by Phil Day
[This article was originally published 28/9/2010 by aurcade.com - PD]
Of course this week’s big news is Steve Weibe’s World Record breaking score on Donkey Kong, a score that is changing so quickly this past year that I can’t help but think that as I write this someone has got poor old Jumpman bent over a barrel. The other big news for classic arcade games this week was happening in Grand Rapids, Michigan with The First Annual Classic Video Game Olympics. When Aurcade asked me to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan I wasn’t too sure what to expect. As an Australian and as a visitor to North America I knew very little about Grand Rapids. Nevertheless, I knew it was famous for its cabinets, and it looks like its famed interest in cabinets will continue. Although, the cabinets have somewhat changed due to a classic video game enthusiast and entrepreneur – Mark Sellers.
Aurcade, Eric Akeson (Pac-Man champ), and I were there to watch, chat, drink beer, eat, record some scores for the leader-board, interview players and spectators, and past pumpkin time each night to see the sun begin to rise. Along the way I also spoke to the newest patron to classic arcade games – Mark Sellers – and watched two of the best classic arcade players in the world: Don Hayes, and Jon McAllister. I also met a man who I believe will be the next world record holder on Galaga Tournament; and I did little bit of genealogy for Rod Minch on what his last name really means.
Mark Seller’s, a regular contributor to the Twin Galaxies Score Board in the 80’s, has never lost his interest in classic arcade games and doesn’t tend to do things by half. He owns and operates three bars, all of which have kitchens and a full menu, and he is in the process of starting a forth (he’s not doing this alone, behind every good man is a better woman – wife and business partner Michele). Together they have dedicated a large part of their bar, Stella’s Lounge, to house many classic arcade titles for the public to play. Talking to Mark I couldn’t help but think much of what he was doing was partly to support him and his wife’s interest in travel, and also his gusto for video games; he even bought a third car to move his cabinets safely about, and when I first stepped into Stella’s Bar I could see why. I hadn’t seen so many dedicated machines in one place, and many of the titles I had only ever heard about, and better still, I could play them for a quarter! Joust, Tempest, Sinistar, Starwars, Defender, Robotron, Tron, Zoo Keeper, Donkey Kong, Ms Pac-man, Centipede, Missile Command, and many, many more. In the past six months he has already collected over forty uprights. With such an ideal location, venue, range of titles, and eagerness to compete against other gamers, it is no surprise mark is hosting an annual competition: The Annual Classic Video Game Olympics (the title is a homage to Walter Day’s arcade tournaments held at Twin Galaxies all those years ago). He sis also offering prize money for first, second, and third places. And the The First Annual Classic Video Game Olympics couldn’t have attracted stiffer competition.
Numerous players were there to compete, including Mike Sroka, William Willemstyn and Fred Ochs, however they were soon competing for third place when both Don Hayes and Jon McAllister walked in. With those two there you’d think there wasn’t much of a story left, but in the spirit of Billy Mitchell, it was a case of: Never surrender. For the whole weekend it was neck and neck as Don and Jon blistered their fingers and burnt their retinas. All titles were set to ACS (Aurcade Challenge Settings), with the exception of Asteroids, Centipede, and Tron (on these three players were given a 1 hour time limit to do their best), and players were awarded 100 points for the highest score on a title.
Don led the way with 1000 points by the end of Saturday; ever cool and calm, and collecting points, he had no problem talking and playing, not at all distracted by the comings and goings of others. I did notice things began to get tight when ‘The Don’ (as I call him for murdering as many classic tiles as Eamon Dunne murdered people) wasn’t willing to talk on his final run on Ms. Pac-man. It was then that I sensed the hunter may have become the hunted.
Jon was mashing buttons and raking in points many titles with ease, except one: Sinistar. Jon’s colourful language as he grinded on this impossible game over the weekend gave me more pleasure than that little clip in King of Kong where The Don looses it and slams his car boot down at Funspot. Jon delivered a few choice swear words that I committed to memory for future use. But come Sunday, his cabinet-abuse managed to secure some top scores late in the weekend, leaving little time for The Don to try and better them. The final result:
The Don scored the highest on Q-Bert, Star Wars, Tron, Zoo Keeper, Centipede, Ms.Pac-Man (Turbo), and Joust.
Jon took the highest scores on Asteroids, Defender, Donkey Kong, Missile Command, Robotron, Tempest, and Sinistar (he deserved this one).
With even scores they shared the prize money, taking home $750 each. While Don and Jon battled for first on the final day, so did Fred Ochs and Chris Freeman for fourth. Fred proved stronger on the day, and Mark signed another yet another cheque, this time for $100 (although Mark did manage to keep some of his money. He came in third with the highest scores on Track & Field, and Punch-Out!!)
Outside of me chewing the ear of competitors; Eric eating enough Chilli soup with beans to loosen the tiles in the gents; Mark Sellers giving away more money than he’d hoped; there was one more fun and, somewhat personal, surprise for me. A clear-cut contender for the Galaga World Record with five men only; a record I hold with a score of 3.2 million points, and a record that I believe will be passed by the end of October – I’ll put money on it (any takers?) ... but I think this man ought to have some attention of his own (I’ll write an article on him and his scores soon enough).
