If you have visited the Google homepage today you might have noticed the Pacman logo instead of the usual logo that appears on the Google site. This logo has been placed there to celebrate the 30th birthday of Pacman, a video game created in 1980.
This Google Doodle is unusual though as it is an interactive one. Google has placed an Insert Coin button on the same page. If a user presses that button the game starts.
Pacman can be controlled with the cursor keys as usual. The player has to avoid the ghosts and eat all of the yellow dots.
Some users have experienced an annoying Pacman sound bug which some users get on every page in their web browser.
The bug can be caused by many different things. It is clear that it is related to the Google Pacman logo.
Several Firefox users have experienced the sound bug because of add-ons they have installed. Add-ons that are known to cause problems are Cool Previews or Cooliris.
Most users who are experiencing the sound bug are likely to be running a similar plugin that is getting page previews from Google.
Have you experienced the Pacman sound bug on the Google homepage? Let us know how you solved it.
Update: The Cool Preview developers have updated their extension and say that the bug has been fixed in the new version which can be downloaded from their homepage.
Update 2: Users who are experiencing the issue in other browsers might consider disabling JavaScript in their web browser or using an adblocker of flashblocker to block the game from loading (it will be a static image then).
Internet Explorer users can add Google.com to the Restricted sites by going to Tools > Internet Options > Security, clicking on Restricted Sites and the Sites button afterwards. They then need to add google.com (or whatever google domain they use) to the list.
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I work for a large defense supplier/ aviation firm. We fixed it by removing Google as a homepage or as the browser of choice for all company computers. The easiest fix really.
that is not working for me. It starts on any page I go to and it is really pissing me off.
IE 8 – Tools > Manage Add-Ons > Shockwave Flash Object > Disable
Silence! \o/
We did the same thing.
I really wonder if whoever came up with htis annoying idea will be working at BING soon.
That’s who I changed my home page to.
Oh thank God it’s not just me. I was wondering where it was coming from. Initially, I thought it was coming from Ghostery, because the logo has a ghost from Pac-Man. But this clears it up.
However, I still can’t fix it :(
Try removing COOL PREVIEWS if you can… Or change your search engine.
It was cool Previews for me…
I tried that too. Still got the sound
disable coolpreviews and problem fixed
I thought here I go again.. will have to call my computer person…Ouch!
I get a charge each time I call him with a problem…hope someone figures how to rid this noise blaster. Guess I will have to change browsers.
I disabled Cool Previews and that seemed to fix the problem….. For now anyway
I disabled Cool Previews and that fixed the problem. I will just re-enable it tomorrow.
Google had to do this WHY?
Now the whole world knows that it is the 30th Anniversary of Pac-Man. Whoopee.
And it probably freaked out every single person, at least at first but maybe longer, as they ran virus and spyware programs, and searched the web.
Thanks Google. Removing your products from my machines now, like many other people.
disabled cool previews as well. It definitely works. It was very annoying. Thanks!
Easily corrected, but annoying.
People who do not know how to actually *use* Google to search for the answer to why their machine is playing the Pac-man theme and sounds will be in suspense for a loong time (or at least until tomorrow). But they will have a catchy tune to keep them dancing, eh?
(For example, I know people who cannot distinguish between a web browser and a web site. “But I’m using Firefox as my home page!!!” Ugggh….)
Love Firefox, hope they do not take too much flak for Google’s lack of testing.
Follow the previously given instructions here, and it will silence the beast.
dude, i have firefox as homepage on my internet explorer
this is the MOST IRRITATING SH*T ever! I can’t stand the damn noise so it looks like I will NO longer google. I am going to have to use another search engine!
Hey guys!
We just released a blog post that explains the CoolPreviews/Pacman music bug – has got to one of the weirdest things we’ve ever seen. We just fixed it and released a new build at http://www.coolpreviews.com. We’re going to test it some more throughout the day to make sure it’s been fully fixed, and if all goes well, we’ll release the new CoolPreviews build to Mozilla Add-ons, so you should get the auto-update then. Please feel free to contact us at bugs@cooliris.com if you have any questions.
