The character was based on a Japanese folk hero with a legendary appetite and derived its name from the word "to eat."  
The character was based on a Japanese folk hero with a legendary appetite and derived its name from the word "to eat."  Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia wrote a song about it that became a Top 10 hit.  This of course happened after rights were acquired Namco Limited by Bally Manufacturing Company.  By 1981, 96,000 arcade versions of this game had been sold, surpassing "Space Invaders" as America's favorite video game.  FTP name this game built around a character with an insatiable appetite who is chased around by ghosts.
The character was based on a Japanese folk hero with a legendary appetite and derived its name from the word "to eat."  
Pac-Man