ATARI 2600 Pac-Man 4K - What We Should Have Had in 1982!

This is my review of the awesome Atari 2600 homebrew of Pacman 4K. This game was ported by Dennis Debro, and started out as a challenge to himself to see if I could get a no frills Pac-man written for the 2600 in 4K and stay faithful to the original arcade game. He made some sacrifices along the way. Most noticeable was the decision to flicker the objects at a rate of 20Hz instead of developing a variable flicker algorithm.
Each monster has its own behavior. They are similar to the arcade version except for Clyde's. His behavior was sacrificed to get the game into 4K. Instead he moves randomly through the maze which makes for an interesting game.
This game is no longer available in the AtariAge store, but you can download it at this link to play on your emulator, or to put on your Harmony or Uno cart...
forums.atariage.com/topic/277...
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Gaming and Production Equipment Used
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Hyperkin "Trooper II" Premium Atari 2600 Style Wired USB Joystick Game Controller For PC/Mac/Raspberry Pi/Retro Pie/Linux - amzn.to/40gRZcM
Redragon K556 RGB LED Backlit Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Aluminum Base, 104 Standard Keys - amzn.to/3lS294J
Logitech G502 HERO High Performance WiTred Gaming Mouse, HERO 25K Sensor, 25,600 DPI, RGB, Adjustable Weights, 11 Programmable Buttons, On-Board Memory, PC / Mac, Black - amzn.to/3nn391p
Logitech F710 Wireless Gamepad, 2.4 GHz Wireless with USB Nano-Receiver, Controller Dual Vibration Feedback, 4 Switch D-Pad, PC - Grey/Black - amzn.to/3ZlWAJs
ASUS VP248QG 24” Full HD 1920x1080 1ms DP HDMI VGA Adaptive Sync/FreeSync Gaming Monitor, BLACK - amzn.to/3z8EQ9N
USB Microphone, MAONO 192KHZ/24Bit Plug & Play PC Computer Podcast Condenser Cardioid Metal Mic Kit with Professional Sound Chipset for Recording, Gaming - amzn.to/3TwH0ti
3 Packs 70 LED Video Light with Adjustable Tripod Stand/Color Filters, Obeamiu 5600K USB Studio Lighting - amzn.to/3Tywjq3
Tocoan Softbox Photography Lighting Kit, 2packs 27 x 20 inches Photo Studio Equipment & Continuous Lighting System with 40W 8000K LED Bulbs Professional Studio Lighting, Live Streaming - amzn.to/42lDLJc
12 X 10 FT Large Green Screen Backdrop for Photography, GreenScreen Background for Zoom Meeting, Polyester Cloth Fabric Curtain with 4 Spring Clamps, Chromakey Video Photoshoot Studio Gaming KZbin - amzn.to/40poUvz
DEPSTECH Webcam 4K, 3X Zoomable Webcam with Microphone and Remote, 1/3" Sony Sensor, Dual Noise-Canceling Mics, Autofocus Computer Camera for PC Mac - amzn.to/3ZsZhsJ
Hyperkin RetroN 77: HD Gaming Console for 2600 - amzn.to/3zbfRCW

[@TheShospitali]

If they'd program it like this it might have saved them from the Video Game Crash of 1983!

[@RetroBlissGaming]

A lot of people think the same way!!

[@small_ed]

That briefly crossed my mind, but it's hard to contend that this version alone could have prevented that. The crash was a culmination of competing factors including multiple console manufacturers. Atari execs however would have done better to focus efforts on optimizing game play on the 2600 instead of forcing their half-assed plan through with the 5200.

[@twistedyogert]

​@@RetroBlissGaming I've heard that the arrival of home computers also played a role in the crash. I guess people thought: *"Why would I spend hundreds of dollars on an Atari when I could buy a Commodore for around the same price which does more than just games and let's me write my own software."*

[@RetroBlissGaming]

@@twistedyogert Yeah, I don’t think one single game caused the crash, and there were other factors like home computers, just like you said. Thanks for sharing!

[@Akira625]

There didn’t seem to be much in the way of quality control over at Atari back then. The 2600 had a lot of great games, but a whole lot of horrible ones as well. After the crash, Nintendo learned from Atari’s mistakes, and they didn’t allow third party developers to make games for the NES without being certified by them first.