Please see the blog for more info:
http://blog.cooliris.com/2010/05/21/weird-bug-coolpreviews-and-pacman-music/
Thanks!
Jenny
This article solve this anoing problem!
With your permition I’ll post this solution in portuguese on my blog, linking your post.
sure you can do that.
what the hell are google up to this pac man sound bug has buggered up my PC
You twats what werwe you thinking
Bing is my new homepage. Who ever approved this at Google should
be engaged in job hunting today. Imagine one of your customers hearing
this game in the background. The Google bunch are probably outside
playing Hackysack while this fallout continues.
Disabling Cool Previews did the trick.
Thanks for the tip.
We all love Google but this I have to say is STUPID…
Infect everyones computer with a stupid pac man noise.
Whos idea was this???
I run a business from my computer and i require sound, not helpful having
some annoying noise belting out at you.
I will never ever play pac man again. Not that I ever would have anyway.
Not impressed. Definately Cool Previews though for me.
Thanks for the tips guys, though my ears were going to start bleeding.
Luke – Melbourne.
I’m using Chrome 5 beta on Ubuntu 10.04 with a few extensions, and I didn’t experience it at all. Apparently only a few extensions on Firefox cause it.
Just disable Cool Previews and Cooliris and the sound bug is gone ! …I was clueless before coming to this site thanks!
Google pacman sound auto-loads on start up, even if no browser is open. Every time I start my computer the pacman sound auto-loads and cannot be shut off. Hot boot, cold boot, nothing helps. What makes this tragic is I took vacation time today to study for my FAA written exam tomorrow. I need the sound on so I can review the DVD lessons before the test. Google, your stupid little cuteness may cost me my pilots rating tomorrow. Thanks for that.
I am not pleased, Bill Skinner
Go to Tools -> Add-ons and then select Extensions. Disable CoolPreviews 3.0.1. That stopped it for me. So I’m guess it happens with any plugin that previews images in the FireFox browser
The CoolPreview made my speakers go crazy :)
THIS IS THE MOST UNPROFESSIONAL THING i HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED ON THE INTERNET. This pac man and sirens noises in firefox is awful. I can not imagine anyone saying this is a good idea. They should be fired. I don’t care who’s anniversary it is.
I too have business to do and there are enough problems with IE8 which is why I use firefox.. I have disabled cool iris and cool preview and closed and reopened browser and its still there. Yes I can lower my volume but I should not be having to adjust my machine due the stupidness and inconsiderate company that allowed this to happen. What is the matter with you people. I am going to uninstall google totally and use something else to search from now on. This is so unacceptable I could scream.
Microsoft really did a great job with all of their marketing for Bing. They sure did plant a seed! All it takes is for the untamed and untrainable masses to get upset over something so ridiculously small that they finally have the excuse they’ve been looking for to switch over to Bing and abandon Google.
Please tell us in a few months if the grass really is greener on the other side.
James
I had to uninstall Cool Preview. Totally fixed it.
This is my BEST SOLUTION here:
Change your google address in your browser for this one:
http://www.google.com/custom?hl=all -for English,
or
http://www.google.com/custom?hl=fr -if you are French …
etc etc
Yes hogsncat, this is the most crazy and unprofessional thing I found forever …
Yours PRO. Yes, P.
I fixed it by changing my homepage to something else besides Google. I guess from now on I will only use Google as a last resort. I have now switched to Bing as my primary search engine. I never thought I would see the day when I preferred something from Microsoft!
4 Firefox users:
Tools >> Options
“Content” tab
press “Exceptions” button near the “Load images automatically” check-box
Input www.google.com and hit “block”.
http://sdflex.org/blog/actionscript/stop-google-pacman-sound-in-firefox
An absolute intrusive disgrace. I am changing my search engine now!!!