DO WANT: Pac-Gentleman pays tribute to famous dot-chomper

Holy steampunk, Batman! The stunning sculpture you see above is “Pac Gentleman,” and was lovingly crafted by artist Doktor A as a tribute to videogaming’s most famous yellow dot.

Details I adore about this: the wind-up crank on the side of the machine. The pleasingly chunky joystick that most modern game controllers lack (but sorely need). That big, fat red button. The gorgeous faux-woodgrain and metallic veneer. The – OH GOD IT’S ALL UNSPEAKABLY AWESOME. Here’s the artist’s description before I lose it:

When this game was first released in 1880 it was so hugely popular in taverns and inns that the bank of England was forced to mint more threepenny bits to keep up with demand. The game was created by messrs Nam & Nam and Co. as a novelty pastime for the masses. Outdoing the previous top public house game of Shove Ha’penny.

Alas, as I mentioned in the first paragraph, this is a “sculpture” – so not a functioning game. However, don’t think Doktor A has ruled it out. The artist appeared in the comments field at technabob to ponder on how a working version could, er, work:

I think it would be feasible. The ghosts and Pacman are on different levels so can pass behind one another. In reality they would need to be more flattened to work well but as this is a mock up I let a bit of artistic freedom creep in. The ghosts are blue on their reverse side and would swing around when vunerable (using the static moustach as a brace). The pills would be pinned balls which rotated 180 degrees from a yellow side to a black side when passed over, each pinging a tiny bell as it did so.

Color us impressed. And also, very envious.

[Via Kotaku]