Pac-Man was released as an arcade game in Japan in 1980 and became one of the most recognisable video games ever made. In the game, the player guides Pac-Man through a maze while avoiding ghosts, and this sound plays when a ghost finally catches him and a life is lost. As arcade culture moved online, the wail became a shorthand for failure in gaming videos, reaction clips and memes. Its simple, cartoon-like tone keeps it funny rather than harsh, which is why creators still reach for it decades later.