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Chap who coded Google’s Pac-Man clone reveals how the game freaked out Firefox

SoftwareNovember 2, 20261 min read

A designer who built Google's 2010 Pac-Man doodle has shared how the game accidentally played sounds on some Firefox users' computers. A browser add-on was opening Google's homepage in the background, and the game started on its own.

What happened

In 2010, Google turned its logo into a playable Pac-Man game to celebrate the game's 30th birthday. Designer Marcin Wichary built it. Later, he wrote about a problem: some Firefox users heard Pac-Man sounds they did not expect. A browser add-on called CoolPreviews had opened Google's homepage in the background, and the game started playing there.

Key facts

Pac-Man turned 30 in 2010, and Google marked it with the doodle.
The game started automatically after a visitor stayed idle on google.com for 10 seconds.
Wichary pushed a fix within hours. It added a mute button and required a click before the game and sounds could start.

Background

Google Doodles are changes Google makes to its homepage logo for holidays, anniversaries and other events. In 2010, the homepage was a very important place on the web. Namco, the company that owns Pac-Man, agreed to the project after Google had already started building it.

Why it matters

The story shows how a small design choice can have surprising effects. A game built to delight visitors also made noise on computers where people did not expect it. Wichary's fast fix shows how developers can respond quickly when a live website causes problems.

What to watch

Whether browser add-ons are checked more closely for hidden actions like opening web pages in the background.
How companies like Google test playful features before they reach millions of users.

Glossary

Google Doodles: Special, often playful changes Google makes to its homepage logo to mark events or anniversaries.
Firefox: A free web browser made by Mozilla, used to visit websites.
CoolPreviews: A Firefox add-on that shows previews of web pages when you hover over a link.
Namco: The Japanese game company that owns the Pac-Man game.

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