I find Pac-man to be influental moreso by bieng iconic rather than having "direct influence". Virtually every arcade nationwide has the Puck man displayed somewhere (especially since Namco does virtually all the contracting for maintenance on machines). Many Many arcades sucha sa Time Out actually have him in the title of their establishment.
I also think that its major success at a pivotal time in the game industry set a presedince(sp?) for companies to "make the next pac-man".
-edit- Oh yeah, and the fact that it's still a recongnizable title after decades says something about it as well. (True there are the newer titles, but meh. people still remember the original moreso.)
"Let justice be done though the heavens fall." - Jim Garrison
"Ask not your horse, if ye should ride into battle" - myself
