Haunted Ms. Pacman Cabinet?

[hypostatize]

Hey all -

I'm trying to track something down and somebody pointed me in this forum's general direction.  As many of you probably remember, in 2008 there was a deal on Craigslist where somebody in the Boston area was trying to unload a Ms. Pacman cab that was allegedly haunted.  A couple of weeks after that ad, somebody in the Boston area posted a different ad trying to unload what was supposedly the same Ms. Pacman game.  From what I can tell, that's where the trail goes cold.

During my research, I was informed that the person who at some point ended up with the haunted Ms. Pacman cabinet was possibly a member of this board.

If anybody has ANY information on this cabinet (Where it is now, Where it's been, its backstory, etc), please let me know!  Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

-Matt

[Bluedeath]

I don't know if anyone of us has it, but may a ask why someone should search for an haunted item? I mean normally people try to get rid of haunted items not to acquire them.

[csa3d]

I thought there were ghosts in every Ms. Pacman cab

-csa

[Malenko]

Don't all Ms.Pac-Man cabs have 4 ghosts in them?

EDIT: Damn csa3d beat me to it

[Bluedeath]

I done a research it seems that there is a Cursed Ms Pacman Cab that has a the fifth ghost, a black humanoid shadow that goes in an out from that cab and scares the family of the game owner.  May be challange it and winning will do the same effect of an exorcism.
here in Italy about this kind of story we use to say "Is not true but i believe it". Honestly i don't believe in ghosts but i dont' want to meet an entity that could change my mind either. 

[dreamakuma]

I just want to say this before I tell my story: I ain't lyin' but I don't have proof. I've had a few "haunted" items. A picture, and a typewriter. The picture was of some guy sitting in a chair, but every time you looked at him, the face was different(smile,grin,frown,wink,both eyes shut,ect.) And it would be moved around, spasticly, even when no one was around. I sold it off at a yard sale after it kept flying off the wall and landing in the same spot in the middle of the floor. The typewriter, writes on it's own. now I wouldn't have thought much of it if it were electric, Those spazz out on me. But it's mechanical. So It randomly just Writes, sometimes jibberish, others are half-finished sentinces, others paragraphs or poems. Not anything scary, mostly i'll see "so a man walks into a bar" or some other quick writeup. Nothing that bothers me, just odd. I would actually like to see a haunted cab. Think a haunted Street fighter would be great. Never have to bring over a friend to play!

[Bluedeath]

A couple of sites reports that the last person who aquired the cab was one of our members, there were a couple of links that pointed here but there were invalid threads. my question still remains.

@ hypostatize why are you searching this item?

[Namco]

sdjfwefiojsdlk sdkfjks  a guy walks into a bar with a dog under one

[hypostatize]

As to why -

It's kind of the combination of two of my favorite things.  Ms. Pacman was the first arcade game I ever played.  I remember riding down to the store with a handful of quarters and tearing that thing up on a pretty much daily basis (And punching the power switch on top if somebody else was taking too long, then joining in on the confused looks).  I always wanted it to be the first addition to my future personal collection.

I'm also a big fan of studying paranormal items/places/etc.  Mind you, I do it because I don't believe in any of it and want to more than anything.  I want to be proven wrong, and studying/finding places, people and things which are allegedly haunted gives me that chance.

So when a haunted Ms. Pacman allegedly turned up, it was two birds with one stone!  I know it probably seems odd to go looking for what could be trouble, but in my gut I just have a feeling that it's the right thing to do.

I figured that the lead to here would be all too easy ("Oh yeah, I picked that up on Craigslist.  Turns out the fifth ghost was a faulty monitor.  Swapped it out and it's good as new"), but I had to follow it up anyway.  

Thanks for all your input (And if anybody knows anything else, please let me know).

[Bluedeath]

Thanks for the expaination. I really hope that you will never proven wrong.

[hypostatize]

The typewriter, writes on it's own. now I wouldn't have thought much of it if it were electric, Those spazz out on me. But it's mechanical.

Do you still have it?

[dreamakuma]

The typewriter, writes on it's own. now I wouldn't have thought much of it if it were electric, Those spazz out on me. But it's mechanical.

Do you still have it?

Yeah, it was my mom's. one of the few things I still have from her. At the moment it's in storage. Kinda kept me up at night because it's friggin loud. try sleeping hearing CLACK CLACK CLACK CLICK CLICK DING!!!!!!! But I'm keeping it for better or worse, because I don't have much from my childhood.

Namco: Got a PC doin that??? J/K

[JMB]

That's weird,  I was the one that posted that thread.  I went back through my old posts but it seems to be gone???  I had contacted the craigslist poster but did not acquire the machine.

