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Gary Whelan scored 399,290 points on Galaxian breaking Perry Rodgers 21 year
old high score
Link
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Press Releases
11/24/2004 British Gamer Takes 21-Year-Old Video Game Record Away From American
First U.K. Gamer to Hold Title on Classic Game in Decades
by Walter Day
Above, medallion commissioned by Billy Mitchell to honor Whelan's success in
bringing title to Great Britain.
British Gamer Beats 21-Year-Old American Record to Rule Galaxian; Large Cash
Prize Offered by Billy Mitchell to Whoever Can Beat this New record.
Classic arcade video game playing, the domain of legendary arcade titles like
Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Centipede and Frogger, has traditionally been considered
an impregnable stronghold of American supremacy. American players, famous for
classic rivalries between gamers from California, Texas, Florida and North
Carolina, have always owned the world titles on more than 250 different
classic titles.
"But, that changes right now," says Walter Day, editor of Twin Galaxies'
Official Video Game & Pinball Book of World Records, the world's official
book of records. "America had better watch out because for the first time
in more than 20 years, a British player has stolen a world video game title
away from an American. And, he did it by playing 2 hours each night for most
of the last twenty years."
On August 13, 2004, playing on his own Galaxian machine in his home in Dukinfield,
England, Gary Whelan scored 399,290 points, beating the long-standing world
record of 389,770 points set by Perry Rodgers, of San Luis Obispo, California,
on May 12, 1983. Until now, Rodgers' Galaxian score was deemed unbeatable.
A complete report and analysis of Whelan's game play has been prepared by Twin
Galaxies' Chief Referee, Robert Mruczek, and can be found at the Mruczek report.
"Whelan's accomplishment is a big deal," says Day. "The next edition of Twin
Galaxies' book of records - due out in early 2005 -- will publish a significant
feature on this accomplishment, making Whelan's feat one of the highlights of
the retrogaming section.
Also, Billy Mitchell, considered by many to be the world's most famous video
game player, has commissioned special artwork that commemorates Whelan's
achievement (see graphic medallion honoring Gary Whelan). Mitchell says: "I
have created this artwork because Gary Whelan's world record is one of the
most exciting classic gaming events of the year - it should inspire a very
exciting rivalry between the United Kingdom and America, not only on Galaxian
but on all the other titles, too. It will enrich the entire classic gaming hobby."
In fact, Mitchell is so impressed with Whelan's breakthrough score on Galaxian
that he has offered a cash bounty of $100 to the first player who can break
Whelan's newly-established world record. "I'll go even further," says Mitchell,
"I'll offer $1,000 to the first player who can reach 1 million points on Galaxian."
In response to Mitchell's offer, Walter Day says: "Billy Mitchell is already
recognized as the classic gaming hobby's biggest benefactor, having pioneered
"cash bounties" in 1999, when he published a poster which offered hundreds of
thousands of dollars out of his own pocket to anybody who could break world
records on select classic games from the early 1980s".
American Billy Mitchell is so impressed with Mr. Whelan's breakthrough score on
Galaxian that he has offered US$100 to the first player who can break Mr. Whelan's
new world record. He added: "I'll offer $1,000 to the first player who can reach a
million points on Galaxian."
Source: eCoinOp UK Link
Meanwhile, Perry Rodgers, the California player who lost the title to Whelan,
is not sitting idly on the sidelines. When asked if he would take this loss
lying down, Rodgers responded: "Absolutely not. I have plans to get back in
shape and take my title back, especially to win back the title for America."
Rodgers is currently employed as a game producer working at Wild Tangent, an
internet game publisher and developer headquartered in Redmond, Washington,
recognized as the interactive game industry's leading custom-game publisher,
serving customers like Nike and Coca Cola.
(Note: Sources report Perry Rogers is now playing everyday on his own Galaxian
at home and is beefing up for a new High Score World Record. PostedA: 1/5/05.)
Whelan is employed as a Service Technician at Océ-UK where he repairs and
installs all sorts of Wide Format Plan Printers. Océ, headquartered in the
Netherlands, is traded on Nasdaq (OCENY), and is recognized as a global leader
in digital document management and delivery solutions.
Marv Pollack, a spokesman at Océ, said "Océ is pleased to have a world record
holder as an employee. We are immensely proud of his skill and accomplishment.
We will send out an internal announcement throughout all our worldwide branches
so all Océ employees can appreciate Whelan's feat."
Whelan says that his wife Tricia and daughter Hayley are "proud as punch"
about his accomplishment. He says: "My wife knows my love for the classic
games has been forever! I have been with her since 1974 and married her in
1980, so she knows all about my love for the old games. And my daughter,
Hayley, has been completely supportive, too."
An ardent fan of the Manchester City soccer team since age seven, Whelan has
played video games since 1972, starting with Pong. In addition to classic
coin-op arcade games, he still plays his NEO-GEO home system
When asked how much work it was to break this world record, Whelan says: "I
have been playing Galaxian since it arrived at my local pub in 1979. It has
always been my favorite game and I still play 2 hours per night and even more
on the weekends."
Whelan doesn't know if other players in the United Kingdom might challenge
ancient records held by Americans. But, he notes, "I came out of nowhere,
In spite of this success in hand, Whelan has no plans to retire from gaming
quite yet. He still wants to lift his Galaxian world record even higher, and,
eventually, go for the world title on other memorable games from the early
1980s, like Space Invaders, Rally-X and Moon Cresta.
So, arcade fame has finally come to the United Kingdom. And, in a recent email
to Whelan, Billy Mitchell asked: "Are you ready for fame?"
Without blinking an eye, Whelan answered: "Yeah, I'm ready!"
For more information, contact Walter Day at (641)472-1949, or by email
at walter@twingalaxies.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 23, 2005
Yank and Brit Fuel Rivalry in London Link
Perry Rodgers Flying to CGEUK to Face Gary Whelan on Galaxian
Update on Perry Rogers From United States of America challenges Gary Whelan
of the United Kingdom to a Galaga Challenge Showdown at the GGEUK Tournament
on this year's Classic Gaming Expo-UK (in Croydon, London, August 13).
Rodgers held the title for more than 20 years, finally losing his crown to Gary
Whelan of Dukinfield, UK, who was the first British player in two decades to take
a major arcade title away from an American.
Both Whelan and Rodgers have been practicing profusely and both feel ready for their
Galaxian showdown, which is one of the marquee events planned for this year's CGEUK.
From Twin Galaxies Main Page www.twingalaxies.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Twin Galaxies - Gary Whelan Headlines Link
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Releases
World Record on Galaxian Wins Headlines Throughout Europe
Gary Whelan Appears on BBC and in London Sun and Manchester Daily and more...
12/25/2004
At Left, Gary Whelan playing on his own Galaxian machine at his home in Dukinfield
Gary Whelan has been visited by the BBC, newspapers from London to Manchester, many
radio shows and has enjoyed stories published on web sites throughout Europe.
12/25/2004 World Record on Galaxian Wins Headlines Throughout Europe
Gary Whelan Appears on BBC and in London Sun and Manchester Daily and more...
by Walter Day
Gary Whelan plays his own cocktail table galaxian
Gary Whelan is a national star in the United Kingdom, appearing in a full
page story in the Manchester Evening News on December 21, followed by two
national papers -- The Sun (half page story) and The Daily Express (full
page story) on the 22nd -- with pictures. Also on the 22nd, the BBC ( British
Broadcasting Corporation ) filmed a TV slot for the 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM news.
Also on the 22nd, Whelan appeared live on two radio interviews: one for The
British Services Radio (worldwide) and the other for the National Radio Station
5 Live.
Next week, Whelan appears on Channel M, a local Manchester news program
as well as in the two local papers next week, the Advertiser and the
Tameside Reporter. Plus dozens of European web sites. To see a sample
of the stories, here is the story from the BBC, December 21, 2004
Video game "record score" claim Mr. Whelan said he would keep playing until he
reached 1m points
A man who has spent at least two hours practicing on a vintage video
game for the past 25 years has secured what he says is the highest
ever score. Gary Whelan, of Duckinfield, Greater Manchester, has been
playing the space invaders game, Galaxian, since 1980.
He said he had set a world record of 399,290 points, beating the previous record
held by a Californian.
Mr. Whelan said he would not stop playing until he had reached at least a million
points. He has always been really interested in video games... Trish Whelan,
Gary's wife He said: "You've got to put some effort into it and some time into it.
"My marriage is probably the same.
"The worst it's been is if my wife shouts me for my tea. I say 'I'll be down in
a minute', but obviously, if I'm on a good run, I'll keep on going till my tea's cold."
His understanding wife of 24 years, Trish, said she had not considered divorcing him.
"It's not like I didn't know what I was getting into," she said. "He has always
been really interested in video games.
"At least I know where he is and what he's up to. It's our silver wedding next years
so I'll wait till then and then we'll see."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
=============================================================================
The Unofficial Galaxian Home Page Link
Galaxian was the first color video game ever? Up to then, black and white
video games were 'colorized' by sticking colored strips over the screen.
See the Galaxian Flyer Front Link
See the Galaxian flyer Back side Link
=============================================================================
News >> Sports
From: www.webindia123.com
Man sets PC gaming record! :- Link
London | December 22, 2004 2:46:43 PM IST
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A man has set a world record on a computer game after practicing it every night
for 25 years.
Man Dedicated 9,125 Hours for 25 Years to Play Galaxian Classic - A man who has
spent at least two hours practicing on a vintage video game for the past 25 years
has secured what he says is the highest ever score. Gary Whelan, of Duckinfield,
Greater Manchester, has been playing the space invaders game, Galaxian, since 1980
Link
According to The Sun, Gary Whelan clocked up a record 399,290 points in one
game of the Space Invaders-style arcade game Galaxian.
He had it installed at home and spent two hours each night and more at weekends
honing his skills. The achievement will be included in the official book of
gaming records.
"Galaxian always seemed one of the more exciting '70s games. I bought my own from
a man on the internet. Instead of just keeping it as a memento, I decided to have
a go at the record. Now I've got it and it feels fantastic," Gary was quoted as
saying. (ANI)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester News
British Flag
Tuesday, 21st December 2004
Gary is Galaxian king after 25 years Link
Writer: Neal Snowdon
His favorite pastime: playing his cocktail table Galaxian game.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester news
CHAMP: Gary Whelan
Gary Whelan sits on his Galaxian Cocktail Table Game
Gary Whelan, from Stalybridge, who has just been crowned king of Galaxian,
an arcade game to rival the original Space Invaders, after reaching a points
score of 399,290 and beating a previous record set up by a Californian in 1983.
Gary Whelan
IT'S taken two hours every night for the last quarter of a century - but Gary
Whelan has now been crowned the king of Galaxian.
Gary, a 45-year-old photocopier service engineer, first played Galaxian in
1979 when it arrived in his local pub in Stalybridge as a rival to the original
Space Invaders arcade game.
Since then, the pub has undergone several name changes and Gary has married
Trisha and had a daughter Hayley, now 18.
But throughout the last 25 years, he has never lost his love for Galaxian.
And after buying his own version of the arcade game and practicing for two
hours each weeknight - and even more at weekends - he has now broken the
official points world record for the game.
By scoring 399,290 points, Gary broke the previous record of 389,770 points
set by a Californian way back in 1983.
Gary's smashing of the 21-year-old record has sent the gaming world into
raptures, because many thought 389,770 was a high score that would never
be beaten.
And it is the first time a Briton has taken a gaming record from the
Americans in more than 20 years.
His achievement will be included in the official book of gaming records,
which is due out early next year.
Glory
To have his world record verified, he had to videotape his performance
from start to finish and send it to the official arcade games authorities
in the US.
Gary, of Fir Tree Close, Dukinfield, is now basking in the glory of being
a world record holder - and the adulation of his wife and daughter.
"I first started playing Galaxian in 1979 and I've been playing it ever
since," he said. "It always seemed to be one of the more colorful, exciting
games from that era.
"A year ago, I bought my own Galaxian game from a man on the internet and
instead of having it as a memento, I decided to have a go at the record.
Now I've got it - and it feels fantastic.
"Trisha and Hayley are really pleased for me and accept it is my hobby,
but some of my mates think it is a bit oddball."
Gary started edging closer and closer to the record over several months.
He bought a secondhand video camera and had it mounted on the wall next
to his Galaxian machine so it could record all of his record attempts.
