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World's Greatest Gamers, Unite
SamMichaels writes "Zophar's Domain had news of a press release from Twin Galaxies, the people who've tracked the high scores in games since 1981 (got famous in 82). They're looking for the top gamers to be published in a special commemorative edition of Twin Galaxies' "Official Video Game & Pinball Book Of World Records", which is the industry's official record book. The search is for gamers of "every game, every genre and every platform, whether old or new"."
Besides the obvious possibility of using capabilities like flash saves to get high scores, how do they determine if a player has used technology in an unfair (unjust?) way?
If you set the world record for a game on a MAME cabinet, does it count?
What if you set the record for a Nintendo game using the "Advantage"?
It reminds of that scene in The Wizard where the Lucas character had a power glove...
My wife watches that show okay? I promise it wasn't me.
Anyways the episode is one where Grandpa's memoires are sent away to the big publishing company and what do you know : They want to make a book out of it! Just send us $XYZ thank you. Of course the scam was that to cater to his egotism/narcicism and a feeling that people really gave a crap (which they really don't) they'd get him to pay for the "first publishing" which of course would be the last.
Who, except for the people who are in such a book, would buy such a book? I highly doubt anyone...
No kidding? Are they world records?
My brother and I used to switch off on that Atari 2600 great, Megamania (by Activision)--a game played by about three fewer people than Circus. Our record is three and a half hours on one game. We taped the joystick button down so that our hands wouldn't cramp up so badly from playing.
This should at least win an honorable mention for pathetic wastes of time. Speaking of which, does anyone remember the deal Activision used to have for their Atari 2600 games where, if you achieved a threshold score, you could take a picture of the television and send it in to get a free patch or badge or something identifying you as "Grand Master of Megamania" or somesuch? Those were so cool.
On the other hand, I know I can do well enough to crack the top 20 in the Gameboy version. I guess fewer people posted their scores on it.
IANAL, but I play one on
Not only is this childish and petty
... you're new around here, aren't you?
Not to criticize you or anyhing (because I think you have a great and valid point), but...
You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. The impossible just takes a little longer.
I wonder how they verify these sorts of things.
Although I'm sure a lot of people stop and take a screenshot/photo when they make a big achievement, how easy would it be to forge/alter it. Photos are probably a bit "safer" than screenshots, because of the equipment that would be required to alter a photo, but I would imagine it would be fairly easy for a person to take a screen-shot of a decent score and then "enhance" it somehow. Is there any other way of verifying such things?
I once scored over 4,000 on the Atari 2600 game Circus. (Anybody remember that one? You were a clown, bouncing around and popping balloons. Sweet. Eat your heart out, Quake 3 Arena!) I imagine that's some kind of record, considering only 9 people ever even played that game...
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Gort! Klatu Barata Nikto!
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Oh bother.
With a huge chunk of information like that, they could create a community around people who are trying to get high scores on video games. Message boards about your favorite games where you can communicate with other people who like the same games.
I realize part of the reason they are publishing this book is to stroke the egos of the people involved, but they could really do so much more. It's disappointing to see the opportunity to create a new online community wasted.
Ben Schumin :-)
The problem is that the gaming world seems to be terribly dominated by men. Wouldn't it be a good idea to have a female section, like they do in the Olympics? That way, despite females probably not being very good at it (they are outnumbered and not as enthusiastic), there will still be a place for them to go.
I think that playing games is fun, but perhaps some people play them too much. I think playing games 24/7 is okay if you are doing it for money, but not if you are not, because it might just be dangerous. Thats why you are supposed to take a break every 2 hours for 15 minutes.
I stiull break those rules sometimes though, tee-hee :P
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
--Anticipation of a New Lover's Arrival, The
I heard that the editors of the book will place an asterisk (*) by your name to indicate that you've moved out of your parent's basement and gotten laid.
This is another view of the world.
_ _ _
I was working on a flat tax proposal and I accidentally proved there's no god.
As fond as I am for the odd game or two it sort of disturbs me to see that some people take their game playing to such obsessive levels. When people started creating computer games back in the 70s I wonder if they ever realised quite how profoundly they would change society, and for the worse in many cases?
I feel that whilst computer games can be beneficial and relaxing when they're part of a normal live, they have an addictive quality which makes people spend far too much time playing them, to the detriment of their social skills. We're seeing it now - too many people here on /. seem to know more about how to win a Quake deathmatch than how to deal with the opposite sex for instance. Spending all of your formative years in front of a computer leads to a level of social skills rivalling autism. Indeed, many of the symptoms seem eerily similar.
Unfortunately, with recent statistics showing that computer gaming is an industry worth twice as much as Hollywood this trend seems to be accelerating. And parents nowadays seem more concerned with keeping their children quiet than fostering their social skills, which leaves them crippled when they finally have to enter the real world! How can this be right?
Personally I think that children shouldn't be allowed to play computer games while they're young. Things like this and television do them no good - did you know obesity is on the increase in the under fives? My kids will be encouraged to play and have fun instead, and when they deserve a treat I'll get out something wholesome like Mary Poppins that we can all watch as a family.
It's just not right to let your kids grow up knowing nothing other than Tekken Tag.
I wonder if anyone ever broke the 2-digit barrier playing BLAZEMONGER! and actually scored 10 points.
My best game ever I played for almost a full minute, and only got an 8.
DG
Hi Dan!
Want to learn about race cars? Read my Book
I challenge the world to beat me in the card game "War". I used to always win (well... at least 50% of the time!) ...
... maybe it was because I was the only one who cared enough to pay attention. So what if nobody noticed that I took their ace with my 2?
1... 2... 3... FLIP! I win again!
You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. The impossible just takes a little longer.
I love the smell of Karma in the morning
I believe that would lead to a very disapointing
look on reality.
I've met atlhetes that program, and barkeeps
that played amazing chess. Chess, like all forms
of entertainment, is simply that. It doesn't
reflect skill, it reflects experince.
Yes there is an a logic to chess, I will not deny that.
But is there any less logic to Football? I think
not. In fact, I bet they are about equal.
The point is this,
one) people do these things because they are
entertaining in some way. If its watching football, or
coaching chess. They are entertaining.
Its a simple fact that bordeom kills,
we all need amusement, we all desire entertainment.
So before you pass judgement on a person obsessed
with Donkey Kong, realize, somewhere, somebody
thinks your a fool for your obession with chess.
I've whiled many a day away with drool on my chin trying to take out a shambler with a shotgun, but could these people perhaps be taking their fun a bit too seriously? As a game addict I still feel a bit embarassed when I see phrases like "stellar accomplishments", "inner genius", and yes... "athletes" used to describe the process of jumping over the barrels being hurled at me by a video gorilla named "Donkey Kong". Video games are no more an athletic sport than juggling or burping the alphabet. Sure it takes practise and some skill, but that doesn't make it a sport.
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One thing I noticed bout the site.. they've got top scores for PC and Mac games - but what-tha' no AMIGA high scores? Damned if my Record of 812-8 vs. Super Nashwan in Speedball 2 is going to be ignored because the don't have Amiga records!