The Pac-Man Scream: Video Gaming's Wilhelm Scream (draft report)
The "Pac-Man scream" is the term I use for when the sound of Pac-Man dying in the Atari 2600 port of the game is used as a sound effect in other media. It has been used for decades in everything from feature films to video games, and only rarely does the context have anything to do with Pac-Man.
If you have also noticed this and wanted to learn the origin, you are in the correct place. It is what I would call "obscured media"; Plenty of people have noticed it, talked about it, and even compared it to the Wilhelm scream, however the origin is surprisingly easy to miss, even when you are looking.
The origin seems to be the 1983 re-release of the Sound Ideas Series 1000 Sound Effects Library, and the track description is "Arcade, Video Game, Electronic Sounds, Amusement Park, Fair".
Why it is obscure
- The original release of Series 1000 is 1979, about three years BEFORE Pac-Man for the 2600 was for sale.
- The track was only added with the 1983 the CD release. Which is still rather tight as far as the timing goes.
- The track's description implies an open air arcade or fairground. Neither would typically feature an Atari 2600.
- The track description does not mention Pac-Man at all.
- The track is of normal gameplay and the first death is not heard until around 20 seconds in.
- Since it contains multiple effects people might want to use, not every media which uses the track uses the scream.
- People unfamiliar with copyright liability might assume a sound producer would just emulate the game and use that.
Examples I have vetted
| Year | Title | Medium | Approximate Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Pac Man | Atari 2600 Game | On death |
| 1983 | Series 1000 Sound Effects Library | CD | ARCADE, VIDEO GAME - VIDEO GAME: ELECTRONIC SOUNDS, AMUSEMENT PARK, FAIR 01 |
| 1983 | Superman 3 | Movie | Superman is being attacked by SAMS |
| 1984 | El Chaves Del Ocho, portugese dub | Television | At the end of the intro countdown |
| 1985 | Santa Claus: The Movie | Movie | Near the end, when the tech heresy goes out of control |
| 1990 | TMNT Season 4 Episode 1 | Cartoon | 5:00 in |
| 1990 | Ducktales Season 4 Episode 5 Srooges Last Advenutre | Cartoon | 13:50 in |
| 2001 | Arthur "Vitual Goose" | Flash game | When the choices are being displayed |
| 2001 | Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Mayhem of the Mooninites | Cartoon | When Carl gets zapped near the end |
| 2001 | The Berenstain Bears Season 1 Episode 7 | Cartoon | Around 15:50 |
| 2001 | Biz Kid$: Budgeting Basics | Television | 7:10 in |
| 2003 | The Berenstain Bears Season 2 Episode 12 | Cartoon | Around 13:50 |
| 2004 | Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Lord Crump's Theme | Game/Music | 3 seconds in |
| 2006 | Taco Bell Spicy Chalupa Ad | Advertisement | 10 seconds in |
| 2010 | Pink Panther and Pals S1E4 | Cartoon | 6:00 in |
| 2012 | Fred the Show, Visit from Grandma | Television | 2:00 in |
Is it a scream
It's pretty clear that it is the sound he makes when he dies. Indeed, the maze is forever silent excepting the the alert tones that play when the game begins. The only sounds in the game come from Pac-Man's mouth.
That being said, sure, it might be called more of a "Wah wah wah wah" sound. Call it the Pac-Man Cry, if you like, but it's easier to explain if you invite the comparison to the Wilhelm Scream.
I do admit that it is never used AS a scream, whereas the Wilhelm scream IS. But then again, nowadays the Wilhelm scream isn't used as scream either, not without being a little tongue in cheek.
Sources
Conflicts of Interest
The author declares no interest in conflict