Puckman - original Namco overlay

[UDb23]

As most of you probably know Puckman is the original name of Pac-man.
The name was changed for America because someone might vandalize the “P” and turn it into an “F.”
(confirmed by the developer; check interview)

This overlay is based on the bezel of the original Namco arcade cabinet.
EDIT: (Kenphone version overlay now also available: see below).

There is no complete detailed image or scan of that bezel on the web. If it exists it is really well hidden; I searched hours and couldn't find any.

Therefore, before making the overlay, I recreated a fully vector artwork of the bezel based on the few images of the cab that were showing (unfortunately not all) details.

Some of the graphics of the overlay are reworked versions from a "bootleg bezel" .AI file made by Zorg (according to Mame info).

Note: many different version of the Puckman cabinet were made with different bezels, marquee and sideart.

Apart being the original, I like this one most; even more than Pac-man's. (thanks to @GreenHawk84 for suggesting it).

You can find this and more hand crafted quality overlays in the rpie-ovl repository.

If you prefer Pac-man's artwork; you'll find that overlay too in the Repo:

And if you want an easy way to install them, @meleu created a great dedicated script.
Perform these commands on your RetroPie:

cd
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/meleu/rpie-art
cd rpie-art
./rpie-art.sh

After launching rpie-art.sh script you just have to follow the instructions in the dialog boxes. Once you have the rpi-art.shscript, choose the Update option to get all the latest art in the repository.

[mediamogul]

@udb23

The Japanese love their onamonapias and still use them regularly in all areas of their popular culture. Speaking as a westerner, it seems like the only time we use them is for creating dirty words. I really like this original Puck/Pac-Man design. With those eyes, that nose and the boots and gloves, he'd be right at home with all the early animated characters like Felix the Cat or Oswald the Rabbit.

[meleu]

@udb23 said in Puckman - original Namco overlay:

The name was changed for America because someone might vandalize the “P” and turn it into an “F.”

It would happen for sure.

Let's be honest, even Ned Flanders would have this idea! :-)

[GreenHawk84]

@UDb23 Great work!

[UDb23]

@greenhawk84 As promised, here's the version you requested (now downloadable from the Repo).

Found out it's a Puckman version by Kenphone Electronics (1983).

More pictures here.

Most recreated images of its bezel use the "exciting" text fully contoured by solid red (inlcuding the one for Mame that you can find on Mr Do's Artwork site).
The original had a white "gradient" below and white areas within the letters to make it look 3dimensional.
You can see it better on the side art:

I made the overlay according to the real one ;-)

[GreenHawk84]

@udb23 great work, I like the cabinet examples you found.

[UDb23]

@greenhawk84 I'm becoming an expert on Puckman versions ;-D