Slashdot Mirror


PacManhattan Relocates Classic Game To New York Streets

Matt Slaybaugh writes "Some classmates of mine have developed a 'large-scale urban game that utilizes the New York City grid to recreate the 1980's video game sensation Pac-Man.' One player dresses up as Pac-Man and tries to cover the full Greenwich Village grid, while 4 others dressed as Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde try to catch him. Everyone reports their positions to their respective generals, who monitor progress on a central control board. I can't wait for the real-world implementation of Donkey Kong."

37 of 326 comments (clear)

  1. For a small price... by Exiler · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll gladly hurl barrels at the submitter... or anyone, really.

    --
    Banaaaana!
    1. Re:For a small price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'd pay for that... if you do it naked, like in the game

  2. But what about - by Black+Parrot · · Score: 4, Funny


    > while 4 others dressed as Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde try to catch him.

    What happened to Tinkie-Winkie?

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  3. Or Frogger on 5th Avenue! by Madwand · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just imagine dodging taxis...

    1. Re:Or Frogger on 5th Avenue! by Azureflare · · Score: 4, Funny
      Well, in real life, the taxis might swerve to avoid you. Whereas in frogger, this never happens.

      On the other hand, this IS New York we're talking about here.

      Oh, do not get in the way of the producers freshly fed and baying for cabs.

    2. Re:Or Frogger on 5th Avenue! by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 4, Funny

      Dodging taxis eh? Sure, go ahead and do it, just don't get nailed for taxi evasion.

      --
      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  4. so sad... by Roger+Keith+Barrett · · Score: 5, Funny

    even more guys who will never, ever get laid...

    --

    Why don't you embrace your slashbotness instead of living in a dreamworld?
  5. Only in Greenwich Village... by SilentChris · · Score: 4, Funny

    Somehow, looking at the pictures, I imagine the guy who plays PacMan has a hard time getting dates.

    Scene bar:
    Guy: "So, baby, what's your sign?"
    Women: "What's that big thing sticking out of your chest?"
    Guy: "Oh this? Yellow foam. There's one in the back too."
    Women: "What's it for for? Do you use it erotically?"
    Guy: "Heck no. It's for playing a real-life version of a videogame from the 80s."
    *Total silence*

    1. Re:Only in Greenwich Village... by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 4, Funny

      Do all of the New York women talk in unison or is that scene you just described from Pacmanhattan: The Musical? :P

      --
      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  6. Power Pellets by dankney · · Score: 4, Funny

    Power Pellets sold by shady characters in dark alleys?

    1. Re:Power Pellets by jelevy01 · · Score: 5, Informative

      who needs dark alleys? It's Washington Square park, just got to D2 by the chess boards..

    2. Re:Power Pellets by kotj.mf · · Score: 4, Funny

      If that gets modded Informative, I guess the mods really are on crack.

      --
      hang brain.
  7. Fruit by Decameron81 · · Score: 5, Funny

    But if you find a rotten apple lying in the middle of the street are you supposed to eat it?

    Diego

    --
    diegoT
  8. I won't be happy by karmaflux · · Score: 4, Funny

    until they all have GPS's, and I can watch a satellite map of them running around. GET TO WORK

    --

    REM Old programmers don't die. They just GOSUB without RETURN.

    1. Re:I won't be happy by claar · · Score: 4, Informative

      Um, from the site:

      Using Global Positioning, WIFI internet connections, cell phones and custom software designed by the Pac-Manhattan team, Pac-man and the ghosts will be tracked from a central location and their progress will be broadcast over the internet for viewers from around the world.

      --
      I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous...
  9. Re:I Wonder... by imgumbydamnit · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hey, It's New York. Standard fare in the Village.

    --
    To err is human. To arr is pirate.
  10. Re:holy cow by kingkade · · Score: 4, Funny

    How are the ghosts gonna eat the pacman? Cannibals

    Obviously they had to change the rules with people, so they can't be eaten. When the guy playing Pacman gets caught he gets fucked in the ass and he loses a life.

  11. hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if we can ever simulate this on a computer. That would save a lot of time, money and effort.

    1. Re:hmmm by xintegerx · · Score: 5, Funny

      I wonder if we can ever simulate this on a computer. That would save a lot of time, money and effort.

      1) In theory, it sounds feasible, but I don't see how it can be done practically. For one, I've dabbled in computer programming, and the most popular game libraries, Direct3D and OpenGL, are 3D libraries, I think.

      2) Two, maybe I don't know about games too much, but in my experience, all controllable object models must be able to launch particles, and have multiple weapons. Again, I am not an expert, but that is from my experience ( I am 14 years old.) But I think there is some limitation like that Microsoft's Denomination Library Network explains. All games controlled by keyboard and rendered and sample game source code projects have a shooting mode, ALWAYS. So you can see that I am not stupid.

      3) Without 3D models and 3D collisions, how could you know when you hit a wall?

      This game is not feasible with current technology.

      I am an expert in this field,

      Sincerely,

      Integer
      President, "Slashdot Users Giving Short-Sighted Opinions", founded in 1969.

      ~ Integer: Killing good jokes since 1969. (There I just killed some 69 joke going on right now somewhere on the Internet.)

  12. SUPREME NERDULENCE!!! by swordgeek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    OK, this is just so nerdy, so utterly whacko, and such a large scale piece of craziness that you HAVE to love it.

    I've been laughing for the last three minutes. This is great! Even my wife likes the idea. Cheers to those doing it.

    --

    "People who do stupid things with hazardous materials often die." -- Jim Davidson on alt.folklore.urban
  13. Re:holy cow by andy_shepard · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...and he loses a life.

    I'd bet he didn't have one in the first place.

