Only one player could see the whole maze — and that made it fair.
Shigeru Miyamoto designed Pac-Man Vs. in a month as a tech demo for the GameCube-to-GBA link cable. One player held the Game Boy Advance and played Pac-Man, seeing the entire maze. The other three watched the TV, controlling ghosts with limited, zoomed-in views. The one who could see everything was running for their life from three who could not. When a ghost caught Pac-Man, the players switched — the GBA changed hands, and so did the view. Most multiplayer games give everyone the same information. This one made the imbalance the point. It turned out that fairness didn't mean seeing the same thing — it meant needing each other to play at all.
— inspired by Shigeru Miyamoto
About this game
Released in Japan on November 27, 2003, this bundle paired Namco's R: Racing Evolution — a realistic racing simulator developed by Ridge Racer and MotoGP staff — with Nintendo's Pac-Man Vs., a party game designed by Shigeru Miyamoto. Pac-Man Vs. was the real draw: a one-month tech demo turned full game, showcasing the GameCube-to-GBA link cable through asymmetric multiplayer. One player used the GBA to control Pac-Man with a full view of the maze, while up to three others controlled ghosts on the TV with limited, zoomed-in views. The bundle became the primary way to own Pac-Man Vs. in Japan.
The Story Behind
Pac-Man Vs. began as a tech demo at a German games convention, simply titled 'Pac-Man for Nintendo GameCube.' Miyamoto completed it in one month, then showed it to Namco, who agreed to publish it. At E3 2003, Miyamoto famously invited Pac-Man creator Toru Iwatani on stage, admitted Nintendo had not gotten permission, and challenged him to a round — saying if Iwatani lost, he had to approve the game. Iwatani lost and approved it on the spot. The game was bundled with several titles, including R: Racing Evolution in Japan.
Tricks & Tales
The asymmetric gameplay required exactly one Game Boy Advance connected to the GameCube's fourth controller port — without it, the game could not be played. Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario, provided the announcer narration. The game was removed from the Nintendo eShop in 2017 around the time the fan-made remake AM2R was released, though the two events were unrelated.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The GameCube enforces region locking through its IPL ROM (the system firmware), not through physical cartridge shape. A Japanese GameCube (labeled DOL-001(JPN) on the base sticker) will refuse to boot North American or PAL discs without modification. Because Japan and North America both use the NTSC video standard, an internal region-switch hardware modification allows a single console to play both Japanese and North American titles; this is a common and reversible mod. PAL consoles use a different video signal and cannot receive the same switch modification. If you are purchasing a Japanese GameCube for use with North American software, confirm with the seller whether a region-free modification has already been installed.
Maintenance Tips
The GameCube uses a proprietary 8 cm mini-DVD format, and the laser lens is the component most likely to degrade with age — it may struggle to read discs before showing any visible external wear. If a disc fails to load, clean the lens very gently with a lint-free cloth and a small amount of isopropyl alcohol, and avoid using cotton swabs, as loose fibres can lodge inside the mechanism. For discs, wipe in straight lines from the center outward, never in circular motions. The laser's power potentiometer can be adjusted slightly when reading becomes unreliable, but this should be done in very small increments as too much adjustment can damage discs.
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 R: Racing Evolution + Pac-Man Vs. Bonus Disc copies regularly.
Can I play Pac-Man Vs. without a Game Boy Advance?
No. Pac-Man Vs. requires exactly one Game Boy Advance connected to the GameCube via a link cable (plugged into controller port 4). The GBA player controls Pac-Man and sees the full maze on the GBA screen, while the other players use regular GameCube controllers to control ghosts on the TV. Without the GBA, the game cannot start. If you're buying this disc, make sure you have both a GBA and a GameCube-to-GBA link cable.
Is this the only way to get Pac-Man Vs. in Japan?
This R: Racing Evolution bundle was the primary way to own Pac-Man Vs. in Japan. In other regions, Pac-Man Vs. was also bundled with other games (such as Pac-Man World 2 and I-Ninja in North America). There was no standalone retail release of Pac-Man Vs. on GameCube.
Does R: Racing Evolution use the GBA link cable too?
No. Only Pac-Man Vs. uses the GBA link cable. R: Racing Evolution is a standard racing simulator played with GameCube controllers on the TV. The two games on this disc are completely separate — one requires the GBA peripheral, the other does not.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy R: Racing Evolution + Pac-Man Vs. Bonus Disc
A short checklist for buying a used GameCube disc 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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Check the mini-disc for scratches
GameCube uses small mini-discs; deep scratches cause read errors, while light marks are usually fine.
Ask for a photo of the disc surface and confirmation that it loads.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese GameCube disc. The GameCube is region-locked, so a Japanese disc needs a Japanese console.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Saves use a memory card
GameCube saves to a memory card, so there is no battery in the disc to fail.
Have a GameCube memory card with free blocks ready.
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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.
See the unit we have →Unexpected Discoveries
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Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where R: Racing Evolution + Pac-Man Vs. Bonus Disc sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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