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 gameplay 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”.

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.

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, so maybe other guys are attempting records as I speak.”

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