ARCADE WATCH
Keeping an eye on the coin-op gaming scene
Game Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash For Charity
Manufacturer Bandai Namco
One of the things that maintains our interest in the arcade scene is that, in among all the predictable fodder that emerges every year, it’s still capable of throwing up surprises. We didn’t expect, for example, that this month Bandai Namco would reveal a new coin-op that is all about raising money not for the operator’s bank account but for good causes. Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash For Charity is a rejigged version of the 2018 Pixel Bash cabinet, a more upright kind of stance increasing its chances of standing out next to machines with shinier gimmicks. Crucially, the remodelled unit has transparent panels in its base, allowing you to see just how much dosh could be on its way to a local animal shelter, presumably so that it will inspire you to add your own donations. In exchange, the cabinet offers a selection of 31 vintage Namco games to play, including Galaga 88, Rolling Thunder and of course several outings starring the old pellet muncher himself.