MS. PAC-MAN (JAKKS) Wireless Review

[BUCKETHEAD]

I went and bought a JAKKS Wireless MS. PACMAN today at WAL-MART

They are $18.77 here in GREENVILLE SC.

I must admit i am impressed with it so far!

Except it takes 8 AA batteries OUCH! 

This one even keeps the HIGH SCORES after you cut it off.

I don't know if it does if you remove the batteries though?

Haven't tried that.

I bought it for me and the kids to play and not to Hack.

The PCB is in the base. Because when you cut it on, The Menu is already on.

Then when you cut on the JOYSTICK, You can then select games.

The Knob springs back into place on this JOYSTICK for POLE POSTITION.

I thought i read somewhere it doesn't do that on the wired version.

This version also has RALLY X on it.

The wired i believe does not?


BUCKET...

[Cameronj]

Thanks for the review. If I can get one for that price, I will pick one up too.

[The 80s Man]

Over at Atariage.com they are saying that the wireless Ms Pac-Man Jakks can be found for $4.88 at walmart .
http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83938

[odysseyroc]

Thanks to the 80s Man for the heads-up! I just picked up a wireless Ms. Pac-man at Walmart.

[rally9x]

I just got one last night at a walmart in MN. I didn't think I would see this deal but I was their for something else and pricechecked one and it was 4.88, same with the colecovision 2 player kit with 12 games.

[bishmasterb]

I just picked one up at Walmart for $5.

First impressions:

* It has 7 games (Ms. Pac, New Rally X, Bosconian, Mappy, Galaga, Pole Position and Xevious), the wired version has only 5 (New Rally X and Bosconian were not included)
* The version of Bosconian that is included is improved upon the version that was included in the Pac Man unit (it has the voice synthesis now and of course it has an 8 way joystick instead of the 4 way on the Pac Man unit)
* Saved games don't appear to allow initials

[Tahnok]

* Saved games don't appear to allow initials

It depends on the game. I was playing Pole Position the other day and noticed it allowed me to enter my initials. That is on the wireless version.

[Grasshopper]

I've heard that these units have a 4/8 way switchable joystick. Can someone here confirm whether this is correct, and if so how the switching mechanism works?

Thanks in advance.

[Tahnok]

I've heard that these units have a 4/8 way switchable joystick. Can someone here confirm whether this is correct, and if so how the switching mechanism works?

Thanks in advance.

Absolutely not. The general public does not care about details like that. It's an 8-way, no switching. I think you must be getting confused with the fact that the entire joystick can be twisted to control Pole Position (works surprisingly well). For the most part, it's a lousy 8-way that can make it hard to not hit diagonals. Expect to die many times in Ms. Pacman due to the stick slipping into the diagonal.

[Grasshopper]

I've heard that these units have a 4/8 way switchable joystick. Can someone here confirm whether this is correct, and if so how the switching mechanism works?

Thanks in advance.

Absolutely not. The general public does not care about details like that. It's an 8-way, no switching. I think you must be getting confused with the fact that the entire joystick can be twisted to control Pole Position (works surprisingly well). For the most part, it's a lousy 8-way that can make it hard to not hit diagonals. Expect to die many times in Ms. Pacman due to the stick slipping into the diagonal.

That's a pity but it seemed too good to be true.

This is where I read about the switching facility.

http://www.etoys.com/genProduct.html?PID=4096739&ctid=17

[Tahnok]

How very strange. Perhaps I'm missing something. I don't see that feature mentioned anywhere on the box though, or anyway to actually make it switch. I think they must be mistaken.

[bishmasterb]

Yeah, Ms. Pac is virtually unplayable on this thing.

Thanks for the tip on the initials in Pole Position, I'll look for that. Has anyone verified if it retains high scores without the batteries in?

I'd like to hack this into a wireless control panel with real arcade controls...a 4 way, 8 way and wheel for Pole Position.

[Tahnok]

Yeah, Ms. Pac is virtually unplayable on this thing.

Thanks for the tip on the initials in Pole Position, I'll look for that. Has anyone verified if it retains high scores without the batteries in?

I'd like to hack this into a wireless control panel with real arcade controls...a 4 way, 8 way and wheel for Pole Position.

Just checked. It does retain all the high scores. That's why there is a clear data option on the main screen. Also, it looks like Pole Position is the only one that allows initials to be entered.

I honestly don't know why I didn't think of having a 4-way and an 8-way on my panel. I was just going to put an 8-way in and keep Ms Pacman so-so. Thanks for the idea.

I just tested current draw for the joystick portion. It turns off its infrared LEDs after a few seconds of no controls being changed. So, 20mA idol (with LEDs off), 100mA playing. Meaning that this cheap, $15, battery should run it for atleast 15 hours (probably longer, since it goes idol). I will probably go this route for my CP.

[bishmasterb]

I just tested current draw for the joystick portion. It turns off its infrared LEDs after a few seconds of no controls being changed. So, 20mA idol (with LEDs off), 100mA playing. Meaning that this cheap, $15, battery should run it for atleast 15 hours (probably longer, since it goes idol). I will probably go this route for my CP.

Cool. And you can put an AC charger connector on the case so you can recharge without having to rip the battery out.

[Tahnok]

I just tested current draw for the joystick portion. It turns off its infrared LEDs after a few seconds of no controls being changed. So, 20mA idol (with LEDs off), 100mA playing. Meaning that this cheap, $15, battery should run it for atleast 15 hours (probably longer, since it goes idol). I will probably go this route for my CP.

Cool. And you can put an AC charger connector on the case so you can recharge without having to rip the battery out.

Exactly. I'm thinking I'm going to put the entire transformer inside the CP and then interface a standard computer powersupply cable into that, since they are readily available and have panel-mount hardware.

BTW, if anyone is wondering how sturdy this little game is, I can tell you it's built to withstand a ton of abuse. I just had to take a hack-saw to the balltop to get the dang thing off! The joystick is very sturdy, too bad it feels like crap.

[brian23]

I've hacked those Jakks controls and put arcade controls on them. Super easy. Everything is labeled. Get a 6v wall wart, wire in, and you're all set. One of the easiest hacks around.

[BenderTheGreat]

Thanks for the tip-off on the $5 Ms. Pac-Man... Also, isn't Ms. Pac MAN an oxymoron?