[Justin Z]

OMFG GHOSTS RUN

[JMB]

I guess it was last seen in PnR.


Title: MOVED: Interesting Craigslist find.
Post by: saint on March 14, 2008, 07:20:02 PM
This topic has been moved to Politics 'n Religion and the supernatural (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?board=31).

[hypostatize]

It seems like the whole PnR section is gone?  Or am I just not high level enough to access it?  PS - I know it's a longshot, but if you have any recollection/copy of the original posting and/or the phone number/name of the person you contacted and could PM me with it, that would be invaluable.

Thanks!

[HaRuMaN]

You have to read the rules regarding the P&R forum, and then tell the rules to Saint in your own words before you get access.

[retrometro]

I just want to say this before I tell my story: I ain't lyin' but I don't have proof. I've had a few "haunted" items. A picture, and a typewriter.
...

Sounds like you should watch this presentation.

http://www.dailymotion.com/user/totocacapouet/video/x8uei4_openmindedness_tech

[RayB]

"Open minded" is a term I've come to realize means very different things to different people, so you really have to ask for clarification. To one person it means "open to TRYING new things", to another its believing in paranormal crap, to another it means "likes threesomes and swinging", and to others it means complete gullibility (though they don't realize it and get very offended if you say that!).

I'm also a big fan of studying paranormal items/places/etc.  Mind you, I do it because I don't believe in any of it and want to more than anything.  I want to be proven wrong, and studying/finding places, people and things which are allegedly haunted gives me that chance.

I used to be like that. "I want to believe". But in the end it's like trying to find the Tooth Fairy, no?

Yeah, it was my mom's. one of the few things I still have from her. At the moment it's in storage. Kinda kept me up at night because it's friggin loud. try sleeping hearing CLACK CLACK CLACK CLICK CLICK DING!!!!!!! But I'm keeping it for better or worse, because I don't have much from my childhood.

So then you have video right? Cuz of course that would be the first thing I would do. Set up a camera, not to mention put paper in it to see what came out. Let me guess, you have neither.

[saint]

OK, the original thread is back where everyone can get it.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77668.0

[Xiaou2]

 If you Dont believe... then you would rarely get to experience them.   Its a system
of protection.

 From what I can tell, they exist on a different plane of existence. 
Much like a radio station dial.  We being on station 98.9   and they  being on
station 90.2.      Only certain people can turn their internal dials to see and
experience them.   Making a sort of Gateway.

 Usually people who do not believe... still get frightened,  and that fear leads to
a belief... which allows the gate to open.   

 The Problem with the gate... is that people do not realize that they have the true
power.   It then becomes dangerous... because a wicked spirit can attach itself
to you and your environment... even possibly possess you physically.   Mostly
because the person feels that they are powerless.  They dont know how to close
the gate...  and it can lead to some real bad troubles.

 
 Ive personally seen/watched  a ghost from 12ft away in a brightly lit hallway.   My mother used to see them from childhood, and can see them all the time to this day.  I have 2 friends that have either seen or experienced them.  Ive had a few people from various work places confide in their experiences as well.  Many people are reluctant to share their experiences for fear of being labeled a liar or mentally unstable.   Me... I really dont care what people think.  Truth is much more important to me..  and I have a good
reputation of integrity.

 There seem to be many kinds of spirits.  Some which seem to be living in a sort of
dream/other-world.  And some who have retained their consciousness of 'here & now"...
and are interactive.
(able to see and interact with our station)    There has been said to be non-human
spirits... which I supposed makes sense... but Im not sure about it.

 Ive seen the typical white-translucent ghost.   As well as seeing a shadow-ghost twice.
The shadow ghost darted by me in mid afternoon in my brightly day-lit apartment.
I originally thought it was some punk kid that ran past.  I looked all over the place.
Realized nobody was there besides bro/sisters who were visible at the time of incident.
About 7 min later... I saw it again.  This time, I caught more of a solid glimpse of it.
I believe my bros and sisters saw it too.   All these years and Ive forgotten to ask.  heh

 Those happened when I was ages from about 10 to 12.  Havent seen another since.
(I have never done any drugs, and didnt drink till age 25)

 The quickest way to a bad experience is the Ouija board (alone).   I cant believe they
sell these as a kids game.  >.<    I do NOT recocommend it.  If done correctly, it
can let some nasty things in...  that are very hard to get rid of.


 Ive heard some spirits get attached to some objects... but i do not think they follow
the object much further than their hang-out area.  Such as past the walls of their old
house.

