It started as something they weren't supposed to make — and became the thing everyone wanted.
In 1981, a small team at General Computer Corporation built an unauthorized modification kit for Pac-Man. They called it Crazy Otto. It had different mazes, a faster pace, and a character with a bow. When legal pressure forced them to present it to Midway — the company that distributed Pac-Man in North America — they expected to be told to stop. Instead, Midway bought it, turned it into the official sequel, and released it as Ms. Pac-Man in 1982. It became the highest-grossing arcade game of the year. Sometimes the detour you're forced to take is the door you were looking for.
About this game
Ms. Pac-Man: Special Color Edition is a Game Boy Color game released in 1999, developed by Namco, published by Namco Hometek. It is a maze video game.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Ms. Pac-Man began as Crazy Otto, an unauthorized modification kit created by General Computer Corporation in 1981. After legal pressure from earlier conflicts with Atari, GCC was forced to present the project to Midway Manufacturing. Midway purchased it and transformed it into the official Pac-Man sequel, releasing it in 1982. The game topped arcade charts for most of 1982 and was named the highest-grossing arcade game of the year by Cash Box and AMOA. The Game Boy Color version, released in 1999 by Namco, included both Ms. Pac-Man and Super Pac-Man to celebrate Pac-Man's 20th anniversary.
Tricks & Tales
The Game Boy Color version's development was delayed from Q2 1999 to November to add enhanced color modes that better utilized the GBC's palette — this resulted in the often-overlooked 'Colorization' option in the game's menu. The original 1982 arcade version was the first entry in the Pac-Man series not made by Namco, and became one of the most successful arcade games of the golden age.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Like the original DMG, the Game Boy Color is fully region-free. Japanese, North American, and European GBC cartridges all share the same physical format and connector, and the hardware applies no lockout. A Japanese GBC cartridge will run on any GBC from any region without modification. The GBC is also fully backward compatible with original DMG cartridges — when a DMG cart is played on a GBC, the system automatically renders it with one of several colour palettes. GBC-specific cartridges (the 'GBC only' black-tab type) will not run on the original DMG, but will run on the Game Boy Advance as well as the GBC.
Maintenance Tips
Game Boy Color cartridges — the smaller, slightly translucent-shell format — use the same cleaning approach as original DMG carts: a cotton swab with 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol wiped along the contact row, allowed to dry fully before reinsertion. The GBC console's ABS plastic shell faces the same yellowing risk as the DMG when exposed to UV light over time. Notably, several GBC titles — most famously Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal — include a real-time clock (RTC) circuit that runs continuously off a CR2025 coin cell. These batteries are now well over 25 years old; a dead RTC battery means time-based in-game events will not advance, even though the game itself will still load and save normally. This is a distinct issue from save data loss.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Ms. Pac-Man: Special Color Edition copies regularly.
Does Ms. Pac-Man for Game Boy Color save my progress, or does it use passwords?
This cartridge saves your progress internally — no passwords needed. Like most Game Boy Color games that save, it uses a small coin battery (often a CR2025, though the exact type can vary by board revision) to keep the save memory alive when the power is off. These batteries were built to last five to nine years; many copies are now well past twenty-five. If your progress disappears when you turn the game off, the battery is likely exhausted and can be replaced — though opening the cartridge to swap it will erase any saved data, so back up anything you want to keep first.
Is the Game Boy Color version region-free?
Yes. The Game Boy Color has no region lock, so a Japanese, North American, or European copy of Ms. Pac-Man works on any Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance anywhere in the world. Only the packaging and label text differ by region — the game inside is identical.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Ms. Pac-Man: Special Color Edition
A short checklist for buying a used Game Boy Color cartridge wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Good news — Game Boy Color is region-free
These cartridges are not region-locked, so a Japanese copy plays on any compatible Game Boy worldwide.
Confirm whether the title is Color-only or also works on the original Game Boy.
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If this title saves your progress, check the battery
Cartridges that save use a small coin-cell battery that fades over decades — a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Ask the seller whether the save function was tested. Replacing the battery is possible, but doing so erases any existing save.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Ms. Pac-Man: Special Color Edition sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
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