For April s Fools Day this year Google has done something clever even by that company s standards They ve given players the ability to play Pac Man on any map anywhere in the world at the click of a button.
Welcome Player 1 Google writes on the game s webpage. You can now play the classic arcade game PAC MAN in Google Maps with streets as your maze. Avoid Blinky Pinky Inky (and Clyde ) as you swerve the streets of some famous places around the world. But eat the pac dots fast because this game will only be around for a little while.
This is a feature that Google should leave baked into Maps forever because Pac Man on any street map anywhere in the world is just too awesome to use only as a holiday prank.
In any case we ve sat down and found some of the best places to play this globe trotting classic arcade game. Here are some of them. If you find others please shout out on Twitter and Facebook or in the comments.
Update I ve added the first reader suggested maps to the list and a couple more that I found as well. See the excellent reader suggestions below and please suggest your own
Washington D.C.
With its roundabouts adding a little circular action to the grid Washington D.C. offers a great place to run away from ghosts.
Boston MA
When I think about great Pac Man maps I try to think about the worst designed metros out there with the worst congestion and traffic issues possible. Obviously Boston springs to mind.
Brussels Belgium
Across the pond if you want bad traffic visit Brussels the seat of the EU. Lots of choke points roads going nowhere and other fun challenges.
Milan Italy
For a little more artistic flair head to Italy. There s nothing quite like playing Pac Man beneath the shadow of the Arco della Pace. Even this map looks artsy.
Phoenix AZ
If you re after a more straightforward grid based map no place is better suited than Phoenix AZ. It s all straight lines designed by people with actual cars. Think of this as Easy Mode.
Paris France
Any place with rivers and bridges will do I m looking at you Pittsburgh but Paris is fancier. And nothing makes a game of Pac Man better than fancy.
Saigon Vietnam
For something a little further East you can t go wrong with Saigon. Well in Google Pac Man anyways.
Baghdad Iraq
And hey while we re on the subject of cities with rivers and countries we ve fought wars with why not Baghdad Crazy streets palaces intense danger .what could go wrong
Tokyo Japan
This list wouldn t be complete (and wasn t complete until I added this) without Tokyo and specifically the Meguro Ward in Tokyo where Pac Man creator Toru Iwatani was born.
This isn t the first time G00gle has inserted Pac Man code by the way. In 2010 they created a Google Doodle that housed a fully playable version of the game to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Pac Man is also starring in the upcoming Adam Sandler film Pixels.
A brief note If you re on mobile phones some of these locations won t work.
In fact there s only a few spots in Google Maps that will generate a Pac Man button. Fortunately Google has provided a list of clues for intrepid mobile mappers to follow.
Here they are
Don t drop the ball on the eve of your victory Triumph is d licieux. Does a Galaxian bonus await at the top of those 272 steps Chomp your way to independence down seven lanes of July. PAC MAN and Ms. PAC MAN can t agree on which side is prettier the American or the Canadian. Which side do you fall on eh After a chat with the Sphinx PAC MAN sounds more like Dokki Dokki . Pause game play to admire Chagall s stained glass windows and have a bit of chocolate. Can you score 10 (10 100) points Whether they re flashing blue or sporting their natural colors Blinky Pinky Inky and Clyde are always kakkoii. Even Vogue agrees they re living in the trendiest of neighborhoods. Previous PAC MAN lives don t get to rest in a white marble mausoleum. Head to the valley of the sun and earn your grade in the art of the game. How well can you navigate the radiating streets of the distrito federal Victory is like gothic glockenspiel musik to our ears. Pay special attention to Blinky he might blend in with the dreaming red kangaroos You ll find the Beach PAC MAN World Cup here before long.Happy April Fools Day
Reader Suggested Google Maps
I ll be adding new cities as the suggestions roll in (so please shout out in the comments or on social media )
Rio De Janeiro Brazil
One of the largest cities in Brazil Rio is a bustling metropolis with some absolutely crazy streets. Thanks to commenter Ravael Silva for the suggestion
New York City NY
A reader on Facebook suggested NYC thanks to all its parks. This one looks fun
Disneyland
This is by far my favorite suggestion at this point. The happiest place on earth is the perfect Pac Man map Thanks to aduongin on Twitter.
Portland OR
Apparently Portland has some really weird symmetrical street design. sleeplesstwo and Ryan Jones (same person I think ) both suggest the Ladd s Addiction area
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