[retrometro]

 If you Dont believe... then you would rarely get to experience them.   Its a system
of protection.

 From what I can tell, they exist on a different plane of existence. 
Much like a radio station dial.  We being on station 98.9   and they  being on
station 90.2.      Only certain people can turn their internal dials to see and
experience them.   Making a sort of Gateway.

 Usually people who do not believe... still get frightened,  and that fear leads to
a belief... which allows the gate to open.   
...

...and how is it you can tell?  Your only proof in this exercise is to cite an n number of others that share your experiences.  It would be equally fruitless to further this discussion if I wrote that n + 1 people that I know have never experienced this. 

...that's just assuming experience alone is the same as scientifically observable phenomena.  I can ask you to demonstrate or share your facts and it still will not invalidate your experiences.  Nor can your experiences can be substituted for facts.

[1UP]

 

[MrRetro]

I do believe that places and Houses can be haunted! but that they will haunt a cab that's new ha ha probably a Dude that was nuked when he replaced a new chassi and now is hauntind it  

[retrometro]

And before anyone writes "ok, then prove that hauntings / ghosts do not exist!" ...   Please don't. 

[Xiaou2]

 I find it funny how the non-believers are so hell bent on bashing/mocking those who
have seen and had experiences.   

 They do this because they are frightened.   Because if there really Is something
like this out there... it would change everything they believe in.

 A true scientist takes all data into consideration.  Does not bash/mock others, or other
conceptual possibilities.  Nor are so quick to dismiss data. If that were not true,  half of
what we know today, would still be unknown.

 There is much more out there that human will ever know.   Btw - please tell me
how all this 'Stuff'  in the universe came into existence.   And please dont tell me that
it was Always there...      
 

[isucamper]

Btw - please tell me how all this 'Stuff'  in the universe came into existence.

A ghost pooped it.

[1UP]

I find it ironic how someone who centers all his arguments on "Fact" and "Science" is now so adamantly pressing an issue that can only be believed or not, but never Proven.  "Sorry, but it's BS.  Come back when you have Facts, not Opinions." </xiaou2>  

I am not an atheist, I believe that spirits exist and that all this energy goes somewhere when we die.  But I don't believe that we just hang around typing nonsense, moving things, and making blurry appearances in the corners of photos just to screw with the living.  It makes great fiction, but what a waste of an afterlife.

And I think that while it may occasionally be possible to see a ghost, more often than not people just don't understand what they actually saw, jumping at reflections and shadows.  Just watch any of these so-called ghost hunting reality shows, where they stumble around an old house freaking each other out, talking about shadows and noises, meanwhile never catching a thing on camera.  

I have seen strange things myself during my life, but they are always disproven when investigated logically, which is why I am now such a skeptic.  One night when I was alone at 2am (working on my cabinet as it happens) I was in a dark room, and suddenly saw a brightly glowing chromatic apparition moving in the corner of my eye, which then shot straight up the wall and vanished as I turned to get a look at it.  Yeah, I freaked out for a minute, because "I knew what I saw!"  But not willing to leave it at that, I really wanted to figure out what the heck it was.  So after taking a step back and looking around a while for the source of the image, I noticed a CD sitting on a pile of books near where I had been.  When I stood in the same place and nudged the books, sure enough--there was my ghost in exactly the same place, moving up and down the wall!    Critical thinking FTW.

People are gullible, and have vivid imaginations that try to make sense of anything they don't understand.  But just as with stage magic, there is always some really cheezy explanation behind it all.

[TOK]

 I find it funny how the non-believers are so hell bent on bashing/mocking those who
have seen and had experiences.   

 They do this because they are frightened.   Because if there really Is something
like this out there... it would change everything they believe in.

 A true scientist takes all data into consideration.  Does not bash/mock others, or other
conceptual possibilities.  Nor are so quick to dismiss data. If that were not true,  half of
what we know today, would still be unknown.

 There is much more out there that human will ever know.   Btw - please tell me
how all this 'Stuff'  in the universe came into existence.   And please dont tell me that
it was Always there...      
 

This argument could spiral on forever, but I'm a skeptic that would like to see something to know we're not just a heap of organic matter that dies, decays and disappears.

We have a guy here that claims the typewriter his dead mother gave him writes it's own messages. What would you do with that? Throw it in storage so it doesn't wake you up or use it to prove to the world there is life after death?

Please.

[FrizzleFried]

People at one time thought that the light "rays" that happen sometimes due to cloud cover (sometimes called "god rays") were something spiritual... well,  science has proven that not to be the case...