[This article was originally published 28/9/2010 by aurcade.com - PD]
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| Mark Sellers in front of Stella's Lounge |
Of course this week’s big news is Steve Weibe’s World Record breaking score on Donkey Kong, a score that is changing so quickly this past year that I can’t help but think that as I write this someone has got poor old Jumpman bent over a barrel. The other big news for classic arcade games this week was happening in Grand Rapids, Michigan with The First Annual Classic Video Game Olympics. When Aurcade asked me to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan I wasn’t too sure what to expect. As an Australian and as a visitor to North America I knew very little about Grand Rapids. Nevertheless, I knew it was famous for its cabinets, and it looks like its famed interest in cabinets will continue. Although, the cabinets have somewhat changed due to a classic video game enthusiast and entrepreneur – Mark Sellers.
Aurcade, Eric Akeson (Pac-Man champ), and I were there to watch, chat, drink beer, eat, record some scores for the leader-board, interview players and spectators, and past pumpkin time each night to see the sun begin to rise. Along the way I also spoke to the newest patron to classic arcade games – Mark Sellers – and watched two of the best classic arcade players in the world: Don Hayes, and Jon McAllister. I also met a man who I believe will be the next world record holder on Galaga Tournament; and I did little bit of genealogy for Rod Minch on what his last name really means.
Mark Seller’s, a regular contributor to the Twin Galaxies Score Board in the 80’s, has never lost his interest in classic arcade games and doesn’t tend to do things by half. He owns and operates three bars, all of which have kitchens and a full menu, and he is in the process of starting a forth (he’s not doing this alone, behind every good man is a better woman – wife and business partner Michele). Together they have dedicated a large part of their bar, Stella’s Lounge, to house many classic arcade titles for the public to play. Talking to Mark I couldn’t help but think much of what he was doing was partly to support him and his wife’s interest in travel, and also his gusto for video games; he even bought a third car to move his cabinets safely about, and when I first stepped into Stella’s Bar I could see why. I hadn’t seen so many dedicated machines in one place, and many of the titles I had only ever heard about, and better still, I could play them for a quarter! Joust, Tempest, Sinistar, Starwars, Defender, Robotron, Tron, Zoo Keeper, Donkey Kong, Ms Pac-man, Centipede, Missile Command, and many, many more. In the past six months he has already collected over forty uprights. With such an ideal location, venue, range of titles, and eagerness to compete against other gamers, it is no surprise mark is hosting an annual competition: The Annual Classic Video Game Olympics (the title is a homage to Walter Day’s arcade tournaments held at Twin Galaxies all those years ago). He sis also offering prize money for first, second, and third places. And the The First Annual Classic Video Game Olympics couldn’t have attracted stiffer competition.
Numerous players were there to compete, including Mike Sroka, William Willemstyn and Fred Ochs, however they were soon competing for third place when both Don Hayes and Jon McAllister walked in. With those two there you’d think there wasn’t much of a story left, but in the spirit of Billy Mitchell, it was a case of: Never surrender. For the whole weekend it was neck and neck as Don and Jon blistered their fingers and burnt their retinas. All titles were set to ACS (Aurcade Challenge Settings), with the exception of Asteroids, Centipede, and Tron (on these three players were given a 1 hour time limit to do their best), and players were awarded 100 points for the highest score on a title.
Don led the way with 1000 points by the end of Saturday; ever cool and calm, and collecting points, he had no problem talking and playing, not at all distracted by the comings and goings of others. I did notice things began to get tight when ‘The Don’ (as I call him for murdering as many classic tiles as Eamon Dunne murdered people) wasn’t willing to talk on his final run on Ms. Pac-man. It was then that I sensed the hunter may have become the hunted.
Jon was mashing buttons and raking in points many titles with ease, except one: Sinistar. Jon’s colourful language as he grinded on this impossible game over the weekend gave me more pleasure than that little clip in King of Kong where The Don looses it and slams his car boot down at Funspot. Jon delivered a few choice swear words that I committed to memory for future use. But come Sunday, his cabinet-abuse managed to secure some top scores late in the weekend, leaving little time for The Don to try and better them. The final result:
The Don scored the highest on Q-Bert, Star Wars, Tron, Zoo Keeper, Centipede, Ms.Pac-Man (Turbo), and Joust.
Jon took the highest scores on Asteroids, Defender, Donkey Kong, Missile Command, Robotron, Tempest, and Sinistar (he deserved this one).
With even scores they shared the prize money, taking home $750 each. While Don and Jon battled for first on the final day, so did Fred Ochs and Chris Freeman for fourth. Fred proved stronger on the day, and Mark signed another yet another cheque, this time for $100 (although Mark did manage to keep some of his money. He came in third with the highest scores on Track & Field, and Punch-Out!!)
Outside of me chewing the ear of competitors; Eric eating enough Chilli soup with beans to loosen the tiles in the gents; Mark Sellers giving away more money than he’d hoped; there was one more fun and, somewhat personal, surprise for me. A clear-cut contender for the Galaga World Record with five men only; a record I hold with a score of 3.2 million points, and a record that I believe will be passed by the end of October – I’ll put money on it (any takers?) ... but I think this man ought to have some attention of his own (I’ll write an article on him and his scores soon enough).
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