A strange little side quest
Even a quick game like Empire of the Galaldur sits on top of decades — and sometimes centuries — of ideas. Early computer role-playing games helped turn rules, inventories, exploration and character progression into systems that could support long-form digital adventures. And then there is this: Pac-Man went on sale in 1980, and its creator Toru Iwatani famously linked the character's shape to a pizza with a slice missing. Not bad for a few facts hiding behind a Play button.
