07 June, 2009

Daily Question #86

The battle between the companies A and B (the trophy is named after B) is the most popular instance of X. The term X, coined by C, is named after a game in which a similar situation occurs. Identify X.

PS : Attempt Quiz Bonanza #3


Hint :
Focus on the "+" for a few seconds


Cracked by Navin and ahens!! Great work!

Answer : X - Pac-Man defense

The Pac-Man defense is a defensive option to stave off a hostile takeover in which a company that is threatened with a hostile takeover acquires its would-be buyer. The name refers to the star of a video game Pac-Man, in which the hero is at first chased around a maze by 4 ghosts - Inky, Blinky, Clyde and Pinky. However, after eating a "Power Pellet", he is able to chase and devour said ghosts.The most quoted example in U.S. corporate history is the attempted hostile takeover of Martin Marietta (A) by Bendix Corporation (B) in 1982. In response, Martin Marietta started buying Bendix stock with the aim of assuming control over the company. The term (though not the technique) was coined by buyout guru Bruce Wasserstein (C).

The illusion in the hint is known as the Pac-Man illusion (also known as Lilac chaser). This is because, on staring at the "+" for around 10 seconds, we get the feeling that a green disk appears which eats up the lilac disks, giving a Pac-Man like effect.

4 comments:

navinpai said...

Pac-Man defense, coined by Bruce Wasserstein

As Per Wiki: The Pac-Man defense is a defensive option to stave off a hostile takeover in which a company that is threatened with a hostile takeover acquires its would-be buyer.The name refers to the star of a video game Pac-Man, in which the hero is at first chased around a maze by 4 ghosts - Inky, Blinky, Clyde and Pinky. However, after eating a "Power Pellet", he is able to chase and devour said ghosts. The term (though not the technique) was coined by buyout guru Bruce Wasserstein.

ahens! said...

pacman defense!
please explain the hint!

Kamal Rathi said...

Pac-Man defense

lordmaldy said...

Dude you keep digging up the most rad bits of trivia ever.. awesome stuff, keep em coming :D