Then on Friday the 13th of August, he finally broke the record. He sent
the video tape of his performance over to the US and was instantly hailed
a hero by arcade game enthusiasts.
Gary added: "It is great to see my name on all the internet sites dedicated
to this sort of thing.
"I've gained a real kudos out of it, which is just brilliant.
"Having the record feels like a real achievement. But now I've got it,
I think my wife expects me to do a few more odd jobs around the house."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galaxian Twin Galaxies Scoreboard Link
Variation: Factory Settings
Platform: Arcade
Rules: Start Units : 3
Ranking Score Name Date Re-Confirmed
------- ----- ---- -----------------
1 100.00 % 399,290 Gary S Whelan 09/20/2004
2 97.62 % 389,770 Perry Rodgers 06/11/2004 original date: May 12, 1983
3 92.09 % 367,720 Chip Davis 06/11/2004
4 46.78 % 186,770 Lloyd Dahling 06/11/2004
5 36.70 % 146,550 Walter A Day 06/11/2004
6 33.78 % 134,900 Dan Fogelman 06/11/2004
7 32.19 % 128,540 Dwayne Richard 06/24/2002
8 24.56 % 98,080 Thomas Peter 06/29/2003
9 22.77 % 90,910 Robert T Mruczek 06/20/2002
10 18.95 % 75,650 Karen NG 06/11/2004
--------------------------------------------------------
Perry Rodgers Link
San Luis Obispo, CA
United States
World
Ranking Game Score
------- ---- ------
1 The End 47,080
1 Mario Bros. 3,481,550
2 Galaxian 389,770
3 Centipede 12,200,000
3 Food Fight 3,736,700
17 Mad Crasher 48,914
19 Return of the Jedi 695,850
20 Cheyenne Gun 86,850
23 Karate Champ 88,300
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below article originally from: Twin Galaxies Forums Link
www.twingalaxies.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert T Mruczek Link
TG Board of Directors
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 12:18 am
Post subject: NEW World Record on Galaxian After Almost 20 Years !!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BREAKING NEWS - GALAXIAN WORLD RECORD SMASHED AFTER 20+ YEARS !!
As reported on November 23rd, 2004
Hello fellow gamers:
The Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard has been tracking video game world
records for more than twenty years under the leadership and guidance of Walter
Day, founder and chief scorekeeper. Time and time again, world records on multiple
titles were beaten either by the current world record holder, or a new champion
who emerged to set their mark
and prove to the world their expertise.
Over the past twenty years, some records have had new champions multiple times,
each being a little bit better than the last, or maybe the previous record holder
makes a comeback and reclaims the number one position on their favorite title
from yesteryear.
A few titles, however, have not had a new champion in over twenty years,
possibly because the previous marks set were so high that no one can conceivably
pass them, or even come close, One such title is a basified classic..."Galaxian".
The title came out in 1979 and was a recognized trendsetter. For starters, the
game boasted true colors, not some celluloid overlay screen to fool you into
thinking you were not playing on a black-and-white monitor. "Galaxian" was
the grandfather or the genre of titles where enemies came down at you from
the top of the screen while you shot upwards. While later titles added 8-way
ship movement, multiple button capabilities and other features, "Galaxian's"
simplicity was pure in a classic sense. Ships came down, you shot them. They
shot you, you avoided their fire. No fancy "smart bombs", "power-ups" or
"shields". Just you against wave after wave of enemies. Your supply of three
ships (and one extra) against their never ending hoards of forty six (46) ships
per wave. Take four hits (assuming you earned the extra ship), and it was game
over.
Mario Brothers
Its record was set by Mario Brothers world champion Perry Rodgers over twenty
years ago. Since then, a few gamers have come close, but none have equaled or
passed his mark. Until now.
Gary Whelan, who hails from Dukinfield, England, has been practicing hard,
taking on the unfathomable challenge of passing Perry's mark. Reporting higher
scores every week, it seemed as if Gary was destined to pull off what no other
gamer has managed to accomplish over two decades of attempts. Eventually, and
historically, it was on August 13th of the year 2004 that Gary managed to pull
off a new world record score of 399,290 points on "Galaxian", just coming shy
of 400K, but managing to establish Gary as one of the new world champion at
"Galaxian", a proud moment indeed. This beats Perry's previous world record
of 389,770 points.
With his favorite music playing in the background to keep him going, Gary kept
his game going for 93 minutes, surviving to wave 114 where, as the expression goes,
all good things must come to an end.
And let me tell you, fellow gamers...Gary pulled this off the hard way. Some
"Galaxian" players will strategically control which enemies they destroy first,
in anticipation of the end-of-wave "swarms" that are the hardest part of the
game, minimizing the chance for a "swarm" to appear at all. Gary, with almost
no exception, played every wave without
this strategy, meaning he survived through 113 "swarms", an incredible achievement
in and of itself.
When I informed Perry Rodgers that his 20+ year old title had fallen to Gary
Whelan, Perry stoically accepted the news. Said Perry, "It was just a matter
of time" (before someone passed his mark). In fact, Perry's closest challenge
was set by another gamer many years back, with a score of 367,720 by Chip Davis.
Very close indeed, but the difference of approx 20K would represent clearing
about five (5) more waves of enemies. Some gamers can't pull that off in their
entire game !!
And now, so you can see how Gary's world record performance was achieved, here
is a detailed recap of his 399,290 point world record achievement, followed by
some afterthoughts and an interview with the new world champion. But first, a
little about the game itself.
***********************************
AFTERTHOUGHTS
Ninety three (93) minutes. One hundred and fourteen (114) waves. Just four (4)
ships. One (1) AWESOME player.
I have been playing "Galaxian" ever since its first release over twenty five
years ago. At the time, I had been playing various arcade and novelty games
for nearly ten years. Hard to believe. I was there when "Pong" first entranced
the world, and even before, when arcade "novelty" games existed...shooting metal
bullets at aluminum targets going back and forth on tracks across a screen,
guiding a mock car-frame through a road/course made of nothing more than wires
wrapped around a revolving cylinder to simulate driving. But THIS game captivated
me like no other.
It was color that was awesome enough. But the loud background pulsing music
that I heard when I first played the game just made me want to play it even more.
Even from the very first moment you inserted a coin into the machine and the
high pitched sound alerted everyone that a player was about to play "Galaxian".
The sound the enemies made as they swooped down, the ever-intensifying tempo
playing in the background which the proprietors kept cranked up to possibly as
loud as it could be, and the very satisfying moment you experience when you
nail your first 800 point "command ship" only make you want to play this title
again and again. How long can you keep your game going ? Or "I lasted to wave
4 this game, can I make it to wave 5 or beyond ?".
Gary must be as captivated with the title as I am. Like myself, he is a long-time
player who has known for many years that he has a special skill on this title
that few gamers ever come to possess. However, Gary is a much better player who
has more than doubled my own personal best in accomplishing his new world record score.
I had an opportunity to interview Gary via E-MAIL, and here's what he had to
say in his own words...
***********************************
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW WORLD CHAMPION
ROBERT - "Let's talk about the world record game itself"
GARY - "Reading your great article brings it all back to me...the early loss of my
first life around 48k, and you're right, I DID think of dropping the game then
and starting over, but I was playing well. Sometimes you hit form, sometimes
you don't, and on this day, I felt good. The life lost was a stupid mistake, I
was feeling great, and my accuracy (important in the way I play) was as good as
ever. So I continued."
"Around 215K I lost my second ship, nice score to be at, with 2 lives left,
and still feeling good."
"Disappointing to lose my third life just a few levels on, this left me with a
big task to get the record. Here I felt the pressure was off a little, as I didn't
expect to get the 150K needed, but was determined to go for it anyways."
"There were some levels with this last ship that I just kept guessing right. My
shooting accuracy was not at its best at times on this life, and this leads to
the swarm. But I just kept going, adrenalin pumping as I got nearer and nearer
to Perry's awesome record. I remember looking at my score of 385,770, at level
110 ( Thanks to you Robert for this info !!), looking at it and wondering if I
could break the record on the next stage. I was so close now, and didn't want
this to end in disappointment. Well, I didn't quite make, but when I looked at my
score after the next level, I knew the first convoy would make me World No 1,
And so it was. The elation I felt isn't really captured on tape, as I was little
shell shocked. I'd got this machine 10 months ago, practiced 2 hours a night
(more at weekends) to achieve this, and when I did, I was dumb struck. I picked
a toffee from a tin I have on my computer desk, and just kept staring at the
score on the game. Bruce Springsteen's *Promised Land* was playing in the background,
appropriate maybe, and I hummed along to this
as I tried to take it all in."
ROBERT - "How long have you been playing Galaxian ?"
GARY - "Played Galaxian in `79 when it first came out, down my local pub.
It was a cocktail table, similar to the one I now own. Over the years I played
it whenever I could though classic games have all but disappeared from the
arcades in The UK, least in the North of England. Around 2000 I started to play
it on the Playstation 1 Namco museum release, and then via mame. After that I
got hold of a Super Gun, and played the original arcade board with that. Late
2003 I picked up my Galaxian Cocktail table, and since then I've been practicing
around 2 hours per day, hoping for this moment !! The arcade table plays SO much
like I remember, it's incredible."
ROBERT - "What is it about Galaxian that you like so much ?"
GARY - "The simplicity. Basic controls, 2-way joystick, one fire button, you
against the Aliens, fast action shooter. Wave after wave after wave after
wave...constant onslaught...never changing, though each stage IS actually
different, as whatever you do in the game, affects the Alien movement. Way
back when, the colored screen and swarming Aliens definitely caught the
attention !! The sound effects are cool as well !!
ROBERT - "What was your recent scoring progression ? I remember you discussing
it on the forums...can you recollect ?"
GARY - "I have kept a record of every score I got over 100K since March 2004,
so if you'd like more info, let me know. Here is a brief run down as I remember
it. My first aim was to pass the 100K mark, this came in January 2004, after
that I hit my first 200K score on March 27. For a while after that I didn't see
too much improvement, as I tried different strategies, but then comes May 12 I
hit 293,280, a new Personal best, and it was probably around this time that I
knew the record was on. Annoyed at not clearing 300K, I had to wait till 03 July
to clear that with a 321, 260, then on the 18 July 386,180. The 399,290 came on
August 9 2004."
ROBERT - "Will you try for an even higher score...and what's next ?"
GARY - "Next ? I will be aiming even higher, I love the game, and still play it
for an hour so every night. I've once topped 400K, and would like to think that
with practice I could score over 600K someday. Best individual ship score I've
had is 183K, so four times that would be a great score !! Since breaking the
World Record, I've had one score in the 290K range, and one over 300K. Eventually
I would love to break One Million on Galaxian, though that could be some way off.
Other games that I would look at in the future would be Space Invaders, Galaga,
Moon Cresta, Rally X, and maybe one other."
ROBERT - "Okay, let's keep that one other title a secret for now. How does it
feel passing one of the oldest and most respected video game world records in
the TG scoreboard ?"
GARY - "The Feeling is Fantastic !! Indescribable, really. This is my all time
favorite game, and to post a World Record on it is just...well, brilliant !!
Video gaming is part of our heritage, and I'm so very proud to achieve a score
like this on a classic game like Galaxian."
ROBERT - "Anything else comes to mind ? After all, you're the man of the hour."
GARY - "Well, I would like to throw in a few *Thank You`s* if possible."
"To My wife Trish, daughter Hayley, Mum and dad, and all my friends down at
The Lodge pub in Dukinfield."
"Also To thank yourself, Robert, for your time, help and encouragement, Twin
Galaxies itself, which does a fantastic job in keeping all this alive, and
last but not least, respect to Perry Rodgers, the previous World Record holder
on Galaxian, whose score has stood for all these years. I hope he comes back
to challenge me, and we can push this score
all the way !!'.
"Cheers !!"
***********************************
FINAL REMARKS
On behalf of Walter Day and the staff of the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard,
I congratulate Gary Whelan from Dukinfield, England, on his awe-inspiring achievement
by eclipsing a two decades old world record on the classic arcade title "Galaxian"
and setting this unforgettable mark in the world of classic arcade gaming.
Robert
_________________
Robert T Mruczek
Twin Galaxies - Editor and Chief referee
Star Wars classic arcade marathon champion
rmruczek@doremus.com (work E-MAIL)
******************************
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Finally Beats High Score on Galaxian 25 Years Later
Posted on Wednesday, December 22 @ 16:29:25 PST by Daisy_Miller
daisy miller writes "Wednesday, December 22, 2004 Link
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A man who has spent at least two hours practicing on a vintage video game for
the past 25 years has secured what he says is the highest ever score.
