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.