Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures may be old news in the US but the European launch is only just happening, and to remind everyone of that fact publisher Bandai Namco has picked a rather unique approach when it comes to promotion: projecting a massive image of Pac-Man himself onto Sega's HQ in Chiswick, West London.
Using some of the most powerful projectors in the world — capable of filling an area 30m wide x 25m high — an 80-foot tall image of the famous pill-popper was splashed across the imposing building, visible from the M4 motorway which runs alongside the structure. The spectacle lasted only a few minutes however, as security guards spotted the image and pulled the plug.
London resident Robert Leney was one of the many people who spotted the stunt before it was all over, and he had this to say:
I’ve been travelling home on the M4 every night for the last 15 years and the massive Sonic character has always been a marker that I’m entering London. I was in complete shock to see it had been taken over by PAC MAN. It’s all good though as I love seeing my two favourite childhood video game characters reunited again.
Bandai Namco's Lee Kirton obviously wasn't too downhearted that the event only lasted five minutes, and has released the following message:
We wanted to be cheeky, create some fun, but obviously do it quietly. Something that’s hard to do in the game’s industry, but slightly easier at midnight. We hope Sega aren't offended, more delighted.
As an interesting aside, it's worth noting that former Bandai Namco staffer Peter Oliver is now employed as PR Manager at Sega Europe — could this apparent case of "commercial sabotage" have been nothing more than a good-natured trick concocted in secret by the two publishers? We'll leave you to decide on that, but it's certainly an interesting way to generate publicity.
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is based on the popular animated television series, and will be available on the 3DS and Wii U. It hits the UK on March 7th, and launched in North America in October last year.
Comments 30
With all this doom-and-gloom talk with sales numbers, review scores, analysts and trolls everywhere you look in the gaming industry, its nice to see some good-hearted fun once in a while
Great pics. Love pac man
Well I can tell you right now that SEGA isn't happy with this! There's only 1 way to settle this now... Sonic vs Pac-Man in Smash!
@Bulbousaur agreed its nice to not see something about Sueing or trolling ect ect it gets so tiresome nice to see something light harted as you sed
Does anybody remember when Sega used a picture of a roadkill hedgehog in a marketing exercise ? (With the tagline obviously not as fast as Sonic the Hedgehog).
Too bad that wall has 2 giant rows of windows on it. Otherwise it'd have been perfect.
Bahahaha hilarious!
This was hilarious and based off the... Wait, popular animated series? Ahem
Spongebob is popular
Regular show is popular
Phineas and ferb is popular
Pacman and the ghostly adventures is not popular
However this projection might just change all of that
That Pacman in itself is like 30 feet at maximum, though, but let's not mince words.
BanNam Style
been waiting to use that since the name change article :3
Sega should send over the virtua fighter crew to teach the tekken bunch a thing or two
"Possible Sega/Bandai-Namco merger in the offing." You read it here first!
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is a crummy video game. A projection will not change that, nor will it increase sales. The TV series is nothing special either. Sonic Boom will blow this series out of the water.
I am not amused!!
It's an Lol moment. XD
PAC-MAN CONFIRMED
Its not a big deal, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Sega, and even Nintendo are all pretty close knit.
They were using Segas own power? Nice
Why has Pac-Man not been confirmed for Smash yet? It makes so much sense!
Conspiracy theory: Pac-Man is making it to Smash Bros 4, most likely on E3.
It looks smart if I where SEGA I would keep it up,
When i go to london up the motor way i see Sega sonic and all high buildings it's amazing and cheers me up that to think other uk people are playing games still.
Never been a big fan of Pac-man, but somehow the ghostly adventures really killed it for me.
@Reala The Mishimas will wipe the entire virtual fighter crew on the floor brah.
Sonic is in Smash Bros. Pac-man is in Smash Bros?
Advertising for the Pacman Museum maybe (Think it came out very recently).
LOL
Maybe Bandai Namco and SEGA will merge soon ...
I can also imagine, that most of the japanese software companies will merge into one, some time in the future ... who know. Everything is possible.
Maybe there is some sort of rivalry.
Both characters have 3D platformers coming out based on TV shows...
Now that you mention it...
Anyway, Lol!
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