Caterpillar recreates PAC-MAN for 95th anniversary

Caterpillar, Deerfield, Ill., recently celebrated the company’s 95th anniversary by recreating the classic video game, PAC-MAN™. The Cat Trial #9: PAC-MAN is part of the company’s Cat Trials series, a total of eight videos which have logged more than 18 million views. This is the first new Cat Trial video in four years. Click here to watch the video.

“These trials are designed to surprise and delight our customers and prospects, as well as people outside our industry,” said Victoria Keese Morrissey, global marketing and brand director for Caterpillar. “Challenges the ghosts pose to PAC-MAN strike a unique metaphor for obstacles lurking around each corner of the job site. Power Pellets represent the role Cat dealer services play in helping our customers overcome these challenges.”

The Cat Trial #9: PAC-MAN plays out on a 162.4-ft.-by-180.4-ft. version of the iconic PAC-MAN gameboard — 19,040 percent larger than the original scale of the maze on the classic arcade screen —  and was built and played using the latest Cat equipment as well as grade and remote technology.

The original PAC-MAN gameboard design was loaded into the Cat GRADE with 3D system on the 336 Next Gen excavator, eliminating the need for stakes and grade checkers, saving time in the construction. In total, 70 labor hours were required for the 336 to create the life-size gameboard. Roughly 6,880 cu. yd. of cut/fill dirt was removed to build the maze that was comprised of 151 corners and 4-ft.-tall walls.

Support equipment to construct the gameboard, also using Cat GRADE with 3D to ensure they followed the same plan, included multiple field prep Cat dozers, Cat wheel loaders, a 323 excavator, trucks and water wagons.

“Cat GRADE with 3D enabled the workers to only handle material one time for digging, loading, hauling and dumping,” said J. Archie Lyons, creative director, global brand strategy and activation for Caterpillar. “Reducing material handling is just one of the challenges our customers face, and Cat Grade technology greatly enhances job-site efficiency.”

Five Cat 236D3 remote controlled skid steer loaders, rented from The Cat Rental Store, were used for play to represent PAC-MAN and the four ghosts – BLINKY, INKY, CLYDE and PINKY. PAC-MAN and ghost avatars placed atop the Cat loaders could be seen above the maze walls.

The four corner POWER PELLETS that put PAC-MAN on the offensive represent Cat dealer services — Customer value agreements, repair options, Cat Financial and Cat app.

“As a unique surprise at the end, we wanted to pay homage to the original game, in a way only Caterpillar could. Due to available memory at the time, level 256 experiences an integer overflow, and the right side of the board can’t be rendered,” said Lyons. “We have duplicated the original screen’s look of level 256 with our real-life PAC-MAN game, using four Cat dozers to create the effect.”