https://www.anninaruest.com/pac_mom/
2021
PAC-MOM is a parody of the popular arcade game PAC-MAN (1980) by Toru Iwatani. Game scholars classify PAC-MAN as an eating game. PAC-MOM is a game about gender and food insecurity. PAC-MOM is based on data on hunger as a gender issue including the gender pay gap. It takes place in a situation where accessing food requires PAC-MOM to work a disproportionate amount more than PAC-MAN for the same number of food dots. In addition to having to work more, PAC-MOM must avoid powerful ghost-enemies including patriarchy, misogyny, racism, abortion restrictions, and many more. PAC-MOM is programmed for the web in JavaScript/HTML5 and can be played online in most browsers as a single-player game. The game consists of a training level, a character customization screen, and a main level. The training level conveys background information. The information gained in the training level is applied in the character customization screen and the main level.
Annina Rüst
Switzerland / United States
Annina Rüst is an artist-technologist. She creates electronics and software-based media art. Her works often focus on political issues within tech culture, including gender representation and online privacy. Rüst’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries. She also writes articles for academic publications and zines. Rüst is an Associate Professor at Florida Atlantic University.