[@desiv1170]

All the people claiming how disappointed they were is interesting... Considering Pacman on the 2600 was the best selling cart on the 2600... By a HUGE margin... Not even close... The "we were so disappointed" thing is played out and just not true. Not for most 2600 owners. We didn't expect games to be close to the arcade back then. They just had to play about the same... And it did... It was perfectly fine... If that many people really didn't like it, it wouldn't have sold that many copies. And I can't emphasize how much more it sold than ANY OTHER game on the system... PacMan, over 8 million copies!!! Space Invaders, 6 million, and then it goes down to 4 million for other games and drops from there... Yes, it could have been a better conversion. And this new version is an incredible piece of work... No question. But 2600 PacMan is worthy of the name. It was fun. And no, it wasn't just good marketing that sold 8M copies. E.T. had great marketing... Better than PacMan. But it was flawed, and as a result sold less than 3M copies. If 2600 PacMan were considered that bad back then, it would have been similar. Not 8M! I am glad there are more accurate versions now.. But one doesn't have to put down one game just to give props to another...

[@RetroBlissGaming]

While I disagree with you, I respect your opinion. I know that others feel the same as you, for sure. But many feel the same as I do, as well. Like I said, 2600 Pac-Man is a playable game, and one that I do play from time to time. Just not one that is worthy of the name "Pac-Man", for me.

[@tron3entertainment]

The original Atari 2600 Pac Man is like using a thimble's worth of code and calling it a shot glass. Have you seen the 8K version of Atari 2600 Pac Man? It is a great port. If the Atari 2600 had 4K of base RAM, they would not have to add a RAM chip to each cartridge. But hey, some hardware serves as the bad example for the hardware to follow. Back then, who knew?

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Yes, hindsight, right? But, yes the 8K version is amazing! I just recently live-streamed it on the channel. I absolutely love it!

[@lewdaney6373]

l loved the Atari 2600 PacMan as a kid, but of course, l didn't know of the existence of the original. Now this new version looks amazing, it is impressive that this was all squeezed into 4k. Knowing the limitations of the 2600 this is as good as it gets.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Yes, it’s definitely amazing!

[@d4qatoa]

As others have said, the 2600 Ms. PacMan also proved the port could be done better. Our family bought Ms.PacMan and I don't consider it to be that much different a game. To me that was the "fix" for PacMan -just play Ms. PacMan.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

We have similar stories then! Yes, Ms. Pac-Man was so much better, and I can’t disagree with your assessment. I’ve listed Ms. Pac-Man as one of my top 25 video game ports for the 2600. Thanks for sharing!

[@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785]

Ms. PacMan even included all 4 mazes! As soon as I had it, I all but completely stopped playing PacMan.

[@Pjvenom1985]

Very nice video such a iconic pixelated classic! Congratulations on the KZbinr of the month nomination man best of luck!🕹🏆🍀

[@RetroBlissGaming]

It’s an honor to be nominated… I’m not sure how that even work’s exactly, but I’m having a blast with the channel!! Thanks for watching!

[@ferndog1461]

Enjoy shaving in the morning & watching this gentleman enjoy my old hobbies as a kid in the early eighties. A Dunkin', $tarbucks, TimHortons toast to him & his community.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Salute! Eighties wears the best decade!!

[@ZagnutBar]

I've heard Tod Frye speak at a few different Portland Retro Gaming Expo panels. You're right, he still doesn't understand the problem. He falls back on the excuse that "we were still figuring out what made a good home port", completely ignoring Space Invaders which is still a great game to play now, and was in the early 80s too. There's a clip somewhere in KZbin of Frye playing the 8k Pac-Man and being similarly impressed and depressed by how good it is. Well worth seeking out.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Yeah, I've seen that video. I don't blame him totally for the Pac-Man failure, but his mindset was definitely all wrong, especially when approaching how to program the game. He didn't have much time, and he was all alone. Atari hinged all of their bets on one man making a good port. Bad move...

[@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785]

My only gripe is, in the remake...why does Clyde blink more than Blinky though? The orange ghost's flicker is significantly more than the other 3. the addition of the cut-scene is a nice touch!

[@RetroBlissGaming]

The cut scenes are a very nice touch, I agree! I’ve never noticed one ghost blinking more than another not sure what’s going on with that!

