Kotaku: Toru Iwatani

This Guy Has a Rare Arcade Cabinet. Is It Real?

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:30:00 EDT

Sometimes I get stupid email from readers. Sometimes I get nice email. And sometimes, I get email from people with questions. Reader Joel sent me one of those: A question. More »

Pac-Man Creator Wants Games That Last

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EDT

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Over thirty years ago, Toru Iwatani (not pictured) created Pac-Man. Decades later, it's a game people still remember and still play. That, Iwatani said, is what game designers must do today. They must create games that stand the test of time. More »

Pac-Man's Creator Now Wants To Make Pac-Man Sing, Dishes Pac-Man Trivia

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:30:00 EST

The man who created Pac-Man three decades ago says he has a vision for the next version of the venerable dot eater. He wants Pac-Man to sing a song. More »

Pac-Man Creator Wants To Pump You Up

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST

Pac-Man might have been inspired by greasy pizza, but that doesn't mean its creator, Toru Iwatani, wants you to turn to lard. More »

Pac-Man? No, Pac-Naan

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EDT

At a recent Pac-Man exhibit, the game's creator Toru Iwatani poses a Pac-Man made from naan. As seen here. More »

"Secret" Pac-Man Drawings

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:00:00 EDT

Toru Iwatani created Pac-Man. He still carries top secret documents with him to game conferences. No, really. More »

Pac-Man In Leather, In Your Back Pocket

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EDT

To mark the thirtieth anniversary of everyone's favorite pellet muncher, Namco Bandai is releasing a commemorative wallet in Japan this May. It comes in three colors and is priced at ¥14,800 (US$158). Wakka wakka! More »

Mr. Pac

Brian Crecente — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:20:00 EDT

What if famed game designer Tōru Iwatani and famed children's book author and illustrator Roger Hargreaves were pals? This is what! More »

Death Before Retirement

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:30:09 EDT

At 54 years-old is Shigeru Miyamoto is showing no signs of slowing down. From Super Mario Galaxy to Wii Fit, he's still got his fingers in multiple projects. But with contemporaries like Pac-Man creator Toru Iwatani retiring, the question remains: is Shigeru Miyamoto next? He tells us: More »

Pac-Man Creator Not So Good At Pac-Man

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:00:08 EDT

Last week, Pac-Man creator Toru Iwatani called it a day and has semi-retired off to a university teaching position. So, Toru Iwatani must be amazingly good at the game he created. Nope! He says: More »

How Pac-Man Creator Profited From Pac-Man

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:00:45 EDT

Earlier this week, Pac-Man creator Toru Iwatani called it quits and retired from gaming. What's next? He's teaching game planning at Tokyo Polytechnic Institute. Iwatani had a very impressive run, creating one of gaming's most memorable characters. All that's nice, but it doesn't pay the bills. Says Iwatani: More »

Pac-Man Creator Doesn't Retire From Signing Autographs

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:00:34 EDT

Today in NYC, legendary game creator Toru Iwatani announced his retirement. Over at MTV's Gamedrop blog, Jason Cipriano decided it would be cool to get the Pac-Man creator to sign a Pac-Man arcade cabinet. Realizing that it would be, well, difficult to bring a cabinet to the event, Gamedrop settled on a Pac-Man marquee — the sign that's displayed over the arcade's screen. For bonus points, high scoring gamer Billy Mitchell also John Hancocked it! I've met loads of famous game industry types, but I've never asked for anyone's autographs. Maybe I should, 'cause this is pretty cool. Then again, maybe I shouldn't. Brian Ashcraft More »