This year, the assignment will be to design a 60-second Main Title for a contemporary version of the game PACMAN 2010. This new version of the theme can include the original theme, variations on that theme, or be inspired from the original material and go in an entirely unrecognizable direction.

This standard MIDI file contains the original PACMAN theme to be used in this challenge.
pacman.mid

Starting with this MIDI file of the original PACMAN theme as reference material, composers must create an exciting, unique, contemporary redesign and development of the theme using all of the modern tools available.

PACMAN 2010 is an iPhone app utilizing GPS technology to play the game. Your character has to negotiate your way thru a modern city (like NYC) in a 6x8 block grid (including alleys), “eating” up all the yellow dots displayed on your iphone overhead city map while avoiding ghosts (played by other iPhone users!). If you pass over a big yellow dot location, ghosts turn blue on your iPhone and you can “eat” them by pressing the "CHOMP" button on your iPhone, which sends a signal to the central server tracking the gameplay on the street and notifies the other iPhone users who weren't quick enough on the draw that they're out of the game! The app can tell which way your iPhone is facing so ghosts heading towards you can eat you if they CHOMP you. You can hide in alleys to let the ghosts pass as long as you are out of their line of sight.

This Challenge is open to all experienced and emerging videogame composers. All compositions will be uploaded to the G.A.N.G. online forums and the membership will vote on their three favorite compositions. These three winners will be the guest panelist challengers, and along with the previous year’s champion, will present their compositions while speaking about how they came up with their solutions to this challenging puzzle.

At GDC, I'll moderate this panel where last year's champion and the 3 composer finalists present their winning compositions (chosen by GANG members on the Forums). Each composer will have 10 minutes to discuss how he/she arrived at their individual solutions to this challenge, what problems they faced, and what surprises they encountered in the process.

Attendees will see and hear how composers think on their feet as they address important game design dilemmas, offering a sneak peek into their music design process.