In celebration of October's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, game maker Bandai Namco has partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help battle the disease, according to IGN.
The main aspect of the partnership is the Ms. Pac-Man Pink Ribbon Campaign. For the campaign, Bandai has created and launched new mazes for various "Ms. Pac-Man" and "Pac-Man" games for iOS and Android devices.
For the entire month of October, mobile device gamers can download the new maps for $1.00. Earnings from the campaign will directly go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Game Spot reported.
"Awareness and early diagnosis are critical in the fight against breast cancer," James Kucera, the head of Bandai Namco Games American Inc.'s mobile division said. "We are proud to lend our voice to the fight with Ms. Pac-Man and Bandai Namco's Pink Ribbon Campaign."
For IOS devices, the new maps are available for the games "Pac-Man," "Ms. Pac-Man," "Pac-Man Lite," "Ms. Pac-Man Lite," "Ms. Pac-Man for iPad" and "Ms. Pac-Man for iPad Lite"
For the Android counterparts, the games are "Ms. Pac-Man" and "Pac-Man + Tournaments."
For Janelle Hall, founder and CEO of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, partnering with a major game developer known for its established titles will help the organization reach a wider audience.
"We are very excited about our new partnership with Bandai Namco and the Ms. Pac-Man Pink Ribbon Campaign," Hall said. "By encouraging their gamers to join the Pac, we can reach more women than ever with our message of hope."
"The funds they raise will allow us to provide early detection services for women in need in all 50 states," she added.
According to Bandai's senior producer Ben Acevedo, the aim of the campaign is to encourage the entire gaming community to get involved in projects that aim to combat breast cancer, according to Business Wire.
"While video games often bring amusement and joy to our lives, this is a chance to bring hope as well," he said. "Breast cancer has directly affected my immediate family and it's a fantastic opportunity for gamers and the industry to get involved."
"While the mazes we are offering in October are fun, the real challenge is to raise awareness and get real players, producers, artists and programmers across the mobile industry to join us and join the Pac," he added.