Kotaku
Everyone knows that Ms. Pac Man is filled with ghosts, four of them to be specific. But a fifth ghost?
That's what a Boston-area Craigslister claimed when he was contacted to ask why he was giving away a Ms. Pac Man cabinet for free.
Someone on ArcadeControls.com contacted the cabinet owner for the explanation, which involves poltergeist, a crying 3-year-old and a "dark figure."
I sent a message to see if anyone had claimed it and if they had any pics. I got a response back saying that it was available but no pictures. I emailed back asking why they where getting rid of it for free. Here is the response I got."When I bought this machine the previous owner told me it was haunted. I laughed, didn't believe him, because I didn't believe in that sort of thing.
Got a bad feeling the day it was delivered. Game started on its own in the middle of the night several times, had a tech service the machine three times (very pricy housecalls), but he couldn't find the problem.
Three-year old daughter started talking about the "man in the video machine", didn't think much of it, then my wife saw a dark figure move across the basement and into the machine. She ran out of the house, would not return until the machine was out of the house. I moved it to my business garage (two miles away), and several times I have opened the garage to find tools missing or scattered, things tipped over.
This is why I am giving away a $1000 machine for free."
Other forum goers who emailed the man were told that he was giving it away because he's a lucky man. So either he's changing his story, or has decided ditching a haunted cabinet would be easier if people didn't know the back story.
The Craigslist posting was still up when I checked this morning, so I emailed the owner, but haven't heard back. Maybe he's been sucked into the Ms. Pac Man.
Interesting Craigslist find [Arcade Controls, thanks Wesley]
Comments
that's crazy. if i lived in Boston, id have a free Mts. Pac-Man, and possibly more entertainment.
A pac-man machine for free is pretty cool. A haunted machine? I need one of those in my house. Games machine, conversation piece etc.
Man thats insane.
I can believe it though.
Since in Japan we have issues with things like "possesed" swords, dolls and such. So I cant see why there wouldnt be a haunted game machine.
Quite personally I dont fuck with such things since while you can kill something living its a bit harder to get rid of something that does not exist on the same "plains" as us living folks.
Seriously, there are better games than Ms. Pacman to haunt.
I see dead people...some of them scare me. They play ancient video games or tell me about ancient video games friends have played.
I usually don't belive this stuff, but.. well, when it comes to games, EVERYTHING is true.
Second time i've posted this exact line, but:
tend to the widow pac man
Maybe the ghost is pissed that the machine isn't set to free play.
ghost: 50 cents for a game a Mrs. Pac Man?! I'm so gonna haunt yer ass...
hauntings usually take place at the sight of trauma.. i can't help but wonder what happened to this guy in order for an arcade box to become haunted. i'm with Witz, don't fuck around with that stuff, as cool as it sounds...
My 360 was haunted awhile back. It would turn off mysteriously at odd times. Sometimes it would claim it couldnt read my disc. Still other times it would flash various red lights like the Devil or the aliens from Close Encounters. Spooky right?
@adinnieken: LOL You're right, why not "Ghosts 'N' Goblins or a Vs. Caslevania?
I bet the spectre was someone who succumbed to a bout of Pac-Man Fever.
Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde all kinda sounded like henchman names to me.
This fifth ghost must be the mastermind.
...
Either that or some poor lost soul who thought pixelated ghosts were better friends than none.
That is freaky deaky.
Someone should just take that machine and put it in a room and set up a camera, now games can also prove that ghosts do exist.
Someone other then me cause I ain't messing with stuff like that.
Cooool.
As little as I believe in the supernatural, stuff like this always freaks me out. No way would I put that thing in my apartment.
Its all about the quarters...
You know what, maybe it's Kevin Flynn trying to get out and away from the MCP.
He just needs to eat a power pellet, and be done with them. that's what the big "dot" is called, right?
@Witzbold: Can you use the banhammer on this?
@geekgrrl: My guess is that someone must've killed him by forcing him through the coinslot. Science.
This is awesome. I don't live in boston, but I would pay for a haunted machine.
PS: I don't believe in ghosts, but I wish they were real. That would be awesome.
@Prinnygeddon!: I briefly thought you meant your own comment and that you were challenging Witzbold. My proximity to your comment almost made me take shelter.
If it's real or not it's still rather creepy. I've always thought the world is full of stuff we don't understand and I'd rather not fuck with it myself.
I'd like to hear more of this guy's story though. What did the figure resemble etc. etc.
@Cathaoir: I would never challenge the banhammer, I was only wondering if banning ghosts was one of the Almighty Banhammer's powers...