[@afriend9428]

*Ms Pac-man was the improvement guys! Junior Pac-man was a fake ATARI or NAMCO game!* 💡

[@RetroBlissGaming]

The Ms. Pac-Man port for the 2600 was a very good game for the 2600! I listed it in my Top 25 Video Game Ports video! Very well done!

[@fuzzywzhe]

4:42 - there is NO WAY this particular version of PacMan could have existed in 1982. NO WAY. It's only possible to make a game like this because of the tools we have now. Although it would be TECHNICALLY possible, NOBODY would have done it. They wouldn't have had the time or inclination, it would have taken years.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Even with bank switching in this 4K version, 8K carts were available then. Atari didn’t want to spend the money to use them. And to be fair to Todd Frye, Atari tied his hands by rushing him and not letting him use the arcade color scheme. I do think it was possible, given a reasonable timeframe and the right programmer. But I respect your opinion!

[@fuzzywzhe]

@@RetroBlissGaming There wasn't time to make a decent port of PacMan back then. Back then you had to code in assembly, compile, and test. There was no such thing as a debugger. You had to get timing right to synchronize with the scan line, emulators were the fevered dream of a man man. It is WAY EASIER to code for an Atari 2600 today than it was in 1980. Infinitely easier. Today, I code stuff like slop to start with and once I understand just what I have to do, I redesign it, then I optimize it - which is really an unnecessary step. I can write a PacMan game in a day, nobody could do that in 1980, because they had to do it in assembly, and they had memory constraints on top of it. I could code it for the C=64 in under a week because I'd do most of the work on linux, then convert to 6510 when I had all the algorithms figured out. Making all the sprites and graphics would be easy, I could layout the game screen in a few hours. No way I could do that in 1980 even with my current knowledge. I wouldn't have the tools. I don't miss the bad old days. Imagine actually coding on a C=64 again, or an Atari 800 or something. Ugh.

[@crazykong1967]

I remember back in 1982 saving my money only to buy this garbage. This is the version that Atari should have released. Thanks for posting.👍

[@RetroBlissGaming]

I agree 100%!!👊🏻

[@stephenshelton4267]

I'm always impressed when an Atari game has background music,even when it's simple. I do remember getting a decent port of Mrs. Pac-Man around the time of the crash.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Yes, the Ms. Pac-Man port wasn't bad. This verson of Pac-Man 4K is great, but the first port was a turd!!

[@Jolt7800]

Great review on a homebrew that would have been a game changer if it would have been released instead of the original 260O Pac-Man.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Yeah, it may not have prevented the crash, but Atari could have turned things around with better quality control. They really needed to have teams working on these games like they do today. The one man shows just didn’t work. Tod Frye making all of the decisions was a bad move.

[@ferndog1461]

Ms Pac-Man is what Atari did to apologize for it's hurried up Pac-Man. Even today, the Ms Pac-Man cart is 20-40% more expensive on eBay, OfferUp, etc. Than regular carts.

[@chrisnizer5702]

I remember all the hype when Atari was set to release Pac-Man for the 2600 and how disappointed we were when we saw the actual game. Flickering is a good programming strategy allowing you to double the onscreen sprite's but the original game just went off the rails with it. This is what we were expecting back in 1982 . This would have been worth the hype AND the price. Thanks 👍👍

[@RetroBlissGaming]

I agree... It's nice to have this now. I'm disappointed that this cannot be purchased any longer, though :(

[@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785]

the sound of the ghosts getting gobbled up was pretty satisfying though...that swoopy sound similar to scoring a spare or strike in Atari Bowling. Pac-Man for Atari sounds were often used in movies and TV in the background whenever a character was shown "playing a video game" console of any sort while the TV screen was off camera/out of frame.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

That’s an interesting movie fact! Yeah, a bowling strike does have “that” sound similar!

[@markbowman5515]

I do have a great nostalgia for this game but it definitely was disappointing. The flicker on that "better" version would be unplayable for me.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

It’s hard not to have flicker in some of these games, especially when trying to stay within the same limitations as the original version. I get it…

[@rs3377]

Atari age had a last chance sale I just bought one!

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Yeah, I jumped in that too!!

[@ecdhe]

The black background is not the only thing that Tod Frye wished he had changed in the original Pac-Man game. Because the 2600 has only two sprites, one is used for Pac-Man and the other one shared by all the ghosts - so each ghost is displayed once every 4 frames. Frye had worked on a kernel which would reuse the ghost sprite without flickering if the ghosts weren't in the same band. But pressed by deadlines and because nobody had done this yet on the 2600, Frye shelved the idea. Ms Pac Man is however using this technique, including for the cherry (whose sprite is shared with Ms Pac Man). That said, I gotta say that the AtariAge version is making great use of the limited 2600 playfield capabilities to display a beautiful maze!

