Namco Bandai announced late Tuesday that it was working on a new television program featuring its most popular character – one that would air in stereoscopic 3D. The show features a teen Pac-Man who is thrust into greatness and must save Pac-World when it is overrun by ghosts. The only way to do that: Eat the ghosts. He’s aided in this mission by a teacher/mentor, a group of Pac-friends and four friendly ghosts – Pinky, Inky, Blinky and Clyde (who, ironically, were the arch-enemies in the original arcade game). Since he’s not an adult, Pac-Man will suffer the usual angst of teenagers, including being forced to deal with his split affections for a friend and fellow student as well as one of the ghosts.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/pac-man-s-headed-back-to-tv-in-3d/1402556

Here's a neat little cleaning tip brought to you by Jeri Ellsworth.

Now available for Pre-Order! In Stock 6/14!

Well, it's taken far longer than expected, but we finally have the new Michael Ford books on the way, and will have them in-stock on June 14th!

Digital Restoration Secrets

Restoring an old game to "like new" condition is a challenge, even if replacement artwork is available. If you have a game that has no replacement art available, it becomes almost an impossible task.

Fortunately, digital art restoration has made it possible to repair or replace damaged artwork—everything from scratches to faded colors can be fixed with the click of a mouse.

Michael Ford’s book Digital Restoration Secrets takes you through the complete restoration process, showing you the best techniques for generating shiny new artwork for that classic old game. It’s an invaluable resource for the dedicated coin-op hobbyist who has a machine in need of new art.

Antique Arcade Games

There’s something wonderfully wacky about looking at ads from the past. From the dated fashions, to the outlandish hyperbole and blunt sales tactics, it’s like you’ve found a window into an entirely different civilization. No matter how strange the culture was, they still needed entertainment. Michael Ford has compiled a treasure trove of coin-op history, preserved in the form of the famous Mike Munves Amusement Device catalogs.

GameRoom's store manager is on vacation for the next two weeks. Orders will be processed as soon as she returns on June 13th. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Kevin Steele
Publisher, GameRoom Magazine

All 12 issues of GameRoom Magazine  from 2009, in PDF format on one handy CD with an integrated browser. Indexed and searchable, this is a great way to catch up on any missed issues from 2009, including those that are out of print!

GameRoom Magazine Digital Archive Volume 21

Do you think your X-Box 360 has 3D? Then you haven't seen Tabletop Pong. Windell from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories posted an update to a real Pong game, including video and plans. Tabletop Pong uses a real ball and real solenoid activated paddles, and looks real fun.

http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/pongrevised

Google’s PAC-MAN logo was one of the best surprises of last week, and faced with masses of appeals Google have done the only sensible thing and made it a permanent home. The playable doodle was only meant to be live for two days, but by “popular demand” Google have set it up permanently at www.google.com/pacman.

New Michael Ford Books Delayed

We've had a bit of a snafu in getting a shipment of the new books from Michael Ford: Digital Restoration Secrets, Antique Arcade Games, and Antique Arcade Game Ads.

We're expecting stock in about two weeks, and I will be setting up pre-orders on the site shortly. Watch the front page for an announcement when they are in stock and shipping.

Sorry for the delay -- we'll get them in as fast as possible!

Kevin Steele, Publisher