Masaya Nakamura, the ‘Father of Pac-Man, has died (Picture: AP)

The Japanese games company Bandai Namco says Masaya Nakamura, the ‘Father of Pac-Man’ who founded the Japanese video game company behind the hit creature-gobbling game, has died at age 91.

Nakamura, who died on January 22, held an honorary position at Bandai Namco, formed in 2005 from a merger of two game companies.

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He founded Namco in 1955. Its beginnings were humble – just two mechanical horses on the rooftop of a department store.

Pac-Man, designed by video game maker Toru Iwatani, went on sale in 1980. Guinness World Record has named it the world’s most successful coin-operated arcade game.


Bandai Namco reported Nakamura’s death Monday, but would not comment on the cause of his death or other personal details, citing his family’s wishes.



How to play it

Called Instant Games, Facebook added a tab below the typing bar within the app which will enable users to choose a game and start playing against one or more people, with highest scores only revealed to those in the group.

You can play Pac-Man and Space Invaders in Facebook Messenger

League tables of scores are also available, and Facebook says the feature allows more people to play games without having to download apps in order to do so.

Classic games including Pac-Man and Space Invaders as well as popular modern titles such as Words with Friends are among those on offer.