Pac-Man is an iconic arcade game developed by Namco and first released in Japan in 1980. The player controls Pac-Man through a maze, eating pac-dots. Four ghosts (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde) roam the maze, trying to catch Pac-Man. If a ghost touches Pac-Man, a life is lost. Near the corners of the maze are four larger, flashing dots known as Power Pellets that provide Pac-Man with the temporary ability to eat the ghosts, reversing the usual pattern. When all pac-dots are eaten, the player advances to the next level. Pac-Man was groundbreaking for its non-violent gameplay and appealed to a wider audience than most arcade games of that era.