Gary Whelan, of Duckinfield, Greater Manchester, has been playing the space
invaders game, Galaxian, since 1980.
He said he had set a world record of 399,290 points, beating the previous record
held by a Californian. Mr. Whelan said he would not stop playing until he had
reached at least a million points.
"The worst it's been is if my wife shouts me for my tea. I say 'I'll be down in
a minute', but obviously, if I'm on a good run, I'll keep on going till my
tea's cold."
His understanding wife of 24 years, Trish, said she had not considered divorcing
him. "It's not like I didn't know what I was getting into," she said.
"At least I know where he is and what he's up to. It's our silver wedding next
years so I'll wait till then and then we'll see."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by rhyan on Wednesday, December 22 @ 20:56:48 CET (4 reads)
Gary Whelan is a real Gamer - Article Link
Gary Whelan, of Duckinfield, Greater Manchester
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So you think you're a gamer !!!
Gary Whelan a fellow British gamer plays a different style of gaming that we are
used to. Star Wars, he's been playing star wars for 25 years and has just broken
the world record for the highest score...
From the Sun Newspaper
The Sun Newspaper Online - UK's biggest selling newspaper
... By ANDY RUSSELL MADCAP Gary Whelan set a world record on Galaxian
Online Sun -
MADCAP Link
"MADCAP Gary Whelan set a world record on a computer game - after practicing it
every night for 25 YEARS.
Gary, 45, fell in love with the Space Invaders-style arcade game Galaxian while
playing at his local pub in 1979.
He later had it installed at home and spent two hours each night - and more at
weekends - honing his skills.
And his efforts paid off when he clocked up a record 399,290 points in one game
- smashing the previous high score of 389,770, set by a Californian in 1983.
While training for the record bid Gary wed wife Trisha, 43, and they had daughter
Hayley, who is now 18.
His achievement, which he videoed and which will be included in the official
book of gaming records due out early next year, has sent the gaming world into
raptures.
Many thought the old record could never be beaten. Photocopier engineer Gary,
of Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, said: "Galaxian always seemed one of the more
exciting '70s games.
"I bought my own from a man on the internet. Instead of just keeping it as a
memento, I decided to have a go at the record. Now I've got it and it feels
fantastic.
"Trisha and Hayley are really pleased for me - but some of my mates think it
is a bit oddball."
Gary, the first Briton to take a gaming record from the Americans in more than
20 years, added: "It's great to see my name on internet sites dedicated to
these games.
"The record feels like a real achievement. But now I've got it, I think Trisha
expects me to do a few more odd jobs around the house."
Gary Whelan
GSW / sandinista wr on Galaxian - 399,290 points, made 08-13-2004;
beats previous mark of 389,770, set on 05-12-1983 by Perry Rodgers
gazw@galaxian.fsnet.co.uk
unlisted
... Man REALLY Loves Galaxian "MADCAP Gary Whelan set a world record on a computer
game - after practicing it every night for 25 YEARS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Whelan New World Record Holder Article Link
Link: www.wayoftherodent.com/guests/bob_garywchamp.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galaxian World Record Holder...
...Gary Whelan
On August 13, 2004, Northern English man Gary Whelan bagged a new coin-op Galaxian
world record on his cocktail cab at home in sunny Manchester. The previous record
- 389,770 - was set 21 years ago by American man, Perry Rodgers. Gaz scored 399,290
- the last 150,000-odd on his last man. For Christ's sake.
There as a palpable sense of annoyance over at US high-score custodians, Twin
Galaxies. How dare this man from Great Scot-Land Which Is Practically France so
rudely swipe the title off some Californian or other?
Best of all, Gaz is a Rodent through and through. We've known him like a kindred
brother-spirit since he briefly posted on our forum after Sickboy pestered him
on the 'phone.
So… If you're good at a game and you're British - practice, y'bastard. At this rate,
we might just snag that Mappy title before 2030.
The new Galaxian world record-holder. Not Billy Mitchell.
Tell us a bit about your history with the game. Where did you first play it? Did
it used to swallow your lunch money?
Flattery will get you nowhere. I first played Galaxian down the local boozer, the
Freemasons down in Stalybridge, in 1979. I was around 19 at the time. Everyone was
well pissed off when the cash-gobbling Space Invaders was moved out. But when
Galaxian arrived, with its high tech, multi-color screen and dive-bombing aliens,
people really took to it. The chalkboard of names on the wall behind it was always
chocka, with everyone waiting their turn.
When did you get your own machine? How much did it cost?
I got it from a guy called Mike - won it off EBay. Think it was 450 quid-ish. Best
money I've ever spent. When I got the table, it had some really bad control panels
in there, re-drilled with two fire buttons for another game. When I got hold of
some real nice panels from a guy in the States, the difference was amazing. With
proper two-way movement and one fire button, the game was transformed and I was
suddenly back there in 1979.
Gaz's disturbingly fag burn-free, 2001 obelisk-like cab.
How dedicated did you have to be to get this good?
Practice does make perfect, it's true, and snatching the world record took shed-loads.
I played the game from December 2003 through August 2004 - couple of hours a night
minimum, much more at the weekends. Also, dedication takes different forms. While
playing, I'm always looking for an angle, always after a better, quicker, and easier
way to victory. So some nights I would blast away till I got past level 10 (simple)
and then try some new tactics and techniques. Over the months, my strategy changed
dramatically. I logged scores and the technique and tactic I used every night,
weighing up the pros and cons of each method, eventually settling on the way I
play today. I know of no better system than the one I use now - though there is
a very slight variation in later levels that I could use more to see my score improve.
When you nailed the record, how long was the game-time? Did you have anything ritual
or inspirational to keep you going? Any little superstitions/music/psyche-ups, etc.?
Game time was just shy of 2 hours. It's a long time to be crouched over a cocktail
table, believe me. I always play some background music while playing: Clash, Smiths,
Billy Bragg, Springsteen… On the record-breaking night it was a Springsteen show circa
'79. Great renditions of Prove It All Night and Jungleland are two highlights I remember.
The new album by Morrissey is my latest companion. Food-stuffs - a can of V (energy drink)
and a few digestive biscuits. A towel is also handy. Two hours of constant play sees
your hands get a little wet.
Have you played Galaxian in MAME? How does it compare to the original arcade cab?
Played it in MAME a little, but I'm not keen. It just isn't the same. The game seems
very similar in play, but there's something not quite right - can't put my finger on
it. The alien swoops and timing aren't spot on - which is crucial with the method I
use. Another reason for not using MAME too much is that I'd struggle with timing on
the real deal after prolonged exposure to emulation.
Got to start somewhere…
Does the game keep getting harder and harder, or does it hit a ceiling?
Hits a ceiling, but not sure when. The first 10 levels are very easy, and then there's
a step-up from level 11. After that, I think there's a gradual increase up to around
level 20. The difficulty ramp is related to the speed of the aliens in movement and
descent. Nothing else changes from level 1. They just get quicker. You have to keep
concentration, and always take out the aliens in the same way, every time. This is
extremely difficult to do - one missed shot and everything changes.
Give us a few tips, then. I'd say surviving the end-of-level swarms is the hardest
part of the game...
The trick is, not to let the swarm happen at all. The method is very difficult to
explain, but I'll try… Speed is the key. Always kill the enemy as soon as possible,
no hanging around. Just massacre them. Better to take out the edges first - columns
not rows. This reduces the width of the convoy, and makes for less dramatic swoops
later. Then pick off a few along the edge (one full column if
possible) then move into the centre. By now, the yellow ship/two red ships convoy
should be attacking. Take out the two reds before the yellow for maximum points.
Then get over to the other extreme column, and destroy it. Wait centrally again
(still firing of course) and hit the yellow/red convoy as previously. By now, you
should have between 6 and maybe 20 aliens left. 6… and you can
wipe 'em before they swarm. Anywhere near 20… you're in the shit, but don't panic.
You have to be aware of each alien type's descent path. Greys come down pretty
straight, Purples swoop across like crazy, and the Reds are unpredictable. Most
important - STAY CENTRAL. Don't let the swarm push you into a corner.
RODENT EXCLUSIVE!
Download footage of Gaz's world record-beating Galaxian video. The quality is
hilariously shite, but if you know the game, you can see what's going on - and
listen out for his relieved/exhausted exhale at the end. No sign of this on
Twin Galaxies, is there? EH?
STREAM VIDEOS OF ACTUAL GAME:
Nearly Loses it Link
World Record Passed Link
Game Over Link
==================================================================================
NEW World Record on Galaxian After Almost 20 Years !!
sandinista: Gary Whelan Twin Galaxies Post Link
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 5:54 pm Post subject:
==================================================================================
Wow ! The worlds gone mad I've had TV, Radio, Newspaper coverage, magazines
are interested, and the web sites are full of it
Anyone want to talk about Galaxian, I'm at sandinista@ic24.net, and a little
bit about me at http://www.geocities.com/galaxip79/index.html
sandinista
==================================================================================
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:44 pm Post subject:
Hi Robert,
Yeah, 1 Million would be some score, and very hard to pull off. But the game
repeats and repeats, so with maximum effort, concentration, and no little good
luck, I reckon it would be possible. That's my aim anyway.
I'll await the significance of the * 001 * !
cheers
sandinista
_________________
gaz
_________________
Galaxian Arcade World Record 399,290
*Are You ready for fame ? Yeah, I`m ready ! *
Gary Whelan, "Hi , my Name is Gary Whelan . When I was around 19 years old,
a game arrived in my local pub to replace the fantastic Space Invaders.
The Game was Galaxian"
Web site of Gary Whelan, Galaxian World Record Holder: Link
Retro Game Film Festival at Screenplay Friday 25-Sunday 27 February 2005
Broadway Cinema, Nottingham, UK Link
Way of the Rodent, Gary Whelan Interview of Galaxian and clips of his world
record game play: Link
==================================================================================
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is Gary Sandinista Whelan's (GSW) personal web site of accomplishments
and new high score as well as playing strategies, scores and personal history. Link
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Whelan can be reached at email: sandinista@ic24.net
Mail to: [Gary Whelan]
Gary Whelan states the following:
Nice piece on me capturing the World record over at
http://www.wayoftherodent.com/guests/bob_garywchamp.htm
Hi, my Name is Gary Whelan. When I was around 19 years old, a game arrived in
my local pub to replace the fantastic Space Invaders. The Game was Galaxian.
It was awesome. Color graphics, great sounds, and swooping Aliens. It played
like a dream. Landlord had to put a chalk board above the table, so you could
* book * a game. It was that popular.
25 years later I get hold of a Galaxian cocktail table, and set out to beat the
Twin Galaxies World Record score, which had been established over 20 years before.
The holder of this title was Perry Rodgers, with a score of 389,770. On August
13 2004 I scored 399,290 to take No 1 spot.
New (2004) Galaxian Champion
Gary Whelan, U.K. Gamer
399,290 Galaxian Score has been accepted. Link
Here's a pic of me circa Oct 2004, stood next to the backdrop painted by my
daughter, Hayley.
My Galaxian machine. Original Taito table. Fitted new Control panels and added
repro instruction cards. Glass is scratched, but original, so it stays as it
is. Legs are pretty good, some slight rusting. Original Galaxian Midway Board,
original Rom set.
Galaxian Screen Shot of High Score
Galaxian New Gary Whelan High Score
450,320 is now going through final
Verification by Twin Galaxies Scoreboard.
(Note: Because Gary Whelan score of four hundred fifty thousand (450,320)
only has a screen shot and no video, this score will not be accepted.)
Latest High score, broke the 400k Barrier 07 Oct 2004. Not verified by Twin Galaxies
. 500K Is the next target. Hopefully before the New Year = )
The game is a pretty simple affair. Right / Left with the joystick, one fire
button. Ok, I find that best start position is dead centre. Hit all oncoming
aliens, and any spare time should be used to kill stationary ones. Pretty soon
the first convoy arrives. Hit the 2 Reds then the Galaxip for the full 800 points.
On this first pass, if you don't think you can get the maximum points, then leave
the convoy alone. Reasons for this can vary, but a main one would be if you've
been forced wide, and the convoy is swooping down in a large arc. Difficult to
achieve maximum when they fly like this. another reason could be other attacking
aliens are blocking off your shots. Whatever the reason, don't panic ! Next time
will be fine..
