Now I haven’t watched the Rose Parade since I started noticing the same sex with a different eye. After a few years of watching, it seemed like the same thing: Float, Band, Horses. Many, many times.

I don’t know why this year would be any different. But when I visited my relatives today, I found out that my cousins actually got to stand in the crowd with people who have waited since the wee hours of the New Year to catch glimpses of the floats. I scrolled through their pictures and came across a particular one:

*Gasp* They finally honor video game characters in parades?? (Sorry, I actually stole this pic from another Web site, it’s not hers). Apparently, Pac-Man’s the first!

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. commemorated Pac-Man’s 30th anniversary with a big-ass float. If you notice, there are also musicians and cheerleaders each with their own Pac-Man symbol. They were playing “Pac-Man Fever!!” It’s such a stunning and tall float that it received the “Judges’ Special Award for most-spectacular showmanship.”


To go along with his 30th Anniversary, Namco is releasing Pac-Man party for the Wii which looks kind of fun:

Happy Anniversary Pac-Man! You’re the only game I bought for the Atari, and you’ve provided endless repetitive joy when there were free days in my 8th grade keyboarding class. And a big thanks to Scott Pilgrim for enlightening us on your Pucking history. =P

Photo from: The Sacramento Bee
Videos from: Youtube – SFVCyclone, MachinimaTrailer