  14. Why report? by www.sorehands.com · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why bother to report position? Why not just automate it with GPS reporting?

  15. George Costanza has already done it in Seinfeld! by antdude · · Score: 5, Informative

    From episode 174. It was a pretty funny episode. :)

    I even found two video clips: #1 and #2. Here are two screen captures: #1 and #2. Thanks to Google for finding these. ;)

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  16. This is a creative project, but... by MisterLawyer · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The rules are missing a few details.

    From the rules:
    "At the start of the game, Pac-Man runs along the streets, staying outdoors, within the designated playing area at all times. The ghosts may begin to chase Pac-Man. Pac-Man continues to run the board until all of the dots are "eaten" or one of the ghosts eats Pac-Man."

    What does it mean for a ghost to "eat" Pac-Man?
    Does a ghost have to be within a certain distance from Pac-Man?
    Does a ghost have to "tag" (physically touch) Pac-Man?
    Does a ghost have to restrain Pac-Man?

    What happens if a random pedestrian interferes with the game?
    These are not empty streets where pan-man and the ghosts can run around freely. There is a lot of obstacles and pedestrian and automotive traffic getting in the way of things.
    Also, a guy dressed in yellow foam being vigorously chased by other guys dressed in foam is likely to attract attention, probably by the police.

    Wouldn't the fastest runner have a distinct advantage over the other players?
    In other words, if Pac-Man had the evasive maneuvers of a pro football running back, wouldn't the game kind of be over before it started?

    I applaude the creative ressurrection of a childhood pastime, but I am skeptical of the game being much more than an elaborate "tag, you're it" with costumes.

    1. Re:This is a creative project, but... by Meneudo · · Score: 5, Funny

      What does it mean for a ghost to "eat" Pac-Man?

      Kick him in the balls.

      What happens if a random pedestrian interferes with the game?

      See above.

      Wouldn't the fastest runner have a distinct advantage over the other players?

      Get a spedometer and a taser and wire it to shock you if you go too fast.

      --
      ...
    2. Re:This is a creative project, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      and the city doesn't have some space warping ability to send you to the other side if you walk through a certain door.

      Heh. Tourist.

  17. Re:holy cow by DarkBlackFox · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh the irony of that post being here on slashdot.

  18. Re:I Wonder... by Nurseman · · Score: 4, Funny
    Hey, It's New York. Standard fare in the Village.

    I am sure they go past Washington Square Park for those "Special Powerups "
    (Its a notorious drug selling spot, see This Story)

    --
    Save a Life. Donate Blood. Please.
  19. You sir, are obviously not a New Yorker by notestein · · Score: 4, Funny

    Clearly you're not from New York.

    These guys are gay and are getting plenty being in Greenwich Village.

    In fact, Pac Man is just a metaphor... well I'll let you work it out.

  20. real geeks would ... by rawbytes · · Score: 4, Insightful

    use GPSes and GIS software to monitor and control the game rules. Each player probably needs to see the whole board also, not just a block ahead.

  21. Kristian Wilson, CEO, Nintendo Gaming Corporation by Denyer · · Score: 5, Funny
    ...speaking in 1989...

    "Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man affected us as kids, we'd all run around in a darkened room munching pills and listening to repetitive music..."

    ...and I bet he never forsaw the live-action roleplay version either!

    --
    Ph-nglui mglw'nafh Gates M'dna wgah'nagl fhtagn.
  22. Big Urban Game in Minneapolis by eltoyoboyo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Folks at the University of Minnesota had a slightly different concept: They used gigantic red, yellow, and blue inflatable game pieces using Minneapolis streets as a game board. It was the Big Urban Game played in September 2003. In case you are wondering, blue won.

    The home page of the B.U.G.

    --
    Have you Meta Moderated t
  23. Re:Kristian Wilson, CEO, Nintendo Gaming Corporati by Bob+Cat+-+NYMPHS · · Score: 4, Informative

    Wrong attribution, internet-rumor-boy.

    Marcus Brigstocke, a Brit comedian, wrote that, and he is not pleased that you don't know that.

  24. Re:Key by geekee · · Score: 4, Funny

    " How do I get the gold key?"

    I'd like to see him try and convince Mayor Bloomberg to give him the key to the city if he clears enough boards.

    --
    Vote for Pedro
  25. Re:This is why geeks will always be better than yo by transient · · Score: 4, Funny
    And one final thing...how is this real-life Pacman game any more lame than a game where a bunch of musclebound idiots are chasing another musclebound idiot carrying a ball across a field?

    Er... the musclebound idiots are getting laid?

    --

    irb(main):001:0>
  26. Re:This is why geeks will always be better than yo by pubudu · · Score: 5, Funny
    You see, we don't waste every waking moment of our lives thinking about getting laid. We actually do things we find interesting.

    When I see someone like you post something like your post, I already know that I have more of a life than that person. There are more, and better, things than sex.

    Unlike you, I actually spend my life doing things that I enjoy--I don't focus on fulfilling animalistic urges and belittling anyone who actually has a real hobby.

    Ah yes, so many things in life seem more worthwhile than having sex when there isn't any sex to be had. Oddly enough, the availability of sex does tend to change ones priorities. Hobbies seem boring, reading a waste of time, and thinking itself an unbearable burden. The smell of one's aftershave takes on an increasing importance. One becomes concerned with the threadcount of one's sheets. Insipid banter becomes engaging.

    That having been said, I find myself agreeing with you more than I would like these days. Yes, yes, there really is nothing like a good book on quantum mechanics and reading every post to /.

    --
    ~~~~~~

    under-paid karma whore

  27. Re:holy cow by f97tosc · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh the irony of that post being here on slashdot.

    On a Saturday night.

    Tor