Fan mail address
Toru Iwatani
Tokyo Polytechnic University
Dpt. of Applied Computer Science
2-9-5 Honcho
Nakano
Tokyo 164-0012
Japan
Address information
Tokyo Polytechnic University
Dpt. of Applied Computer Science
(University)
2-9-5 Honcho
Nakano
Tokyo 164-0012
Japan
Toru Iwatani is a Japanese video game designer best known for creating the iconic arcade game Pac-Man, which became one of the most popular and influential video games in history. His work has had a lasting impact on the video game industry, shaping the way games are designed and enjoyed by millions of players worldwide.
Toru Iwatani was born on January 25, 1955, in Tokyo, Japan. Growing up, he developed an interest in art and design, which eventually led him to pursue a career in the growing field of video game development. Iwatani attended the Tokyo University of the Arts, where he studied graphic design. His time at university provided him with the creative skills and conceptual thinking necessary to break into the video game industry.
Iwatani began his career in the video game industry in the late 1970s. After joining the video game company Namco (now Bandai Namco Entertainment) in 1977, he quickly gained recognition for his innovative thinking and his ability to create games that appealed to a wide audience. In the early days of video game development, Iwatani worked on several arcade games, including Gee Bee and Inspector, but it was his work on Pac-Man that would make him a household name.
In 1980, Iwatani was tasked with designing a new arcade game that would appeal to a broader demographic, particularly women, who were not as represented in the gaming world at the time. He wanted to create a game that was colorful, non-violent, and accessible, in contrast to the action-heavy, combat-oriented games that dominated the arcade scene. Iwatani came up with the concept for Pac-Man, a maze-chase game featuring a yellow, pizza-shaped character who must eat all the dots in a maze while avoiding four colorful ghosts.