Hit The convoy first pass
Ok, so you've taken the 800 points. Great ! Looking at the screen now, either the
right or left hand convoy will be missing ( killed ) If the right, then take out the
left hand column. Yep, column, not row. Around 6 aliens should be ok to kill at
this time, then move to the column furthest away, shooting as you go. Take out
a couple or so aliens, and watch for the next convoy. This should be really easy
to sort, and once you have, hit the remaining aliens as fast as possible before
they start to descend. If your shooting has been accurate, the few remaining
enemies should present no problem. Obviously reverse all this if the left hand
convoy was taken out first.
Hit The convoy second pass or later
Hitting the first convoy later than pass one is ok. If you take them out on pass 2,
then just follow the above instructions afterwards pretty much. Pass 3 is about the
latest you want to shoot the first convoy.. Any more and you could have problems !
I`m experimenting shooting out the convoys on pass 2 and 3, but any mistake leads
to big trouble. I would recommend taking them out on pass 1, and pass 2 or 3.
This should leave little resistance at the end of the level. Remember, get rid
of the convoys at all cost if the number of remaining aliens is getting down to around
the 10 mark. If you don't, the dreaded swarm will arrive ! At this stage, I just
take out the galaxip if I can`t manage the full bonus. This obviously calms them
all down, and stops the swarm.
The Swarm
Avoid The swarm - Lots of differing opinions on this. there's no definitive number
of aliens left that brings on the swarm, anything between 7 and 12 I would say as
a guess, and seems to be dependant on what color they are... Seems to be a
combination of things. When I have more info, I'll report it here. For the minute,
avoid leaving red aliens at the end, and avoid leaving a full convoy ( 2 reds and
the galaxip ) near the end. these situations bring it on ! Again, accuracy is the
key. Watch the way each of the different colored aliens swoop. So you can anticipate
their flight paths, and gun `em down.
Concentrate !! Many lives lost when losing concentration. Also will check on killing
flagship convoys early rather than later.... this seems the best method. Yes it
certainly is... avoids massive swoops later on.
Concentration is the key, again, many lives lost stupidly.
Below is my diary of Galaxian games : All Dates 2004
Scored 140,950 March 08 2004 Arcade Cocktail table ( over 100k with first life )
Scored 113,680 March 13 2004 as above
Scorde 105,360 MARCH 14 2004 AS ABOVE USING EXTRA BOSS METHOD..
Scored 128,350 March 15 2004 as above - 98k first life...
Scored 238,970 March 21 2004 NOT using extra boss.. BEST EVER !!!! For me...
Scored 119,570 March 22 2004 using mew method, as above !!!!
scored 106,850, March 28, as above
scored 136,250, March 31, as above
scored 137,620, April 06, as above
scored 137,650, April 14, as above
scored 146,080, April 15, as above
scored 112,290, April 16
scored 104,270, April 17
scored 182,700, April 17
scored 105.830, April 25
scored 131,700, April 27
scored 190,090, May 02, first man > 150 k !!!!
scored 104,830, May 06
scored 116,540, May 07
scored 186,060, may 07
scored 288,660, may 08 First man >183k + New personal best !!
scored 208,720, may 08
scorde 171,850, may 09
scored 112,700, may 11
scored 229,440, may 11 first man 173 k !!
scored 141,090, may 11
scored 230,090, may 12 first life 138 k
scored 135,620, may 12
scored 133,940, may 12
scored 149,370, may 12
scored 293,280, may 12 first life 158 k New PB !!
scored 144,220, may 13
scored 111,280, may 19
scored 243,520, may 20 3rd best ever
scored 144,270, may 22
scored 146,090, may 22
scored 277,500, may 22 new 3rd best
scored 146,310, may 24
scored 209,680, may 31
scored 144,590, may 31
scored 211,770, 01 June
scored 132,160, 03 June
scored 150,040, 03 June
scored 197,070. 07 June
scored 100,930, 07 June
scored 188,040, 09 June
scored 150,040, 09 June
scored 148,770, 10 June
scored 132.430, 11 June
scored 273,280, 11 June 4th best
scored 182,920, 11 June
scored 187,400, 12 June
scored 256,490, 13 June
scored 182,570, 18 June
scored 176,620, 20 June
scored 207,370, 21 June
scored 126,910, 23 June
scored 169,110, 23 June
scored 229,570, 24 June
scored 165,860, 25 June
scored 133,690, 27 June.... new 7k roms !!!!!!
scored 155,750, 28 June
scored 166,060, 28 June
scored 150,830, 29 June
scored 139,310, 30 June
scored 184,850, 30 June
scored 110.560, 30 JUNE
scored 181,110, 01 July
scored 209,140, 02 July.... first 200k score with new roms
scored 158,640, 02 July
scored 171,840, 03 July
scored 130,110, 03 July
scored 321,260, 03 July ****** New personal Best !!! *********
scored 202,900, 03 July
scored 249,490, 05 July
scored 161,710, 05 July
scored 137,300, 09 July
scored 148,970, 11 July
scored 185,060, 11 July
scored 202,250, 12 July
scored 177,890, 14 July
scored 183,030, 14 July
scored 153,130, 17 July
scored 386,180, 18 July ******* New Personal Best **************
scored 172,320, 19 July
scored 213,240, 20 July
scored 196,230, 20 July
scored 138,330, 25 July
scored 424,730, 25 July *** New Personal Best !!! *******
scored 249,200, 26 July
scored 188,050, 29 July
scored 234,930, 09 Aug ***** Taped ******
scored 225,850, 09 Aug
scored 337,420, 09 Aug **** 3rd Best and taped ***
scored 269,450, 12 Aug
scored 275,660, 13 Aug
scored 399,290, 13 Aug * New World record + taped !!!! *
scored 180,280, 29 Aug
scored 309,550, 29 Aug
scored 173,940, 30 Aug
scored 292,900, 05 Sep
scored 213,030, 06 Sep
scored 201,580, 04 Oct
scored 450,320, 07 Oct (Not Video Taped -- Twin Galaxies will not verify a photo only.)
This last score of 450,320 has been sent into Twin Galaxies for final inspection
and verification process before becoming the new world record. This score is
well on the way to getting to the goal of one million points, 1,000,000 and receiving
the one thousand ($1000 dollar) bounty reward from Billy Mitchell, Director of
Twin Galaxies high scoreboard.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galaxian Statistics: Link
Manufacturer: Namco
Year: 1979
Class: Wide Release
Genre: Space
Type: Videogame
Monitor:
Orientation: Vertical
Type: Raster: Standard Resolution
CRT: Color
Conversion Class: Namco Galaxian
Number of Simultaneous Players: 1
Maximum number of Players: 2
Gameplay: Alternating
Control Panel Layout: Single Player
Controls:
Joystick: 2-way (left, right)
Buttons: 1
Sound: Amplified Mono (one channel)
Description:
A game where a spaceship flies back and forth shooting aliens in space.
Cabinet Information:
The original cabinet is white with a painted picture of the player ship about to
shoot a green dragonfly alien from the fleet. The painting is three color: Blue,
Green (same as the T-molding) and Black, and uses the entire side area similar to
original Pac-Man.
Game Introduction:
You are a space fighter pilot who must shoot wave after wave of aliens
that looks like dragonflies.
Game Play:
You must shoot the aliens and their boss. Here are some tips for shooting the
aliens: kill the boss and his two escorts, then shoot them when they are doing
a somersault.
Hacks:
Buglaxian - A hack of the classic
Miscellaneous:
MOVIE APPEARANCES: "Big" (1988)
Play a JAVA emulated version of the game by visiting
http://web.utanet.at/nkehrer/JGalaxian.html
This game was licensed to Midway for US manufacture and distribution.
Technical:
The game uses a Z80 microprocessor. The troubleshooting manual can be found at
http://www.erinet.com/jamesm/tech/tech.htm
Trivia:
This was the first video game released with 100 percent of its graphics displayed
in true RGB color.
The Galaxian flagship is referred to as the "Galaxip" according to the game's
manual, but in the actual game, the "Galaxip" is the player's ship. Notice the
first screen after a credit has been inserted says "BONUS GALAXIP AT 4000 PTS".
The flagship appears as an attacker on some levels of Galaga. It also shows up
as a prize in several other Namco games, but it is not exactly identical. In
Pac-Man for instance, the "flagship" is actually an ice cream sundae (look
carefully for the differences).
Legacy:
Galaxian
Galaga
Gaplus
Galaga '88
Galaxian 3
Attack Of The Zolgear
Manuals
BACKGROUND:
"We are the Galaxians...Mission: Destroy Aliens" was the message that was displayed
on the game's demo screen. The message was meant to both intimidate the gamer,
and perhaps goad you to showing these "Galaxians" whose the boss by putting your
quarter into the machine and testing your mettle against theirs. At the very least
it was a good way to get gamers to play. Another golden era title, "Berzerk",
even had a synthesized voice that said "Coin detected in pocket" as you passed
by...a sure-fire way to attract the attention of a potential customer !!
In general, and like most classic arcade titles, the earlier waves are generally
easier to deal with, and the difficulty and game tempo increases with each and
every passing wave, reaching maximum difficulty at some point. "Galaxian" is no
exception to this. And also like many of the classic "Golden Age" titles,
"Galaxian" had no conclusion. The waves kept
coming. An inevitable "finality" accompanied every game attempt. You knew you
would eventually lose all your ships. It was just a matter of when. That added
sense of mortality made the classic era titles that much more draining to play
as compared to titles with finite conclusions. True, they each had a required
skillset that was necessary to promote longevity on the title, but unlike titles
where you reached an end-game screen and knew that the effort would soon be
over and you could take a break afterwards, "Galaxian", much like "Space Invaders",
"Asteroids", "Missile Command" and "Defender", just kept going until the game
inevitably beat you, or until sheer exhaustion overcame you.
Each wave's forty six (46) enemies contain thirty (30) green ships, eight
( purple ships, six (6) red flagships, and two (2) yellow "command ships". The
ships are worth varying points depending on their color, and whether they are
destroyed while in a resting position or in mid-flight. The yellow "command
ships" attack while accompanied by two red "flagships",
and if the two "flagships" are destroyed before the "command ship" goes
off-screen, then the "command ship" is worth a whopping 800 points. Destroying
only one, or none of the red "flagships" beforehand, and the "command ship"
is worth far less, either 300, 200 or 150 points. Destroy it while at rest
and it is worth a mere 60 points.
Over the past twenty years of playing the game myself, I have found that most
expert players will try to get the 800 point squadron bonus from each of the
two (2) yellow "command ships" per wave, and depending on their ability to
pull this off, as well as how many in-flight enemies they destroy versus resting
enemies, their end-of-wave average tends to fall in the 3,400-4,000 point range
for earlier waves (1-10), and as the game difficulty increases, players sometimes
find it increasingly more difficult to pull that off, and instead opt for a lower
200-300 point "command ship" bonus awarded for destroying only one of the two
red "flagships" before hitting the yellow "command ship", and then their wave
average dips significantly, to the point where the full-game average is between
3,300-3,700 points per wave.
The most you can earn per wave is 4,640 points assuming (A) you shoot every ship
while in-flight, and (B) that you earn the 800 point "command ship" bonus for
both ships per wave. Although this is do-able for the early waves, it becomes
increasingly reckless in later waves, as the longer you last in a wave, the more
difficult it becomes.
When the yellow "command ship" is destroyed, the other enemy ships in flight
return to their resting positions in the attack formation above, and for a
few short seconds, no enemies fire or come swooping down, allowing you to
strategically destroy enemy ships above, until they start attacking again.
With two (2) "command ships", you have that many opportunities to do this per
stage.
The longer you last in a wave, the faster the tempo becomes, as evidenced by
the tell-tale background pulse that you hear throughout your entire game, almost
like the game's "heartbeat", if you will.
When the formation above is reduced to a low number of enemies, somewhere between
8-12, then the remaining enemy ships attack in a "swarm". They all come down at
once, raining shots down at your ship, and your only defense is to weave in and
out of the path of the incoming shots, and firing with as much speed and accuracy
as you can at the enemies in flight until you have taken out the last ship from
that wave. And then you get to do it all over again !!
And now, here's what it took to set the world record on "Galaxian"...
***********************************
THE PATH TO VICTORY
With Bruce Springsteen music in the background for company, Gary starts his attempt.
