PAC-MAN is an arcade video game released in 1980 by Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (formerly Namco). When it was officially launched in the USA in October 1980, it gained far greater popularity than in Japan, which became known as "PAC-MAN fever." The game resulted in an extensive merchandise program of more than 400 items and a television series with a high audience (56% share) in the United States, which earned it "The most successful coin-operated arcade game" award from the Guinness World Records in June 2005. With new games for consoles and mobile phones being released every year, PAC-MAN’s popularity has continued to spread across the globe for over 40 years.