Baby Pac-Man
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Baby Pac-Man |
Baby Pac-Man is an arcade game that combines elements of maze and pinball genres, developed by Bally Midway and launched on October 11, 1982, roughly nine months following the release of Ms. Pac-Man. Its cabinet design incorporates a 13-inch video display positioned above a compact pinball playfield, fitting within the dimensions typical of an upright arcade unit. Around 7,000 cabinets were manufactured.
Gameplay
The gameplay starts on the video screen where players control Baby Pac-Man as he navigates a maze reminiscent of Pac-Man, collecting dots while evading ghosts. Unlike previous versions, this maze initially lacks energizers that allow players to consume ghosts. Instead, two vertical chutes located at the bottom of the screen pause the video action and transition gameplay to the pinball table underneath, seamlessly blending maze navigation with pinball mechanics.
Pinball mode
The pinball segment operates as a scaled-down traditional pinball table. Players manipulate two flippers via buttons to strike targets using a metal ball, which awards energizers, fruit bonuses, and accelerates tunnel movement—all benefits that transfer back to the video portion. When the ball is lost, play resumes on the video screen with the chutes sealed; players must either complete the maze or lose a life to reactivate them. The game concludes once all lives have been expended.