Stage 1 - 3,920 points - Not bad...this is above average, and a great way to
start the game ahead !!
Stage 2 - 7,610
Stage 3 - 10,920
Stage 4 - 14,810
Stage 5 - 18,570
Stage 6 - 22,460
Stage 7 - 26,100
Stage 8 - 29,500
Stage 9 - 33,270
Stage 10 - 36,470
A very good start !! Averaging 3,640 per wave is in the upper percentile for
expert players. Gary is just getting started, but it is clear to me that he
is not taking any unnecessary risks and chances, while at the same time
maintaining super accurate shooting. Also at this point, the little red flags
used to indicate wave progress become a big red flag with the number "10"
inside. This simple concept carried over into hundreds of titles over the years,
most famously "Galaga" which expanded on the concept by using even larger flags
to denote higher blocks of waves passed.
(ADDED: Flag notation:
the amount of screens or waves completed were signified by a small red
flag at the base of the screen - always good news for the statisticians
among us as we calculated projected wave aggregates and averages galore!
I'll never ever forget the first time The big red The flags did have a
limit though - after the 48th flag (four 10's and eight littlies) no
more could be displayed!)
Stage 11 - 39,790
Stage 12 - 42,450
Stage 13 - 46,000
Stage 14 - 48,940
Well, it had to happen sooner or later. Gary takes a hit at the tail-end of wave 14,
running into a bullet after the last ship in the wave was destroyed. In "Galaxian",
a wave isn't over until the last ship is destroyed AND the last bullets leave the
screen. Gary could have started again, but a great player knows that every game
plays out differently, and the first loss of a ship is not indicative of what you
might do later on.
Stage 15 - 52,290
Stage 16 - 56,130
Stage 17 - 60,060
Stage 18 - 63,530
Stage 19 - 67,330
Stage 20 - 70,680
Around stage 20, and again to a certain extent at wave 25, Perry Rodgers and I
believe that the game's overall speed and tempo ramps up a notch. The ships come
down more aggressively, swooping wildly from side-to-side...that is if you let
them by not taking out the sides early on during a wave...and at some point on
or before wave 48 the game reaches maximum difficulty. Also at this point, two (2)
large red "10" flag indicators appear at the bottom of the screen.
Stage 21 - 74,030
Stage 22 - 77,150
Stage 23 - 80,470
Stage 24 - 84,410
Stage 25 - 88,160
Stage 26 - 92,130
Stage 27 - 95,940
Stage 28 - 99,720
Stage 29 - 103,210
Gary passes the 100K mark after 22:39 (22 minutes and 39 seconds) of game play.
That's an average of 46 seconds and 3,560 points per wave. Consider for a moment
that the average player never lives to see wave 15, let alone 100K !!
Stage 30 - 107,170
Stage 31 - 110,060
Stage 32 - 113,410
Stage 33 - 116,820
Stage 34 - 120,230
Stage 35 - 124,040
Stage 36 - 127,620
Stage 37 - 130,870
Stage 38 - 133,920
Stage 39 - 137,290
This is the first wave where Gary had difficulty shooting the second yellow
"command ship"...it was the very last ship destroyed this wave.
Stage 40 - 141,140
Stage 41 - 144,560
Stage 42 - 148,020
Stage 43 - 151,390
Stage 44 - 154,890
Stage 45 - 158,340
Stage 46 - 162,060
Stage 47 - 166,060
Stage 48 - 169,960
At this point, the maximum number of wave indicator flags is visible on the
bottom of the screen...four (4) large red "10" flags, and eight ( smaller
single-wave flags. No matter how many waves you pass at this point, the game
will only display these 48 flags. "Scramble", another arcade classic from the
era, behaves in similar fashion.
Stage 49 - 173,710
Stage 50 - 176,470
I found this to be remarkably consistent !! Gary finished wave 25 with 88,160
points, and double that is 176,320 points, virtually identical, and an awesome
pace to maintain through this advanced stage.
Stage 51 - 180,200
Stage 52 - 183,590
Stage 53 - 186,820
Stage 54 - 193,780
Stage 55 - 197,000
Stage 56 - 200,390
Time to reach 200K...45:53 (45 minutes and 53 seconds). Well this passes my own
personal best of approx 190-195K, and Gary has two ships left in reserve !!
Stage 57 - 203,590
Stage 58 - 207,580
Stage 59 - 210,630
Stage 60 - 214,450
Gary loses his second ship at 214,360 points during a "swarm" attack at wave-end
at approx the 49:30 mark.
Stage 61 - 217,950
Stage 62 - 221,440
Stage 63 - 224,460
Stage 64 - 227,670
Stage 65 - 231,730
Stage 66 - 234,900
Stage 67 - 238,350
Stage 68 - 241,770
Stage 69 - 245,380
Stage 70 - 249,180
Stage 71 - 252,310
The wave became out of control, and Gary is caught in the midst of a large cluster
of shots, unable to escape. He loses his third ship and now has reached end-game...
the next hit will be game over, and the pressure is on. And fellow gamers, THAT is
what makes the classic "marathon" titles from the "Golden Age" of gaming so special.
You can't put another quarter into the machine to continue where you left off. Mess
up, and you have to start all over again from wave 1, zero points.
Gary exhibits the mark that only the elite gamers share. He does not let this
phase him, and is not intimidated by the fact that he has almost 140,000 points
to go before he reaches Perry's mark, or the fact that it will take clearing about
40+ more waves to pull this off, and he needed three ships to reach wave 70, far
less than 40 waves per ship.
When you take a hit, and lose a ship, a brief 10 second pause exists before you
can resume the game on your next ship. During that time, the elite gamers mentally
regroup. Lesser gamers might be so "shaken" by an unexpected hit, or disheartened,
that they may very well not last more than a few minutes, and in some cases a few
seconds, before losing their next ship.
Gary presses on with an uphill battle ahead...a battle of man versus machine.
Gary must remain focused. The record would be nice, but he has to take it wave
by wave, point by point. Not unlike being down too many points in a game of sports,
only here there are no "time outs", "do-overs" or anything else. And that is the
nature of the marathonable titles from the "Golden Age" era of classic arcade games.
Stage 72 - 255,170
Stage 73 - 258,550
The one hour mark is passed at 258,080 points near the end of the wave. Less than
a dozen people over two decades of attempts on "Galaxian" have recorded scores
of this magnitude.
Stage 74 - 261,770
Stage 75 - 265,630
Stage 76 - 268,410
Stage 77 - 272,310
Stage 78 - 276,080
Stage 79 - 278,950
Stage 80 - 282,140
Stage 81 - 285,470
Stage 82 - 289,330
Stage 83 - 292,740
Stage 84 - 296,560
Stage 85 - 299,480
Stage 86 - 303,300
The 300K mark is passed at the 1:09.51 mark (1 hour, 9 minutes and 51 seconds).
As a matter of record, when Perry Rodgers set his 389K mark more than two decades
ago, he reached this mark on his very first ship. But as any "Galaxian" master
will tell you, each wave goes down differently, and anything can happen, both in
the early part of your game, during, or at the very end. You can easily sit back
and speculate that if 300K is possible on one ship, then surely 1.2 million must
be at least conceivably possibly on all four.
Uh, uh. Doesn't work that way. There is a very good reason why no one has beaten
Perry's score over the years. It's a lot more than what you do on a single ship.
It's a constant battle with the mental pressure intensifying every wave.
Take the sport of golf. Every hole has a "par" score. Assume you've made par on
each hole at least once after several attempts at the course. Why, then, for so
many golfers, can't they at least make par or better each and every time without
exception ? Or in another light, you can start out your game with a hole in one
right away. Does this automatically imply that the rest of your game will be
equally stellar, or at least will be a game of par less the difference in strokes
between your hole in one and par on the first hole ? That's my point. Now back to
Gary's world record recap.
Stage 87 - 306,580
Stage 88 - 310,070
Stage 89 - 313,430
Stage 90 - 317,160
Stage 91 - 321,030
Stage 92 - 323,870
Stage 93 - 327,710
Stage 94 - 330,490
Stage 95 - 333,670
Stage 96 - 337,110
Stage 97 - 340,420
Stage 98 - 343,790
Stage 99 - 347,350
Gary encounters major problems here as he reaches end-wave and the remaining
enemies "swarm" downward. There are no more yellow "command ships" with which
to temporarily make the remaining enemies stop firing, and there are a lot of
enemies to deal with this time as the wave was out of control...except for Gary,
that is. This wave was a definite fight, and perhaps the second hardest wave he
encountered this performance. After skillful shooting and dodging, the "gods of
gaming" shined on him, and he survived to fight to another wave.
Stage 100 - 350,930
Through 100 stages, it is easy to see that Gary has maintained a pace of 3510
per wave, very consistent, and very respectable. He reaches a point where, over
more than twenty years, only TWO (2) other gamers have reached. Still, he presses
onward. Although he is clearly within striking distance, he keeps his calm and
focuses at the remaining task at hand. Not getting 40K more...merely surviving
wave 101, and then 102, and then 103...
Stage 101 - 354,760
Gary audibly breathes a sigh of relief after this wave. He has no idea that
he has passed 100 waves as the indicator stopped counting at 48. Here, he
survives his toughest "swarm" wave yet. As a decent "Galaxian" player myself,
I was extremely impressed at how he maintained accurate firing while dodging
so many bullets and moving enemies which included a complete mix of all four
ship types. And that is the hardest mix of all.
You see, each ship type behaves differently during a swarm. The purples move
with abandon from side to side, wildly and often leaving you little breathing
room while doing so. They tend to herd you into the protective sides of the
screen, where their green counterparts slowly and methodically move towards.
The reddish enemies are very unpredictable both in terms of movement and where
they drop their bombs. That leaves the yellow "command ship". With so many enemies,
it is difficult to pull off a key shot to take it down and momentarily stop the
firing. Wait too long and it leaves the screen entirely, and appears with the
next wave's formation...and that formation's intensity increases from the beginning
as a direct result.
Gary pulls a rabbit out of the hat here, with a combination of dodging tight
formations of bullets and enemies, and taking them down with an incredible display
of accurate shooting. A job well done, and yet there is no time for more than his
sigh of relief...there are at least ten (10) waves to go at 3500/wave, and he knows
this. So he awaits the next wave.
Stage 102 - 358,020
Stage 103 - 361,450
Stage 104 - 364,340
Stage 105 - 367,640
Stage 106 - 370,980
Gary now enters 2nd place on the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard's all-time
list for "Galaxian". And he knows this, but makes no mention or acknowledgement of
this while playing. He is clearly at his personal best on the title right now, but
the Holy Grail awaits. Six more waves. Six more LONG waves. Keep in mind, fellow
gamers...some players have problems even reaching wave six with their entire game !!
Stage 107 - 374,860
Stage 108 - 378,590
Stage 109 - 382,060
I have to imagine that as Gary saw the score pass 380K that he knew he was in the
home stretch. Not so much as when he passed 379K knowing there was 10K to go.
Something very definite occurs to a gamer's psyche as they see the lead digits
of their score so very, very close to the known world record. Something personally
satisfying, yes, but something almost energizing in it's nature, as if the gamer's
personal "resolve" about setting the world record intensifies, as if their
focus becomes that much more sharp, to help them along their path towards gaming
greatness.
Then again, I know some gamers who like to put a piece of paper or cardboard over
the score, masking where they are, so that they can be surprised when it's all
said and done. To each their own, I guess.
Stage 110 - 385,770
The 90 minute mark is passed during this wave. Two more waves to go for sure
will be what Gary needs, and he is fully cognizant of this. Sure, one stellar
3,700 point wave or higher could do the trick, but at this point in his game,
that would be extremely foolish. What he has been doing thus far has obviously
worked...may as well keep it up and see what
happens, and he does.
Stage 111 - 389,010
Not QUITE the world record, but it is so very close Gary can taste it. Considering
that each wave lasts approx 46 seconds, Gary knows all-too-well that in less than
15 seconds, if he survives that is, he will be the new world champion on "Galaxian",
and beat a record that is among the oldest and most respected records in the Twin
Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard.
Stage 112 - 391,850
HISTORY IS MADE !! Gary must be proud as can be. As a fellow player, I sure would
be, and I was right there with him as I watched the videotape...several thousand
miles away and several days afterwards, mind you, but it still felt the same.
I get this feeling a lot when watching gaming performances submitted for verification.
Like watching sports and your favorite player or team.