If ghosts were "real" there would be some verifiable documented proof SOMEWHERE.  If it's out there... please show me.  Every and anything I've ever seen, read,  or experienced that was explained as "supernatural" had an explanation based on reality.

Next brother X is going to try to convince us the Easter Bunny,  Santa Clause,  the Tooth Fairy,  and God himself exist.

[FrizzleFried]

I just want to say this before I tell my story: I ain't lyin' but I don't have proof. I've had a few "haunted" items. A picture, and a typewriter.
...

Sounds like you should watch this presentation.

http://www.dailymotion.com/user/totocacapouet/video/x8uei4_openmindedness_tech

Excellent video... thanks!

[RayB]

Gates. LOL
With 6 billion people on the planet and more than 50% of them believing in ghosts, you'd think the planet would be flooded with spirit activity.

This is what happens when you open a gate:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOX6-Rw5PWc[/youtube]
 

[retrometro]

I find it funny how the non-believers are so hell bent on bashing/mocking those who
have seen and had experiences.   

 They do this because they are frightened.   Because if there really Is something
like this out there... it would change everything they believe in.

 A true scientist takes all data into consideration.  Does not bash/mock others, or other
conceptual possibilities.  Nor are so quick to dismiss data. If that were not true,  half of
what we know today, would still be unknown.

 There is much more out there that human will ever know.   Btw - please tell me
how all this 'Stuff'  in the universe came into existence.   And please dont tell me that
it was Always there...      

You'll note that at no point have your observations been dismissed.  I am dismissing your statements with a lack of "data'. 

At no point have I written that your ghosts do not exist.  I have simply asked for this data you refer to and stated that experiencing something does not a fact make... nor does telling someone that others share your views or experience.

You also postulate that because someone is challenging a statement you present to be true, that they have all (or any for that matter) the answers.  If you tell me you have 3 apples in your backpack and I ask that you demonstrate your claim, I don't have to know the origins of you, your backpack, or apples to challenge your statement.  Accusing me of being frightened or insisting that others have observed the apples do nothing for your case.

You got one thing right.  I am mocking you.  Also, it is not true that scientists do not mock others.

[1UP]

A true scientist takes all data into consideration.  Does not bash/mock others, or other conceptual possibilities.

Scientists allow room for new ideas, but they also do not accept unproven concepts as fact.  Otherwise your biology class would have to teach that storks deliver babies, as well as the conventional theory of where babies come from.    Science accepts what it can test, and unfortunately, personal anecdotes and voodoo don't qualify as testable data.

[Namco]

Occam's Razor... defeatin' ghost stories since the beginning of mankind.

[dreamakuma]

We have a guy here that claims the typewriter his dead mother gave him writes it's own messages. What would you do with that? Throw it in storage so it doesn't wake you up or use it to prove to the world there is life after death?

Please.

Because If I showed it First thing I'd Hear is FAKE. And anytime I've tried to get it on tape...it just doesn't happen. And it doesn't prove life after death. I've had audio recorded but then again hearing CLACK CLACK CLICK CLICK DING!!! doesn't prove anything. Hell it possibly could be explained. I mean I've had intimate expiriances with things that couldn't be explanied as a child seeing lights in a Closet that had no origin as well as others but then again the typewriter could just have heavy keys and it's just weird coincidence....but "haunted" is the best way to desrcibe it. kinda cruel of you guys so i'll just stop sharing at this point. not that i'm offended , just don't want to discuss it further.

[saint]

A true scientist takes all data into consideration. 

I'd like to believe. Scientific data is documentable, quantifiable, and reproducable. I'd like to see such data.

........

And I'm not making this up -- I swear I had posted this reply already, but when I went to look for it a moment later it wasn't there so I had to post it again. I assume I missed something...

[Xiaou2]

 1up,   just because you can not conceive of a spirit which sticks around does not
mean that they do not do so.

 In fact, there are many reasons for such an event to happen.

 In one book Ive read... it was said that the spirits who die get helped to their
new destinations by other helper / higher  spirits.    However, there are many
spirits who refuse to leave.   Some actually stay with their physical bodies
in the coffins ... waiting for "Jesus"  to come back and revive them to life.

 Some have said that a free roaming soul creates its own sort of reality. 
(A soul does not have that same sort of physical eyesight - and so perception
and reality are very different)   Sort of like its own living dream.  In this state...
they can get stuck/lost.

 Some choose to stick around to watch their loved ones or simply, because they
prefer to hang around the world as they knew it - rather than to move on.

I'd like to believe. Scientific data is documentable, quantifiable, and reproducable. I'd like to see such data.