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Yes, he did have a pressing deadline. And his regrets may have changed. The interview that I saw he did say background and the flickering were the only things he would change. I guess my point is that a “port” should be as close to the original as possible. This isn’t always true. I love Space Invaders, and it’s nothing like the arcade. There’s just something about the 2600 Pac-Man that just isn’t Pac-Man for me…

[@ecdhe]

@@RetroBlissGaming I hear ya, the maze in the AtariAge 8k version makes the original 2600 maze look like crap (forget about the flickering). It shouldn't have been too difficult to make the original Pac-Man look closer to what the AtariAge version looks like (they use a very clever way to have a single playfield color on most lines). But I also suspect that Frye is a developer before being a graphic artist, so devoted most of his energy into the animation instead of trying to make the maze look like the arcade's.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

I suspect you may be right about that. I’m still waiting on my copy from the AtariAge store for the 4K.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

The 2600 Ms. Pac-Man was programmed by two of the GCC staff involved in the original arcade counterpart.

[@ecdhe]

@@ClassicTVMan1981X that's right! I forgot about that! One of Atari's (all too rare) right move was to hire them instead of suing them into oblivion.

[@DAWOL2025-fs1ve]

The TIME OUT arcades in every Mall. There was the Coleco handheld Pac Man that the first Atari looks like. The first version sounds more like Pitfall Harry. My friend Matt and I had 4 game cartridges for Commodore 64 that both of us liked best Pac Man Q-bert Missle Command Jupiter Lander

[@RetroBlissGaming]

It's nice to have memories of what we had back in the day! Thanks for watching!

[@operationshutdown155]

Pac-Man is my favorite game. I think some people who didn’t live thru that era don’t understand how big Pac-Man was and how disappointing the 2600 version was by comparison. Excellent job breaking down the context of why some people like us marvel at and enjoy some of the new homebrews!

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Thanks, Shutdown! Yeah, I'm pretty bitter about the original version... it was a major letdown! LOL!

[@little_fluffy_clouds]

I lived through that era, but I was at elementary school age, and didn’t mind that the version on my 2600 wasn’t arcade perfect, I loved it anyway. It was just magical being able to play it at home on my TV. My favourite 2600 game was, and will always be, Megamania, though.

[@pweddy1]

Was this based on the Miss PacMan code?

[@RetroBlissGaming]

I have no idea. I'm not sure how that I would even research that. Great question.

[@oubrioko]

Sounds like the developer of the original Atari 2600 port is pretty defensive about his version. Unfortunately, I ran right out and bought it (apparently, a whole bunch of us did) at the time. When the Colecovision version came out, I realized just how underwhelming my Atari version was. It really was a disappointment. Even the Commodore VIC-20 version was better than Atari's. Very nice video. Cheers 👍🏿

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Todd Frye really didn't try to make a true port of Pacman for the 2600, so I'm a little bitter about that. But, This version is so much better! Thanks for watching!!!

[@Kilroy_5150]

I saw all the Atari interviews. Todd Frye thought he did the best possible job. My take, he was WRONG. nuff said?

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Nuff said!!! Dude’s mind wasn’t on making a true port, that’s for sure!!!

[@Kilroy_5150]

IF Frye was the "rockstar" he thought he was, he would have been working at Activision or Imagic. :)

[@Mchenrygames]

Nothing like playing this in the middle of the night, using a Genesis controller

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Gotta love it!

[@heidifedor]

Ms. Pacman was superior.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Absolutely!!

[@sotheresthat7882]

You can change one of the dipswitches on Ms. PAC Man, and she’s about twice as fast. I get lucky and find one of these machines every now and then.

[@ellaschroeder1617]

what is the difference between the 4k version and the 8k version?

[@RetroBlissGaming]

The 8K version has a intro screen that introduces all of the ghosts, it has more than just the one cut scene, and the cut scenes are slightly different. The flicker is also less in the 8K version as well.