And now, having set his mark for the world to read about, Gary's not about to
give it up just yet. Incredibly, the fact that he has now lasted for nearly 140,000
points on a single ship is not important to him. He has a more immediate possible
goal at hand...the possibility of cracking the 400K barrier, a feat that NO ONE
has accomplished...EVER. But, as I said before, anything can happen to any player
at any time.
Stage 113 - 395,590
Nothing remarkable about this wave, I have to say. Gary pulled off an above-average
3,740 points this wave, getting both yellow "command ships" for their maximum
value of 800 points each. He kept his cool, that's for sure. I did not hear one
single word this entire wave. Nothing. The mark of a champion at work.
Stage 114 - All Good Things...
Another routine wave, another "swarm" at the end. How easy it is for me to act
as the "backseat driver" during my review of a performance, not unlike a sportswriter
recapping a game and adding in their own comments, insight and hindsight.
The "swarm" seemed like most others, until there were a few ships left and Gary
was unfortunately "herded" into one side of the game screen. Three ships remained,
as did a hail of bullets from above. The ships and bullets were way too close and
were less than a second away. A decision had to be made, and it was the right one,
but swarming ships travel faster than you do, and with little open space to maneuver
to that was not about to be rained on by a bullet, or passed through by a swooping
ship, and Gary's last-ditch effort to live through this moment was not enough. The
game came to an unalterable conclusion after 1 hour, 33 minutes and 18 seconds,
coldly indicating "Game Over"...no "Congratulations !! or "Well
Done !!".
But Gary knew what he had accomplished. He had beaten a two decades-old mark on
one of the most respected shooter titles of all time. And proving that twenty five
years after its release, the game can still challenge even the world's greatest
players. Remember when I said earlier that 300K on the 1st ship does not imply
1.2M was possible and that anything can happen at the beginning, middle or end of
your game ? So now you know.
***********************************
AFTERTHOUGHTS
Ninety three (93) minutes. One hundred and fourteen (114) waves. Just four (4)
ships. One (1) AWESOME player.
I have been playing "Galaxian" ever since its first release over twenty five
years ago. At the time, I had been playing various arcade and novelty games for
nearly ten years. Hard to believe. I was there when "Pong" first entranced the world,
and even before, when arcade "novelty" games existed...shooting metal bullets at
aluminum targets going back and forth on tracks across a screen, guiding a mock
car-frame through a road/course made of nothing more than wires wrapped around a
revolving cylinder to simulate driving. But THIS game captivated me like no other.
It was color that was awesome enough. But the loud background pulsing music that
I heard when I first played the game just made me want to play it even more. Even
from the very first moment you inserted a coin into the machine and the high pitched
sound alerted everyone that a player was about to play "Galaxian". The sound the
enemies made as they swooped down, the ever-intensifying tempo playing in the
background which the proprietors kept cranked up to possibly as loud as it could
be, and the very satisfying moment you experience when you nail your first 800 point
"command ship" only make you want to play this title again and again. How long can
you keep your game going ? Or "I lasted to wave 4 this game, can I make it to wave
5 or beyond ?".
Gary must be as captivated with the title as I am. Like myself, he is a long-time
player who has known for many years that he has a special skill on this title that
few gamers ever come to possess. However, Gary is a much better player who has more
than doubled my own personal best in accomplishing his new world record score.
I had an opportunity to interview Gary via E-MAIL, and here's what he had to say
in his own words...
***********************************
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW WORLD CHAMPION
ROBERT - "Let's talk about the world record game itself"
GARY - "Reading your great article brings it all back to me...the early loss
of my first life around 48k, and you're right, I DID think of dropping the game
then and starting over, but I was playing well. Sometimes you hit form, sometimes
you don't, and on this day, I felt good. The life lost was a stupid mistake, I was
feeling great, and my accuracy (important in the way I play) was as good as ever.
So I continued."
"Around 215K I lost my second ship, nice score to be at, with 2 lives left, and
still feeling good."
"Disappointing to lose my third life just a few levels on, this left me with a
big task to get the record. Here I felt the pressure was off a little, as I didn't
expect to get the 150K needed, but was determined to go for it anyways."
"There were some levels with this last ship that I just kept guessing right. My
shooting accuracy was not at its best at times on this life, and this leads to
the swarm. But I just kept going, adrenalin pumping as I got nearer and nearer
to Perry's awesome record. I remember looking at my score of 385,770, at level
110 ( Thanks to you Robert for this info !!), looking at it and wondering if I
could break the record on the next stage. I was so close now, and didn't want
this to end in disappointment. Well, I didn't quite make, but when I looked at
my score after the next level, I knew the first convoy would make me World No
1, And so it was. The elation I felt isn't really captured on tape, as I was
little shell shocked. I'd got this machine 10 months ago, practiced 2 hours a
night (more at weekends) to achieve this, and when I did, I was dumb struck. I
picked a toffee from a tin I have on my computer desk, and just kept staring at
the score on the game. Bruce Springsteen's *Promised Land* was playing in the
background, appropriate maybe, and I hummed along to this
as I tried to take it all in."
ROBERT - "How long have you been playing Galaxian ?"
GARY - "Played Galaxian in `79 when it first came out, down my local pub. It
was a cocktail table, similar to the one I now own. Over the years I played it
whenever I could though classic games have all but disappeared from the arcades
in The UK, least in the North of England. Around 2000 I started to play it on
the Playstation 1 Namco museum release, and then via mame. After that I got hold
of a Super Gun, and played the original arcade board with that. Late 2003 I picked
up my Galaxian Cocktail table, and since then I've been practicing around 2 hours
per day, hoping for this moment !! The arcade table plays SO much like I remember,
it's incredible."
ROBERT - "What is it about Galaxian that you like so much ?"
GARY - "The simplicity. Basic controls, 2-way joystick, one fire button, you against
the Aliens, fast action shooter. Wave after wave after wave after wave...constant
onslaught...never changing, though each stage IS actually different, as whatever
you do in the game, affects the Alien movement. Way back when, the colored screen
and swarming Aliens definitely caught the attention !! The sound effects are cool
as well !!
ROBERT - "What was your recent scoring progression ? I remember you discussing
it on the forums...can you recollect ?"
GARY - "I have kept a record of every score I got over 100K since March 2004,
so if you'd like more info, let me know. Here is a brief run down as I remember
it. My first aim was to pass the 100K mark, this came in January 2004, after
that I hit my first 200K score on March 27. For a while after that I didn't see
too much improvement, as I tried different strategies, but then comes May 12 I
hit 293,280, a new Personal best, and it was probably around this time that I
knew the record was on. Annoyed at not clearing 300K, I had to wait till 03 July
to clear that with a 321, 260, then on the 18 July 386,180. The 399,290 came on
August 9 2004."
ROBERT - "Will you try for an even higher score...and what's next ?"
GARY - "Next ? I will be aiming even higher, I love the game, and still play it
for an hour so every night. I've once topped 400K, and would like to think that
with practice I could score over 600K someday. Best individual ship score I've
had is 183K, so four times that would be a great score !! Since breaking the World
Record, I've had one score in the 290K range, and one over 300K. Eventually I
would love to break One Million on Galaxian, though that could be some way off.
Other games that I would look at in the future would be Space Invaders, Galaga,
Moon Cresta, Rally X, and maybe one other."
ROBERT - "Okay, let's keep that one other title a secret for now. How does it
feel passing one of the oldest and most respected video game world records in
the TG scoreboard ?"
GARY - "The Feeling is Fantastic !! Indescribable, really. This is my all time
favorite game, and to post a World Record on it is just...well, brilliant !!
Video gaming is part of our heritage, and I`m so very proud to achieve a score
like this on a classic game like Galaxian."
ROBERT - "Anything else comes to mind ? After all, you're the man of the hour."
GARY - "Well, I would like to throw in a few *Thank You`s* if possible."
"To My wife Trish, daughter Hayley, Mum and dad, and all my friends down at
The Lodge pub in Dukinfield."
"Also To thank yourself, Robert, for your time, help and encouragement, Twin
Galaxies itself, which does a fantastic job in keeping all this alive, and last
but not least, respect to Perry Rodgers, the previous World Record holder on Galaxian,
whose score has stood for all these years. I hope he comes back to challenge me,
and we can push this score
all the way !!'.
"Cheers !!"
************************************************************************************
=====================================================================================
Does all this playing of video games hurt the duties of Marriage? How does
the wife put up with it, and what about divorce or hardship do to this type
of addiction of 25 years of playing? I had to Ask...
=====================================================================================
Here is the answer: Link
Galaxian Champion, Gary Whelan's Wife:
His understanding wife of 24 years, Trish, said she had not considered divorcing him.
"It's not like I didn't know what I was getting into," she said. "He has always
been really interested in video games.
Gary Whelan's most common answer and probably every man's answer to the question,
when will you be done with that thing?
Whelan, "I say 'I'll be down in a minute"
I'll keep on going till my tea's cold."
\Last Updated: Thursday, 23 December, 2004, 10:46 GMT
Confessions of a game widow
With a rush of big video games out in the run-up to Christmas, some people
may have found they have taken second place to the console, as this woman
relates.
'Back me up, we're supposed to be a team'
My boyfriend is leading a double life.
During daylight hours he holds down a respectable office job and makes
complicated decisions. By night, he is a hardened soldier who spends his
time planting bombs and capturing flags.
When he's not doing that, he works as a scientist in the dangerous trouble
spot known as City 17.
But this is no international man of mystery. Instead, he's an online hero
who gets his kicks on virtual battlefields.
Yes, my man is addicted to Halo 2 and Half-Life 2. And I am a games widow.
Are you a game widow or widower? Send us your comments
Halo 2; Half-Life 2; Killzone; Getaway 2: Black Monday. So many pre-Christmas
games releases, so little time. I should be grateful he doesn't play GTA:
San Andreas, he tells me. Or Need for Speed: Underground 2. Or indeed Fifa
2005. Yet.
Half-Life monologue
It wasn't always like this. The living room hasn't always been a mess of cables,
controllers and consoles. He kept his other life on the PC in the spare room.
But then along came consoles, the broadband connection and whole new worlds
opened up online.
Assume the identity of Gordon Freeman in Half-Life 2
Now he sits in front of the TV for hours at a time, while exhorting his
clan-mates to "get in the cave!" or "back me up, we're supposed to be a team",
or exchanging grunts with American teenagers.
Nor does it stop when he has pried himself away from the console. I am treated
to monologues on the relative merits of his opponents ("useless"), or the
"filmic" qualities of Half-Life 2.
I should point out that I know how easy it is to be seduced by the winking
black box in the corner, having myself had an intense yet brief infatuation
with games in the past.
We have reached a compromise of sorts, whereby he arranges gaming evenings with
his friends only when I am out, and the rest of the time he plays only in
short bursts.
But it looks like his obsession is here to stay.
I take scant consolation from knowing that I cannot be alone in my suffering.
With big-name games selling by the bucket load in the run-up to Christmas, and
the fact that thousands of people are signing up to broadband each week in the
UK, the online gaming bug must be infecting many relationships.
At this point, there can be only one solution: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Let's get together and form a clan. We can call ourselves the Game Widows.
Does your partner play video games all the time and ignore you? Tell us about
your experiences.
Our relationship ended and he admits now it was down to the PlayStation
Melissa, UK
My relationship of six years ended because of the PlayStation. When our son was
born my partner spent all his time playing games. We never went to bed at the
same time due to him staying up as he wanted just to get to a certain level. He
slept during the day due to being up all night and I was left holding the baby
literally. Our relationship ended and he admits now it was down to the PlayStation.
I am happy now and have a new partner who does not own a games console. Every cloud
has a silver lining.
Melissa, Blackpool, UK
My husband suffers a terrible addiction to EverQuest. He even has withdrawal
symptoms when we're on holiday, slackened only by finding an internet connection
to check on the status of his fellow players. He plays at least eight hours a day,
not coming to bed until 3am most mornings. I've become so accustomed to seeing only
the back of his head, that I am shocked when I see his face. I'll sign up to the
Games Widow clan!
Patricia, UK
What about the game widowers? My wife is addicted to patience type card games
and Tetris. This is not a recent 3D technological phenomenon
Nick, UK/Swiss
I am a gamer and love to play cyber soldier. My significant other doesn't play
games at all but understands that this is something I enjoy. There is no reason
why I can't play video games for hours at a time as long as I spend the same energy
and attention on her later. A little understanding in both directions goes a long way.
