Which of these isn't a ghost in Pac-Man?
Last updated: December 21, 2024
When "Pac-Man" burst onto the arcade scene in 1980, its four colorful ghost characters became instant icons. Each ghost had its own personality and hunting pattern, making them more than just mindless pursuers. But which of these supposed spectres never actually haunted Pac-Man's maze?
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The answer is: Winky
The four ghosts in "Pac-Man" were carefully designed to create unique gameplay experiences, each with distinct personalities and behaviors. Blinky, the red ghost, earned the nickname "Shadow" because he aggressively pursues Pac-Man. Pinky, in pink, attempts to ambush players by targeting spots ahead of Pac-Man's position. Inky, the blue ghost, uses a complex algorithm incorporating both Blinky's position and Pac-Man's direction to corner players.
The fourth ghost, Clyde (orange), was nicknamed "Pokey" for his seemingly random movements. Creator Toru Iwatani intentionally programmed Clyde to head to Pac-man but them wander off to his favorite corner (bottom left), giving players brief moments of relief from the pursuit.
Many players mistakenly remember "Winky" as one of the ghosts, possibly confusing it with Blinky or mixing up the rhyming names. The confusion might also stem from various international versions of the game, where the ghosts received different nicknames. In Japan, they were known as Akabei, Pinky, Aosuke, and Guzuta.
The ghosts' behavioral patterns were so distinctive that they created what felt like personalities. Iwatani noted that this character-driven design helped Pac-Man appeal to a broader audience than typical arcade games of the era. The ghosts became so popular that merchandise often featured them as prominently as Pac-Man himself.