Description

"Ms. Pac-Man" for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an unlicensed adaptation of the classic arcade game originally released by Namco in 1981. This version was developed and released by Tengen, the publishing arm of Atari Games, in 1990, bypassing the official licensing procedures typically required by Nintendo. Unlike its arcade counterpart, this version of "Ms. Pac-Man" introduced several alterations and enhancements to adapt it to the home console environment. The game retains the fundamental gameplay mechanics where the player navigates Ms. Pac-Man through a maze, eating pellets and fruit while avoiding ghosts. However, the NES version includes new maze designs and modified graphics to fit the NES’s capabilities, while also incorporating multiple difficulty settings and the option for two players to play cooperatively or competitively.

The release and distribution of "Ms. Pac-Man" on the NES was part of the broader context of legal and business conflicts between Atari and Nintendo in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Tengen initially obtained a license from Nintendo to produce officially sanctioned cartridges but later began producing their own cartridges without Nintendo’s security chip following disputes over control and profit sharing. This move, coupled with the high-profile nature of the "Ms. Pac-Man" title, made the game a notable example in discussions about video game licensing and the extents of copyright law in the video game industry. While not as widely circulated as its licensed counterparts due to its unofficial status, "Ms. Pac-Man" by Tengen remains a cherished classic among collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts for its gameplay enhancements and historical oddity in the annals of gaming.