Veebs, UK
All these articles about "my boyfriend" "my husband" etc, it works both ways,
it's not just men. Worst thing or best thing I ever done was to introduce my wife
to the world of computers and games, I never see her any more. Every waking moment
she is playing games. Its not just men there is a large growing number of women
gamers on and offline.
Paul, UK
My boyfriend used to have a PS2 until it was stolen in a burglary. He used to
play every now and then but I often ended up going to bed alone, waiting for him
to stop playing. Now he intends on buying anther one for himself, solely to play
GTA: San Andreas. I gave him a simple option: "Buy a new console, get yourself a
new girlfriend." I think he got the point.
Sophie, Paris, France
I think if it wasn't games it would be football, or the pub. At least you know
where he is and what he's doing, sounds a bit invasive when it's in your living
room, though! Hopefully you've also got other interests and you can spend some
time together as well.
James Bradbury, Chippenham, UK
I was with a gamer for years and in the end there was only one solution, he
got dumped.
Katie, Bournemouth, England
My boyfriend and I play consoles together. We buy games that two people can play,
or take turns. It's a hobby that we both share and enjoy.
Megan, UK
My husband is a huge PC games fan. After a little while trying to compete with the
games I gave in, and joined in. We now have an affordable hobby that we can do
together, and meet new people. And we have met a lot of very nice people, a number
of which came to our wedding. Gaming isn't all bad!
Sarah, UK
It does put a strain on the relationship, and I know I am at fault for spending
hours in front of a game
Richard, UK
I'm a gaming addict, I'll admit, a fussy one though! It does put a strain on the
relationship, and I know I am at fault for spending hours in front of a game, but
I've not found many two-player games that aren't repetitive thus extending their
replay value. Ones that we would both enjoy.
Richard, UK
My wife and previous girlfriends have made me watch endless fictional stories for
hours each night - soap operas, to spend "quality time together". I still do, but
now I have my own hobby and she can join in the gaming if she wants to.
Adam, UK
I have to admit this article made me chuckle. Despite being a hardcore gamer, I
always have time for my girlfriend. Ok so when Half-Life 2 came out I spend 19
hours over two days just playing without much contact with my girlfriend but we
agreed we would have a nice weekend after Half Life 2 was completed.
John Wilson, UK
I have been an online gamer for several years now; a virtual soldier in America's
Army. It cost me a relationship that I wish I hadn't lost and it made me realize
that I had accomplished very little during that time. In retrospect I think that
just a few hours a week away from my PC and with my former girlfriend instead would
have been enough to save our relationship. It's not all bad though, the friends I've
made through my online experience are great. Most of us have stopped playing games
now, but we still keep in touch despite living in three different countries.
David, England
I guess that it's mainly women that are moaning about it, but ladies please remember
the times that we banned our other halves from breathing when watching our soaps,
Sex In The City, Friends, or in my case Buffy
Trish, England
Since I met my partner I've been a Megadrive, Saturn, N64, Playstation, PC and Xbox
widow! I've even recently had to wrestle one of those retro 5000 games in one pad
things out of his hands. But the way I see it is I can still see him, I know that
he's safe and not drunk in a gutter somewhere, and in the past we've even found one
or two games in common. I guess that it's mainly women that are moaning about it,
but ladies please remember the times that we banned our other halves from breathing
when watching our soaps, Sex In The City, Friends, or in my case Buffy. They suffer
too. Or at least that's what he tries to tell me!
Trish, England
People think I'm a 'console widow' but I'm not, I actively encourage my husband with
his gaming to the disbelief of many! When the Xbox came out, I was first in queue to
get him one, and I've got him an Xbox Crystal for this Christmas because it just looks
so cool doesn't it? I pre-ordered him Halo2 in a limited box edition set and he traveled
into work with me on the morning of release to pick it up and go home and play it! I
organize Xbox evenings for him and I put on food for him and his mates so that they
have a great evening. But , I've always been into games myself, so this is why I'm
probably like this unlike all of my friends who think I'm mad. I do make him watch
some dire television though and he doesn't grumble
Patricia, UK
I just understand perhaps the sudden necessary bursts of gaming that have to be done
when a new game comes out, and it also means I get a great lie-in at the weekend
because my husband and step-daughter sneak downstairs early to get a barrel load of
gaming in before I get up. I do make him watch some dire television though and he
doesn't grumble. In fact he was quite happily watching Strictly Come Dancing Xmas
final last night with actually enjoying it!
Patricia, UK
My girlfriend must be very lucky, I don't watch football and certainly don't play
computer games. I stopped when I left my teenage years. There are so many exciting,
healthy things to do, alone or together. And no we never waste our days off shopping
or anything mundane like that. People should try enjoying there homes, partners,
friends and family more. Then again when people are playing computer games, the
cycle paths, hills, mountains etc are just that little bit quieter.
Chris, UK
I'm a hardened PC gamer, and admit that sometimes it gets in the way of RL (or Real
Life) but in my opinion gaming is much better for you then just sitting in front
of the TV watching inane game shows, soaps and sitcoms. At least I interact with
the people I play with, and all the while I learn more about the technology used in
the games and systems we use, which can be used in other areas, employment for example.
Surely that's better then wondering who is sleeping with whom or what the next 'hilarious'
catchphrase from some comedy is!
Luke, London, UK
I think the 'widows' should be taking some responsibility here and try and amuse
us once in a while
Sarge, UK
I love computer games and am a self-confessed games addict but would never let it come
in the way of a relationship. Unless, of course, my partner was very boring. I think
the 'widows' should be taking some responsibility here and try and amuse us once in a
while. Yes, I am single.
Sarge, Birmingham, UK
Ah, so I am not alone then? Me and my husband have separate lives, he's always in bed
hours after me due to gaming. Even on holiday he had to go to the internet cafe every
day to play. I don't let it bother me, I'm not even that interested in the TV, never
mind a computer game! Just remember they could be up to a lot worse!
Mags, UK
I have a gaming addict husband and whilst he tends to organize nights and specific
gaming times, it does seem as though he is waiting for any slight lapse of my
consciousness/attention to leap across the lounge and flick the switch on the Xbox.
A slight closing of tired eyes late at night or even just getting up and going to
the loo and I return to find him with the console gripped in his palm and headphones
strapped to his head. He'll then say in such an innocent voice; "Oh I thought you'd
gone to bed!" However I can't complain too much, I'd rather be married to a gaming
addict than most other addicts I can think of!
Jen, England
A bit of time to remember he's a dad as well as a husband would be the nice,
just to show us he's not turned into some deaf, selfish Elf at Christmas
Andrea, England
It wasn't until the introduction of online gaming that my husband constantly kept
his back turned to me and our young son for up to 10 hours a day, seven days a week.
I can understand how you can be obsessed with gaming, I loved gaming for a little
while myself, but now I don't have time. My husband and I did share a lot of interests
before out son was born. Now I'm left holding the baby whilst he battles it out on
Eve Online, often going to bed at 3am. A bit of time to remember he's a dad as well
as a husband would be the nice, just to show us he's not turned into some deaf,
selfish Elf at Christmas!
Andrea, England
My fiancé plays computer games quite a lot especially since the Xbox live was
activated in our area but like someone else said if it wasn't gaming then it could
be the pub or gambling etc. At the end of the day it's only a hobby and I have
hobbies too. It makes him happy and that should be the most important thing.
Sarah Wilson, United Kingdom
I like watching my other half play on his Xbox, it helps him relax after a hard
day at work and it's usually better than watching some rubbish on TV. He turns it
off when we eat dinner and it never keeps him up all night because it has a
'save' feature.
Anne, Notts, UK
I've witnessed my usually lovely bloke turn into a cross-eyed twitching warrior
and tripped over many a console cable in the process
Sarah, Surrey
I couldn't help but laugh after reading your games widow article. I too have suffered
the loss of a partner to that evil black box in the corner of the room. I've witnessed
my usually lovely bloke turn into a cross-eyed twitching warrior and tripped over
many a console cable in the process. One day I decided enough was enough and thought
"if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." In came broadband, Xbox Live and seriously, it
turned out not so bad. Those evenings of the pre-menstrual kind are now whiled away
screaming abuse at some American at the other end of the line and killing aliens and
bugs in the most unsavory manor. Great once a month but only in small doses. I'd
still take a bath and box of choccies any day.
Sarah, Surrey, UK
*************************************************************************************
FINAL REMARKS ON WHELANS ACCOMPLISHMENT BY TWIN GALAXIES:
On behalf of Walter Day and the staff of the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard,
I congratulate Gary Whelan from Dukinfield, England, on his awe-inspiring achievement
by eclipsing a two decades old world record on the classic arcade title "Galaxian"
and setting this unforgettable mark in the world of classic arcade gaming.
Robert
_________________
Robert T Mruczek
Twin Galaxies - Editor and Chief referee
Star Wars classic arcade marathon champion
rmruczek@doremus.com (work E-MAIL)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interview of Perry Rogers, Classic High Score Champion of Galaxian Link
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perry Rogers graciously answered most of my questions at the sit-down
Scramble machine at Ground Kontrol, then via e-mail.
Interviewer:: What was your first memory playing a videogame?
Perry: Playing Pong and Depthcharge at a pizza parlor in Napa Valley… [I was]
12 or 13. It was especially rewarding to hit the speedboat in Depthcharge.
Interviewer:: Your biggest moment involving a videogame?
Perry: Definitely playing Mario Bros at the Guinness Book competition in '85…
I came out ahead (defeating Eric Ginner) and earned a spot in the Guinness Book.
Interviewer:: Define a 'videogame superstar' (as seen on twin galaxies.com).
Perry: I'd define a superstar as a player that can master several different games
across several genres, particularly the most popular games. Billy Mitchell has
captured world records on Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior, Burgertime, and Pac
Man. Dwayne Richard is another well-rounded player. More recently, Donald
Hayes has captured attention as a superstar
Interviewer:: What drew you to Galaxian?
Perry: One day the arcade manager wheeled in a new game called Galaxian. I
liked the shoot-em-up genre and being the first color game was a draw too….One
day I broke 40,000 and thought I had Galaxian mastered. Guess that was just
the beginning.
Interviewer:: Mario Bros?
Perry: Mario Bros. came out several years later… I was more into Centipede at
the time and won a high score marathon contest, sponsored by a magazine…. The
prize was a video game of my choice. I chose Mario Bros. It has a lot more
game play depth than meets the eye, and I was determined to learn all the nuances.
Name: Perry Rogers Link
Mario Bros., Arcade,
Rank 1
Score 3,481,550
Player Perry Rodgers
San Luis Obispo, CA
United States
Date Achieved Friday, July 2, 1985
Date Verified Friday, June 11, 2004
Verification Method Referee
Score Status Active
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Player Interviews Link
6/3/2000 Interview with Perry Rodgers
We interviewed Galaxian champion Perry Rodgers at the Funspot-Twin Galaxies
Classic Games Competition on June 3, 2000.
Twin Galaxies: Perry, what are you playing today?
Perry Rodgers: Galaxian. And Mario Brothers.
TG: Are you going for a record?
PR: I got 251 yesterday. I have 389 as a record.
TG: Your record?
PR: Yes, I'm trying to break my own record. Hope so.
TG: Can you win $1000?
PR: Yes. There's some extra motivation.
TG: You came all the way from California.
PR: Yes.
TG: Did you come last year?
PR: I did.
TG: How does it compare to last year?
PR: Better quality of performance this year…There's a guy who's really good
on Centipede, there's Darren Harris competing for Ms. Pac-Man, Billy is going
for Donkey Kong, Fred on Carnival. I think there's a synergy, all these players
coming together to play all these old games.
TG: Are the games different than last year?
PR: Mostly the same games but there are a few more.
TG: How long does it take you to play a game of Galaxian?
PR: My record is 1 hour 45 min. So hopefully not more than two hours.
TG: You're lucky, you're good at a game that doesn't take 8 hours.
PR: Mario Bros takes about 4 hours.
TG: What do you do to prepare for a tournament?
PR: I exercise a lot, I concentrate on feeling good physically and mentally.
I eat right, sleep right, I do what other athletes would do. Personally, I
like to prepare this way. I mean, everybody's different but for me it works.
TG: What kind of exercise do you do?
PR: Running, mostly. And I play tennis.
TG: You live in sunny California so you can do more outdoor exercise than the
rest of us.