[@CookyMonzta]

I presume Atari hired a different programmer for their version of _Ms. Pac-Man_ because that game was miles ahead of the trainwreck that came the year before. It took me less than _2 hours_ to outfiox those monsters on the 2600 _Pac-Man,_ and I was playing on _someone else'_ system!

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Yes, Tod Frye had nothing to do with Ms. Pac-Man for the 2600, to my knowledge(thank God!)

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

@@RetroBlissGaming Nor did he have anything to do with the 2600's Jr. Pac-Man. That port was initially slated to be released in 1984, but after Jack Tramiel bought out Atari's home console and computer divisions, it was delayed until 1986.

[@marcelocunha4379]

Despite its simplicity, I always liked, even in the 80's, the original version of the game for the Atari 2600. For me that was something magical!

[@RetroBlissGaming]

I think that I had playable value to it for sure, but I personally was a bit bitter about it. As a kid I had to save my own money for my games, and I alway had an expectation that if a game was being ported over to the Atari VCS, that it would be done as best as it possibly could. Tod Frye just didn’t have the time or mindset to do it anything like the arcade game. $35 was a lot of money in 1982… it wasn’t worth what they were charging. I still thing they should have named it Munchy Man, and charged $15. I would have still bought it! Atari should have had better quality control by having teams working on their games like they do now. It wasn’t fair to Tod Frye to rush him. I think he worked 60 hours a week for like four months to get it done in time. A lot of people do like it… I get that!

[@marcelocunha4379]

@@RetroBlissGaming I understand you perfectly. Just out of curiosity: what do you consider the worst arcade conversion for the Atari 2600? Pac Man or Burgertime?

[@RetroBlissGaming]

@@marcelocunha4379 Wow… That’s a tough question. I’d say Burgertime… graphics and controls are horrible. It’s less playable than Pac-Man, for sure. They were both done badly, though!! But at least the Pac-Man port I can sit down and enjoy better.

[@marcelocunha4379]

@@RetroBlissGaming I agree with you. I kind of already knew this would be your answer.

[@patrickhawthorneLS]

Does this run on real hardware,is there anywhere i can buy the 8k cart ?

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Unfortunately, no… however, you can get a Harmony cart and load the ROM and it works great. I play it all the time… love it!

[@marcellachine5718]

​@@RetroBlissGamingI didn't think so. The intro music and graphics are way beyond a 2600s capability.

[@bpalpha]

I share all your frustrations about the "pac-man" we received for the 2600. The remake excels, the official release 😫😖

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Lol. No doubt about that! Thanks for watching!

[@tjf7101]

Phew. This would have gotten record sales back in 82

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Yeah, and people would have enjoyed it much more than the original, lol!

[@AFourEyedGeek]

Original Atari 2600 Pac-Man game did get record sales, it was the released in 1982 and it is the highest selling game by far as it sold 8.1 million copies. The next best selling game was Space Invaders (1980) with 6.2 million copies sold. A good Pac-Man game on the Atari 2600 would have kept people's confidence in Atari and the next big games would have sold better, as later that year the 2 games Donkey Kong and Frogger sold 4.1 million and 4 million respectively.

[@small_ed]

Atari should have been sued for false advertising.

[@RetroBlissGaming]

Ament to that, lol!

[@Goji01]

am i the only one who thinks it's just decent at best?

[@RetroBlissGaming]

I think that if you compare Pacman ports across the board you are right, but we are talking the 2600 here. The system has limitations, and that's what I'm trying to bring home is the fact of how good it is compared to the port Atari put out in 1981 and how much closer it is to the original. No, it isn't perfect at all. But I'm very impressed with the programming and how it plays for being programmed within the 4K perimeters!

[@patsk8872]

If you understood the absurd limitations of the Atari 2600 like the 128 BYTES of RAM (which would barely store half of this reply) you'd know how good this is. The guy took years to make this, with collaborative help and modern tools. Other than including fancy new designed chips on the cartridge this is probably close to the best that can be achieved.

[@chrislaustin]

Just found this video today, and I've been gaming since the late 70's and yeah, this version is top shelf. If Atari had released more games of this quality back in the early 80's(and less garbage), the games market might not have crashed. This 4K game is probably my most played version of Pacman across all systems, not because it's the closest to the arcade, but because it's doing the most with the least. There's a version of Donkey Kong similar to this, it's the "Arcade" version I believe, and I play that one for the same reason as this one, it's mind blowing to see what this system was truly capable of in the right hands.