Play Pac-Man in Times Square, Paris, Hollywood Using Google Maps

Happy April Fool’s Day.

In what’s become something of an annual tradition, Google has unveiled a new online doo-dad on the first of April. This year, it’s a fully playable version of Pac-Man built into Google Maps.

All you have to do is open up Google Maps on your computer or smartphone, plug in any location you want, click on the little Pac-Man logo on the bottom-left hand corner and voila… instant retro gaming heaven.

According to the Google Help page, the game only works in certain locations when playing on mobile devices. The company issued a list of 15 clues, corresponding with 15 different locations, to play the game on mobile phones. Some of the clues include:

– Don’t drop the ball on the eve of your victory!

– Chomp your way to independence down seven lanes of July.

– After a chat with the Sphinx, PAC-MAN sounds more like “Dokki Dokki”

– Pay special attention to Blinky – he might blend in with the dreaming red kangaroos!

Google has a long history of foisting April Fool’s Day pranks on an unsuspecting public. In 2004, the company listed job opportunities for positions on the moon, and in 2008, the company purported to offer “Gmail Custom Time,” where Gmail users could “backdate” emails to whatever time they wanted.

Google previously paid tribute to Pac-Man with a May 2010 “doodle” in honor of the game’s 30th anniversary. The doodle is still available to play here.