 Im sure with a little digging,  one can find documented scientific data on the
subject.  The problem is... that its usually brushed off as a fluke, malfunction,
and or archived away like it never happened.

 There is certain types of data that can be collected..  however, theres much more that
can not be.   Just think... How can one collect readings on something that exists
on a different plane of reality?  Can we detect consciousness?   If a ghost is only
seen by the person who tunes into that reality... Can we detect it through them?

 There are many more questions than answers.


 My mother told us what she saw when we were young.  We thus grew up with
open minds to such things... which is probably the only way that I was able to
see such things.   They also seem to be attracted to people who see them... such as
my mother, who sees them regularly.

 The people who Ive talked with,  such as my close friends here... Ive known for like
10 yrs.  They are not the liar types,  nor story-makers.  Not druggies either.   Ive met
many Liar / Story tellers in my time... so Im very keen to be able to tell the difference
in people who are dead serious and honest,   and those who are making crap up.


 Occums Razor is a Cop Out.   Self appointed BS.   And it still does not explain
to any degree How all this Stuff was just 'here'.   The universe is far from Simple!
And only simple minded people would use such Drivel in an argument.

[saint]

I'd like to believe. Scientific data is documentable, quantifiable, and reproducable. I'd like to see such data.

 Im sure with a little digging,  one can find documented scientific data on the
subject.  The problem is... that its usually brushed off as a fluke, malfunction,
and or archived away like it never happened.

 There is certain types of data that can be collected..  however, theres much more that
can not be. 

If a human eye can see it, a camera can record it. If a human ear can hear it, an audio recording can be made. If a human can feel a temperature change, a digital thermometer can record it.

You implied such scientific data existed - I can't find it. I'd like to see it.

[retrometro]

1up,   just because you can not conceive of a spirit which sticks around does not
mean that they do not do so.

..and just because you can "conceive of a spirit", thinking of it does not make it so.

In fact, there are many reasons for such an event to happen.

 In one book Ive read... it was said that the spirits who die get helped to their
...

First, you should strike the words "In fact" out of your vocabulary because that's not how these words are used.  Also, referring to books you have read is the equivalent to using what someone tells you as evidence to support your statements.

Some have said that a free roaming soul creates its own sort of reality. 
(A soul does not have that same sort of physical eyesight - and so perception
and reality are very different)   Sort of like its own living dream.  In this state...
they can get stuck/lost.

 Some choose to stick around to watch their loved ones or simply, because they
prefer to hang around the world as they knew it - rather than to move on.

Really.  ..and how do you know this?  ..because the other day several professors I dearly trust told me that these spirts don't choose to stay because they're stuck or lost but rather that gravity works differently on spirits and they're unable to escape Earth's pull and move onto the next plane.... which of course is somewhere near Jupiter... or was it New Jersey?

Im sure with a little digging,  one can find documented scientific data on the
subject.  The problem is... that its usually brushed off as a fluke, malfunction,
and or archived away like it never happened.

Right.  Because scientific journals would much rather publish esoteric articles on how light passes through some medium in this way or that way under this and such conditions than the proof for determining once and for all of life existing and interacting outside of an organism governed by a completely unknown set of laws that defy most of mankind's collective scientific knowledge bridging the centuries old conflicts between religion and science? 

There is certain types of data that can be collected..  however, theres much more that
can not be.   Just think... How can one collect readings on something that exists
on a different plane of reality?  Can we detect consciousness?   If a ghost is only
seen by the person who tunes into that reality... Can we detect it through them?

This is the classic high school debate trick of "If we don't have these answers, then how can one expect to find answers about my statement?"

There are many more questions than answers.

..and that is the point.  However, you are presenting your experiences and anecdotes of others as fact supporting your answers.  You have been providing instantiated answers.

My mother told us what she saw when we were young.  We thus grew up with
open minds to such things... which is probably the only way that I was able to
see such things.   They also seem to be attracted to people who see them... such as
my mother, who sees them regularly.

My mockery is limited to only you.

The people who Ive talked with,  such as my close friends here... Ive known for like
10 yrs.  They are not the liar types,  nor story-makers.  Not druggies either.   Ive met
many Liar / Story tellers in my time... so Im very keen to be able to tell the difference
in people who are dead serious and honest,   and those who are making crap up.

You should realize that no one including myself have accused you, your mother, or your friends of lying.  That is, accusing you of being intentionally misleading.  I even recognize you could simply be one of those guys that post absurd messages just to get the type of responses you're receiving.  For that I'm guilty.  You can be wrong without being a "liar type". 

The only people in this thread that can't be wrong are those that have not made any claims.  That is, those just asking questions and for proof of your statements.