Who's you're competition this year?
PR: Darren Harris is very good at Mario Bros, if he plays, I'm sure he could
do very well.
TG: He's focusing on Pac-Man, isn't he?
PR: Yes, I think he is. Robert Mruczek is very good on Galaxian. He's a good
player, I talk to him a lot. So far that's all the competition I know of.
TG: Thanks for talking to us, Perry. Good luck.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Opinions about playing the same game for half a Century, Below Link
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man spends more than half of life playing same game (Galaxian)
Filed under Oddities
OK, let's think about this for a second. If you were going to practice something
two hours a night, every night for 25 years what would it be? Playing a guitar?
Writing? Latin? How about Galaga? Would you ever, in a million friggin years,
think to practice that Space Invaders knock-off for a quarter of a century?
Briton Gary Whelan did and it earned him a world record score of 399,290 and
a life-time of pity from just about anyone he tells that story to.
25 Years on Same Game [The Sun]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Twin Galaxies Thread on accomplishment of Gary Whelan: Link
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sandinista
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:27 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brilliantly written Robert. Many thanks again for all the work and effort you,
Walter and probably other people at Twin Galaxies have done with this.
gaz
World No 1 Galaxian Arcade 399,290 points
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERodgers2003: Perry Rogers
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 4:17 pm Post subject: Congrats!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like to be the first to congratulate Gary on his accomplishment. As Robert
noted, I knew it was just a matter of time as I followed the forums earlier this
year and saw that he was posting scores over 300K and how dedicated he was in
breaking the record. I was kind of hoping he had peaked at his 386K score (a
brief sigh of relief), but knew better than to think he'd stop there.
Congrats Gary! Nice run there on your last ship.
Now, got to go and feast on this Thanksgiving day, and then I got some "work"
to do
--Perry
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex_Weir
Location: Dublin, Rep. of Ireland
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:05 pm Post subject: re....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well done Gary Whelan, and well done on a super report by Robert.
I have being trying to get in touch with fellow Irishman, Mark Lyons. But to
no avail. His e-mail addy from the MARP site seems to be obsolete.
Does anyone at TG have his e-mail addy?
Mark has previously told me that he has beaten the 500k mark. I'm sure he would
be interested in the current developments.
Cheers,
AL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The_Pro
Location: Saint-Lazare, Quebec, Canada
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:51 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ha, when I first saw the announcement I was wondering what happened to that
sandinista guy who was also going for the galaxian record. Didn't realize
that was Gary. Great record.
_________________
Martin Bedard
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
squarefishx2
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 1:17 am
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galaxian is a tough game -- I just played -- scored 2,680 ~ not good.
Congrats on an awesome world record!
_________________
"Photography with a Vision"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.cooganphoto.com
www.cooganphoto.com/gravitar
- dedicated to the 1982 Atari classic video arcade game Gravitar.
Hints and playing tips with screen captures, etc. included...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gravitar 3,652,700
Emptyeye
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 8:32 am
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was going to download it myself after reading this, then ran headlong into the fact
that there were about 8 different ROMsets. And the one I chose at random told me
there was a file missing.
Oh well.
Awesome record regardless, though. Congrats!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barthax
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 9:54 am
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From a fellow Brit, congratulations Gary.
Bombjack, Gauntlet, Marble Madness, or maybe even Leprechaun next?
_________________
Barthax
Man, I suck at shooters, fighters & anything with a paddle!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
permafrostrick
Referee
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 5:33 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
awesome!
cuz that's a game where even if you know all you must do...execution is very
difficult!
Back to top
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tommi
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 9:03 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well done. Do not care about claimed 500k...You can say anything, but can not
do it, really.
I bet nobody can not beat such score nowadays...awesome!
Also 10 for Roberts writing, almost felt being there
Golf +being in pressure, 10+, very interesting stuff...It's not only skill
that matters, but mind, too...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MKM
TG Advisor
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 9:17 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow! Just shy of 400K, which appears to be the immediate goal for Galaxian pros.
_________________
Please send me a Private Message to get my email for TG/game questions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RMRUCZEK
TG Board of Directors
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 2:02 pm Post subject: In Case You Did Not Notice
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello fellow gamers:
Did you take a really close look at the medallion featuring Gary's pic ? There
is a "001" at the bottom. Something special that Bill Mitchell has in mind for
the future.
Also, I just sent Gary my WolfMAME INP of swarm-prevention strategies. Mind you,
in his 399K game, he fought through swarms left and right, and at least twice
died due to swarms. Imagine how he will do once he learns an additional
strategy !! Maybe 400K+ is coming sooner than you think.
Robert
_________________
Robert T Mruczek
Twin Galaxies - Editor and Chief referee
Star Wars classic arcade marathon champion
rmruczek@doremus.com (work E-MAIL)
******************************
RMRUCZEK
TG Board of Directors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sandinista
Gary Whelan - Galaxian Champion
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:00 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for all the nice comments guys. It's been a great time for me. I
love the game to bits, and even after playing it for what seems like an eternity,
I still get home nights, chuck my bag in the corner, and turn the game on.
I even actually play it still most nights too.
Perry Rogers, what can I say, really cool you came on here with the congrats.
Appreciated.
If you ever want to discuss the Finer points of Galaxian, just drop me a line.
Too few gamers play this classic to a higher level. The emails ( which I've
really enjoyed ) I've exchanged with Robert about the game over the last year
or so, have been my only communication with a fellow player of this great game.
Next I`m going to beat my existing record. This isn't over yet for me. Billy
Mitchell's ( generous ) offer of a grand aside, I know 1 Million is possible.
Without sounding too conceited ( I hope ) the only thing in the way is concentration.
After a certain level, the aliens get no more difficult, so it's just a matter
of keeping my mind clear, and my brain focused. Next year I aim to do this.
Finally, thanks to Billy Mitchell for the design of the medallion, though even
I don't know what 001 is for Robert !
cheers
Gary Whelan/sandinista
* Are You Ready For Fame ? Yeah, I`m Ready ! *
Galaxian Arcade World Record 399,290
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RMRUCZEK
TG Board of Directors
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:27 am Post subject: Here's a Hint
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Gary:
Can't give away the purpose of the "001", but it should become apparent soon.
If you think 1M is possible, I salute you !! I agree...concentration is the key.
Sometimes you get a few boards going where everything happens like clockwork,
and other times things don't seem to want to go in your favor.
Robert
_________________
Robert T Mruczek
Twin Galaxies - Editor and Chief referee
Star Wars classic arcade marathon champion
rmruczek@doremus.com (work E-MAIL)
******************************
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Whelan/sandinista
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:43 pm Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Robert,
Yeah, 1 Million would be some score, and very hard to pull off. But the game
repeats and repeats, so with maximum effort, concentration, and no little good
luck, I reckon it would be possible. That's my aim anyway.
I'll await the significance of the * 001 * !
cheers
sandinista
___ Dukinfield, England ______________
An old Mill town around 6 miles from Manchester city centre.
*Are You ready for fame ? Yeah, I`m ready ! *
Galaxian Arcade World Record 399, 290 Points
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TStodden
Location: Marcus, IA, USA
Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:09 pm Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the person whose going after that 1,000,000 pt bounty... Good Luck! You're
going to need it... seriously!
From my calculations (which are sealed... so don't ask), the bigger question is
"What would happen first? 1M or Kill Screen?"
_________________
TG Ref @ Large
Slick Click Record Holder - 1,522 pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tommi
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:44 am Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TStodden wrote:
From my calculations (which are sealed... so don't ask), the bigger question is
"What would happen first? 1M or Kill Screen?"
MAME + infinite lives cheat must have answer for that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TStodden
Location: Marcus, IA, USA
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:21 pm Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If somebody would care to help out & see what stage the kill screen appears...
It would be very helpful to help prove/disprove my calculations. I just can't
seem to get any of the MAME emulators to work on my computer (& it's not from
a lack of trying... it might be system requirements).
_________________
TG Ref @ Large
Slick Click Record Holder - 1,522 pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sandinista
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:25 pm Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hate mame, different versions, compatibility issues, etc etc. Don't
want to antagonize fans of the thing, but it just isn't the same is it ?! But
seriously... if there is a kill screen, then I would have thought that would
be * known * by now.. so, is there ? I would doubt it, very much. Galaxian
never changes, from day one, it plays the same, only difference is the speed,
movement remains the same. There are no different screens / line up whatever,
so if there is a kill screen, I would be very surprised.
A guy on here a while ago, JJT I think, claimed a 700K score on Galaxian,
he was full of all sorts of err, * stuff *, but generally, I think he
carried little kudos. He worked out Galaxian as if it DID have a kill screen,
and put up a score that was obviously before that stage... the way I play,
the Kill screen would occur later, probably around 850K to 900K.. might spoil
the Million I suppose
It would be FANTASTIC to reach that level, and for the Kill screen to happen
though.
_________________
*Are You ready for fame ? Yeah, I`m ready ! *
Galaxian Arcade World Record 399, 290 Points
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
permafrostrick
Referee
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:23 pm Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sandinista wrote:
I hate mame, different versions, compatibility issues, etc etc etc.
hence my motivation for developing a new tgmame. It would be more user friendly.
mame is functional...just has outdated stuff in the readmes..and plus has that
mame.ini file that has all kinds of crap in it that can cause issues.
if mame had a good readme and help documentation, I think most of the issues would
be avoided. I have used several versions of pc-mame on my Mac in VirtualPC...
without problems....at least no problems getting mame to run.
macmame (until the very latest version) didn't have any of these issues.
With the latest version, where and how the cfg, roms, etc. are stored has been
restructured...to fit a multi-user UNIX type standard.
I don't get it...cfg folder maybe...but share all the other folders within the
mame folder. The latest mame has it where each user even has their own rom
folder...almost all of the folders. Silly...anyway...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sandinista
Location: Manchester UK Link
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:00 pm Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for all the nice comments guys . It's been a great time for me . I love
the game to bits , and even after playing it for what seems like an eternity ,
I still get home nights , chuck my bag in the corner , and turn the game on .
Perry , what can I say , really cool you came on here with the congrats .
Appreciated . If you ever want to discuss the Finer points of Galaxian , just
drop me a line . Too few gamers play this classic to a higher level . The emails
( which I've really enjoyed ) I've exchanged with Robert about the game over
the last year or so , have been my only communication with a fellow player of
this great game .
Next I`m going to beat my existing record . This isn't over yet for me . Billy
Mitchell's ( generous ) offer of a grand aside , I know 1 Million is possible .
Without sounding too conceited ( I hope ) the only thing in the way is concentration .
After a certain level , the aliens get no more difficult , so it's just a matter
of keeping my mind clear , and my brain focused . Next year I aim to do this .
Finally , thanks to Billy Mitchell for the design of the medallion , though even I
don't know what 001 is for Robert !
cheers
sandinista
* Are You Ready For Fame ? Yeah , I`m Ready ! *
Galaxian Arcade World Record 399,290
Paul Drury does a write up on Perry Rogers in Retro Magazine, UK Edition Mag #17 Page 79 Link
Price : USD $123.00 / year
Country : United Kingdom
Language : English
Frequency : 12 issues / year
Retro Gamer is the UK's first regular retro magazine. Each issue delves into the
glorious, ever-growing retro scene and covers all the classic games, computers
and consoles from your misspent youth. Link
Retro Gamer #17
Available starting Thu, 09 Jun 2005
Retro Magazine (2005) Home Page Link
Perry Rogers (1986)
Perry Rogers Programming Career:
He began at Activision, programming Double Dragon for the Atari 2600.
The next job position was with Sculpured Software in Utah where he designed
and produced Roger Clemens' Baseball for the SNES and Sega Genesis.
Roger Clemens Baseball
Then Perry Rogers spent six years at a new position with Sony. He started
just before the full release of PlayStation. He got to work on the really
big projects like Midway's Mortal Combat and Naughty Dog on the Crash Bandicoot
series.
Mortal Combat
Perry Roger has moved on to a new company called Wild Tangent which is producing
internet games. Some of these titles include Championship Run 2005
Thank you,
paul dean spy hunter champion June 28, 1985
www.spyhunter007.com
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Click On Below Graphic Text For Material On The Golden Years Of Video Games 1980's
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Above, A new commemorative medallion commissioned by Billy Mitchell to celebrate
Whelan's achievement. Gary Whelan captures Galaxian crown; first British gamer to
take record away from American on classic arcade title in two decades.