@Prinnygeddon!: I think we will need Mr. Norris on this one. Not even the hammer can save us this time. D:
Cool, when I die I want to haunt a Street Fighter Machine
@Prinnygeddon!: Does that mean you cannot cross the hammers?
I don't believe in ghosts, so I'd be all over this. Except for the weight. That would be the problem. Hell, did anybody even bother to talk to this "dark man"? I mean, he could be a real cool old school gamer.
man...i wish i could get hold that machine...
i don't particularly like ghosts but this would be one cool machine to have in your own home...
The machine is possessed by the spirit of Billy Mitchell's mullet.
The ghosts of a thousand Pikmin haunt my cube...
I just wanted all the parts to the dolphin! That's all! NO!
@Ashurahori: "There's something strange, in the neighbourhood, who will yo call? Banhammer!"
Sorry, I couldn't resist...
@vanderblade: This idea reminds me a bit of the end of "Shaun of the Dead"...but with the potential for playing video games with a ghost instead of a zombie.
This dude is so gonna rob whoever shows up looking for a free Ms. Pac-Man.
It would be extra freaky if this was an old cabinet of "Berserk".
[home.hiwaay.net]
Pardon me, "Berzerk". Don't haunt me, Pacman Fever Ghost!
I want it! Why? I've always wanted to torment poor souls! You know, let evil me out to play once in awhile.
I just emailed the feller saying I'd take it. Belmont isn't far from my house. If it is haunted, I'd love to get the Ghost Hunters to come investigate it! If not, free arcade machine!
It would be cool to dump it at MIT if it is "haunted" though. Can you imagine the way all those geeks would torment that soul? Prank the Pac-man ghost!
Obviously swamp gas.
Oh wait that was me.
Sorry.
Holy fucking hell I want a haunted arcade cabinet!
Why not just throw it out?
@wallapuctus: my thoughts exactly.
i wish my world was such an exciting one, i believed in haunted arcade machines.
I live in Cali and would pay to have that thing shipped here in a heartbeat.
@Witzbold: Chuck Norris doesn't make ghost go away.....he just plain makes ghosts!
@Werrick: because the machine called his cellphone and said "seven days" but the call came FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE.
whether or not ghosts really do exist is one thing. but outsie of being spooky what harm can ghosts really cause?
I would get this in a heartbeat and even if I did see a figure disapear into the machine I wouldn't be swayed. Probably just challenge him to a high-score game and let him channel me so that i may be his controller and he can attempt to beat me at HIS OWN GAME. HAR!
but seriously mr ghost. lets be friends
I ain't 'fraid o' no ghosts.
The things people come up with...
@icepick314: Its gonna erase all of your anim00 dvds. ;D
I wonder if the Church would refuse to exorcise the machine on the grounds that videogames are the work of the devil.
I would take that in a split second.
Ghosts: Love them
Video Games: Love them
Arcade Machine: Always wanted one
That is like the perfect combination for an amazing time.
@DiscipleofJamzy: the scary thing is, i've read that story before... (forgives if it was off kotaku, it's possible.)
@geekgrrl: if you read it somewhere else, then it was false. It became true only once it was published on Kotaku.
Wouldn't a haunted Mrs. Pac-Man be even more valuable?
why doesn't this jerk just ship it to Ghost Hunters. I'm calling protective services, this guy is obviously locking his kids, or someone els's kids in this box.
Be ye warned the spirit which cannot be named lives within the cabinet of terror. The wife of a hero shall be tourmented by the Fifth Ghost, the spirit which cannot be named...
Oh, I want this!
I'm going to contact him for it...
Somebody call an exorcist!
It would probably be easier to get rid of if he charged for it instead of giving it away for free. If people _think_ it's haunted they'll pay for it and ship it home. If people BELIEVE it's haunted 'cause you're giving it away for free, they'll think 'something is up' and avoid it.
Some gaming blog that starts with a K needs to get this and have an interesting exclusive. Observe it and it's surroundings, videotape and document.
Don't let it ruin another poor gamer's life. Let it ruin your lives for good business and entertainment
BS, the guy probably just wants to get rid of it and thought a clever story to tie in with the game itself would get rid of it faster...then he realized people dont like "Haunted " things so he changed his story.
He should contact that ghost chasing show.
@DiscipleofJamzy: I was just thinking about that guy that died from a heartattack playing Berzerk. That would justify a haunting.
Quantum Leap, ftw!
Or maybe the last owner got over 900,000 and Star Command connected with him/her. Oh wait, that was just a movie...
@Modus_Operandi: LMAO
Anyway, I'm a skeptic too and if I had a house as opposed to a small one bedroom apartment I'd be all over that. 5th ghost or not.
And on top of that, I'd have Discovery Channel come investigate my machine.