When can you go through Pacman ghosts?

[pmc]

I was playing Pacman (Midway) the other day and doing a mid-fruit pattern on the second orange (or peach) level. I screwed up the pattern but didn't realize it and continued to mindlessly follow the pattern along. I was going up the left side of the corral and Pinky was blasting down looking right at me. I went right through her and she kept right on going too. I was stunned for a second and, as a result, died not much later.

I remember that you can go through the ghosts sometimes, but what are the conditions? I'd love to be able to play that into one of my regular patterns or use it to get out of trouble. Learning the hard way will take me a long time.

-pmc

[Justin Z]

Before I read your post, I thought, "is this guy making a joke of some sort?"

WHEN THEY'RE BLUE, DUMMY! 

That's what I was thinking, anyway.

Interesting question, now that I've read it; I've only recalled one time where I went through a ghost unscathed.

Curious, I did a websearch and didn't come up with anything, anybody else got some info?

[Zeno]

Well... I have noticed this too on Ms. Pacman.

It happens to me every once in a while.  I consulted my coworker (his hi score on Ms. Pac is 349,000+/-!!).

He claims that this happens to him about 50% of the time under the following conditions...

1. The moment they turn from blue to regular color
2. When either the ghost or pac change directions abruptly and meet.

I don't think there is any hard/fast rule.  I believe it is a glitch in the system.

Something is out of whack in the matrix.

Zeno

[RandyT]

I don't think there is any hard/fast rule.  I believe it is a glitch in the system.

This is what I have heard as well.  One of the ghosts (Inky, IIRC) is supposedly more prone to this occurrence.

RandyT

[Hoopz]

Here is the best explanation that I have read:

This is correct behavior.  The collision detection works by keeping track of what 8x8 pixel square all the objects are on.   So if you step off of your square onto a ghosts square and he steps off his square and on to yours simultaneously you didn't ever occupy the same square.

Dave

[paigeoliver]

It is a problem with the original game and not with mame. Some of the more interesting Pac patterns involve going right through ghosts.

[swolgam]

I was playing Pacman (Midway) the other day and doing a mid-fruit pattern on the second orange (or peach) level. I screwed up the pattern but didn't realize it and continued to mindlessly follow the pattern along. I was going up the left side of the corral and Pinky was blasting down looking right at me. I went right through her and she kept right on going too. I was stunned for a second and, as a result, died not much later.

I remember that you can go through the ghosts sometimes, but what are the conditions? I'd love to be able to play that into one of my regular patterns or use it to get out of trouble. Learning the hard way will take me a long time.

-pmc

Very easy way to replicate this glitch in the game is going through opposite exit tunnels at the same time.  There is a slight delay due to coding and the era this game was designed.  IF you go through one end and the ghost through the other, you will come out the other side as will the ghost, unharmed!

[TOK]

I never really got into Pac Man enough to try it, but I read that the collision detection follows the ghosts eyes. If the eyes are not looking in your direction, you can pass through them. There were a couple patterns posted in the article that would let you easily reproduce the situation.

[vidmouse]

I think the same thing happens on some shooters
when you die and regenerate... like a slight blip
while the game resets itself for your next life.

Kinda OT:  For some reason this post makes me
think of the heyday when they actually had Pac-Man
cereal (Kix, round corn puffs more or less) complete
with marshmellow ghosts.  Yum.

I think it was some kind of ploy to capitalize on
the fact that at the same time there was a Pac Man
cartoon show on the Saturday morning Supercade...
if it were nowadays they'd probably have Pac Man
action figures, wall stickers, and so on too.
Viva la Pac Man...

[rockin_rick]

I remember reading that this effect is called a 'booey', FWIW.  Hoopz quoted description is also what I remember reading.
 
Rick

[Spaz Monkey]

TOK beat me to it....

[pmc]

OK, but the thing is, we were running right at each other on a straight stretch. She (I always assumed Pinky was a she) was coming straight at me so she must have been looking straight at me. This was not after they had been turned blue (I had not yet eaten a power pill at all). And there was no abrupt direction change or jogging around a corner. It was straight-shot. But it did happen right where you could turn to head for the tunnel so maybe that had something to do with it.

It happened right where "B" is marked in the attached pattern shot (except I was coming from the start position and not along the bottom of the corral).



Hey TOK: do you have a pointer to one of those patterns I wanna try it. It's sure to impress.

-pmc

[WunderCade]

I have had the same thing happen on my Ms. Pac-man gameplay, so it isn't just a local glitch in your board, it must be a standard glitch in the game. I am not sure if it is intended by the original programmer or if it is attributed to the programming tech of the earlier 80's. I do know that entering opposite tunnels doesn't work as stated by some else here, I die every time I do that while both me and the ghost are off screen in the tunnel. So the collision detection glitch is the probable answer.

Whether or not someone becomes proficient at exploiting the glitch is a true test of a pac-master.

[pmc]

Definitely a glitch. The question is, how does it work and how can it be exploited?

I found that does it 4 times to 3 different ghosts on the 9th key level. Carefully watching the ghost's eyes, I still don't see any consistency.

I'm gonna learn that pattern. The only problem is that I haven't gotten past the 5th key ever.

-pmc

[TOK]

pmc, I don't remember the exact link but I think I found it randomly surfing Twin Galaxies. Here is the thread where it began:
http://www.twingalaxies.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5727&view=next&sid=97bf758352a15ca0250daf2188d1196e

[FrizzleFried]

A booey happens when the hit detection pixel from both the pac character and ghost character occupy the same pixel.   I can booey a Ms. Pac on the 2nd level all day long every time.   Remember,  if you are about to die ALWAYS try to turn around and run through the ghost...about 5-10% of the time you will go through it!

[pmc]

pmc, I don't remember the exact link but I think I found it randomly surfing Twin Galaxies. Here is the thread where it began:
http://www.twingalaxies.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5727&view=next&sid=97bf758352a15ca0250daf2188d1196e

Perfect. The thread is very informative and it led me here where there are several patterns that go through the ghosts -- and one works on the apple levels too. Way more impressive than just running a straight pattern. I like the patterns with close-calls, turning into ghosts, and other wizardry. Passing through them is something I just can't pass up.

Thanks for the link.

-pmc

[deadkenndys1105]

I have done this quite a bit.  If you change directions really fast at the last second and go back you can sometimes go threw them.  I only try it though when I get boxed in.  It also work in ms pacman.  While I can do this with out to much trouble some times I still suck at these games.

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

"I booey-ed a ghost in Ms. Pac-man..."

... sounds like a euphemism for something.  I don't know what.