 1000000 copies.

Pac-Human being: Birth of an Icon tin can be purchased now and is expected to send on July 30, 2022.