Donald Hayes Designated Gamer of the Year for 2004-2005

"Perfect" Pac-Man score and "European Championship" are latest Successes

After Donald Hayes won the recent "European Championship" held in London at the 2005 Classic Gaming Expo - UK, there was little doubt that Hayes was the dominant leader in the growing worldwide classic gaming hobby. And, his European victory may be considered by some to be a minor feather in his cap when compared to his recent "perfect" game on Pac-Man: becoming only the fifth person in history to reach the 3,333,360 point maximum threshold on the legendary arcade title.

See "Perfect" Pac-Man report by Robert Mruczek.

"Hayes has just reeled off a string of high-score victories that may never be matched again," says Walter Day, editor of Twin Galaxies' Official Video Game & Pinball Book of World Records. "He has demonstrated indisputable dominace over the classic gaming hobby."

In addition to winning the recent "Crowning the Classic Video Game Champions of European" event, Hayes has also captured the world title on Millipede and Frogger during the last 12 months, bringing his gold medal total to eight concurrent world titles. During that time, however, his Tron world record was eclipsed by David Cruz. But, Hayes says: "I am focusing on Tron again with the intent to win back the title."

Plans are now being formulated to crown Hayes as the "Player-of-the-Year" in a special ceremony in New Hampshire this fall.