Pac-Man is one of the most recognizable gaming icons of all time, having inspired the worldwide “Pac-Man Fever” of the mid-1980s. The fact that his female counterpart, Ms. Pac-Man, would also become so popular is owed to the origin of the dot-munching yellow puck himself.

Pac-Man’s popular origin story – according to its creator, Toru Iwatani, as quoted in Steven L. Kent’s The Ultimate History of Video Games – is that in April 1979 Iwatani set out to create “a game for the female gaming enthusiast” based around the concept of eating, and that the appearance of the Pac-Man character himself came to Iwatani while he was having pizza for lunch. Whether this is true or not is up for debate; some sources, including previous interviews with Iwatani himself, contradict this account.

Pac-Man became a massive hit, and in the U.S. it notably brought women to arcades in droves. So it’s unsurprising that Bally/Midway’s 1981 sequel Ms. Pac-Man – created not by Iwatani but by nine American college students led by Kevin Curran and Doug Macrae – featured a female spin on the character, complete with lipstick and a little red hair bow. Ms. Pac-Man included gameplay enhancements such as a variety of mazes and bonus items which wander around the maze instead of staying in one place. Ms. Pac-Man also proved to be a hit, and outsold even the original Pac-Man machines by more than 10,000 units.

Fans of Ms. Pac-Man can now have a home arcade setup of their own with a table top setup currently available for bidding in Hake’s Auction #219. The game has been reconditioned by TNT Amusement and bears their label and a foil anniversary sticker under the glass top. The top features bright graphics of both Ms. Pac-Man and the ghost Pinky that were also featured as the marquee on the upright arcade cabinet. Interested bidders should be aware that the auction will come to a close on November 15-17, 2016.