shmups.system11.org

I can only tell you that this movie was one of the funniest movies I've seen in many years. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and if you're *any* kind of gamer, go see it with a couple of your gamer friends. You will laugh quite a bit. It's a cheesefest, but in the absolute best way possible.

Hearty recommendations from me, anyway.

Watched it when it got leaked then took a friend to see it once it came to Kansas City theatres. Hope it does well. Great movie. Billy Mitchell isn't evil incarnate or anything, but he's kind of that 80's archetypal good guy where Steve Wiebe is the 90's man... That's the impression I got. Read some of the forum posts from Billy Mitchell followers about the movie. They're really hilarious. They don't get it at all.

Yeah, I can recommend it too. Interesting thing is that it also works with nongamers. There's another good documentary called "High Score" about a guy who's trying to break the world record in Missile Command.

Ok I've just seen it.

It contains the usual 'American records are World Records' theme that Twin Galaxies loves to proport. But we've done that to death already .

Not a bad film.

There's just one thing I'd like to know from it--> Is Billy Mitchell that egotistical
Or was he just acting that way consistently throughout the whole film?


The Twin Galaxies team were guilty of favouritism towards Mr Mitchell (if the film is a true documentary), and Mr Mitchell sure did seem scared of Steve Weibe.

The Donkey Kong machine was kill screened with a CS 1.049mil, so that's fine, but I would also like to know the Eastern (Jap, HK etc) record on Donkey Kong...
The language barrier is so convenient to hide behind

I've only heard good things about this movie, and I doubt it will ever be released around here... but one thing always seemed weird to me.

Doesn't Donkey Kong has a bug that, after a certain level, the game becomes impossible because the time limit is lower than what you need to actually complete the level ? From what I read when this happens it isn't THAT far into the game, like Pacman's level 255.

Because I feel this really kills any idea of a score competition on the game.

there is a kill screen in the game, but I know it's at least about 2 to 3 hours into the game.

I know several of the referees of Twin Galaxies.

This is live footage that they took at funspot, etc. They knew that they were being recorded, but didn't know for what reason. All the vids and stuff of taken of Billy Mitchell and company had no idea it was for a movie.

^Ok Thanks for the insight Squirrel
----------------
Shatterhand wrote;

Not really, the kill screen just means that it becomes a leech/sqeeze fest like suiciding to the max at stage 2-7 on R-Type.
----------------
I've just trawled through the ten pages of the King of Kong thread on TG and gleened very little from it. They keep referring to the 'truth' but never really get to it .

One thing's for sure, there's a lot of HEAVY editing in the film, which is very evident from the obvious removal of the 80+ year old Qbert lady's footage. Its a skewed film.

No-one on TG who knows Billy Mitchell said that he is humble. Some make excuses for him, some don't. Although I'm sure that the documentary makers have made a point of including all his ego talk clips just to add drama. Problem is, this stops it from being a documentary.

US version of Donkey Kong has a different level order from the Japanese version / Crazy Kong, so scores can't easily be compared like that.

As for the leech/squeezefest, its not so much on Donkey Kong, because you'll get hit randomly at anytime. Its not like you can just stay on floor level and jump barrels, you're going to die soon.

They ween from the truth, because well, as stated below, they don't want to bring up a certain guy's name too much.

Yeah, they did cut out a lot of it. I do know a lot of background history that I was told to not to say, lets just say one of the makers of the movie (which also ties into High Score, and the upcoming Chasing Ghosts) did cut out the stuff like with billy and doris. Billy is definitely is no humble person, from what quite a few friends I know of on AtariAge have said, as well as my good friend that I was stationed with in Japan, who helped distribute the world record books of twin galaxies to sell, he does let his records to get to his attitude. I do have to say if it wasn't for me knowing a couple referees, my few records probably would have been disputed for the atari 2600 (and soon for the arcade game Xybots). AKA, I already beat the "man"

No big deal if the movie's skewed. All documentaries are skewed.

Saw it tonight with three good friends. We were the only four in the theatre! Yes, the film was actually showing down here in the body of christ! Probably will run until Monday, anyway.

I remarked to them that this must be what watching "Rocky" was like.

Heh, I don't get to the movies much anymore, but I'm glad I got to see this one. It was a real treat. I'm going to drag someone I love to see it with me tommorow night.

I strongly suggest this one to ANYONE - I don't care how "jaded" or "elite" you think you are. You'll love it.

Hardly. The video was completely lacking of perspective.

Watch it again.

Some guys went breaking and entering to pull apart a cab and photograph it.
Some guy spent 3000 to fly down to florida from washington state to... get snubbed. Next time, I suggest making sure you'll have something to do while you're there?

And then after that, after all the live performances, he just submits a tape and gets the record anyways.

Let me throw a giant 'wtf' flag in the air right now. Hell, I need some image macros.

Here's a newsflash for the twin galaxies investigation crew: if you can't tell whether or not a game has been modified from the video, then obviously it either doesn't matter or you suck and would not be able to tell anyways.

Here's another newsflash for steve wiebe. Yes, your tape is in fact good enough. In fact, I find it laughable that he went and flew to two locations at the behest of some random organization who says it accepts tapes and then summarily went and said "no, your tape isn't good enough." At this point, he isn't trying to get his record, he's just trying to fit in with "the crew" so they can judge him worthy before they even get to considering what's on his tape. That is many things, but a true record-keeping organization it is not. And if he's only making the salary of a teacher, he probably wasted half his life savings on it.

I mean, seriously. TG didn't accept his tapes... until they saw him play. Meaning, they didn't accept the tapes based on the tapes themselves, but on an outside evaluation of this guy. Quite simply, they had to judge him before they released their absolute breaking news u r official omg declaration. So... someone else please tell me something is incredibly wrong with this.

yep, this is the internet, where it's serious business (c) all night all the time (tm). A little number next to your name is definitely worth flying across the country to prove yourself to a bunch of guys too infatuated with golden boy billy mitchell (has he done something in the last 20 years besides play donkey kong and pac-man, anyways?) to judge your tape fairly.

The movie was interesting in the sense that "oh, so that's how it happened", but I came out of it with great displeasure at how twin galaxies conducts itself and how the affair was executed.

I mentioned the King of Kong film to my mate Craig (the Jr Pac Man player in London) and he immediately mentioned that he'd kill screened Donkey Kong back when it came out. Without having seen the film or having access to the net, Craig told me he used to reach
So that's proof (having actually done its the only way he would know about the 4 second sudden death).

Billy Mitchell's 1982 score of something like 874,000 is supposed to have stood for 20+ years, but 874,000 is unlikely to be a kill screen score, as the kill screen scores from the KoK are 980,000 - 1,050,000. So, just for the record , Craig's 1980s kill screen score was most likely higher than Billy's.
Not that it matters.

Kill screen scores can vary a lot. It depends on how much you point press up to that point.

I saw this yesterday, and I agree that everybody should go see it if you have the chance. Bring your non-gamer friends, too... this movie is probably even more entertaining if you don't play video games. To me, it's kind of funny in the same way that Spellbound was funny.

For those who didn't notice, Billy claimed the high score once again after the film was released (by a mere 1,100 points... that's gotta hurt). Regardless, he seems like a pretty insecure guy. I'm not sure whether it's good or bad for the ego to have a bunch of groupies who are grown men.

I thought it was kind of weird how he wouldn't let Steve watch his tape. Aren't the top Japanese players pretty collaborative and have a lot of mutual respect for each other?

Considering they allow their plays to be released on video, I would say yes.

This movie was shown on Saturday night at 9:30pm, August 11th, 2007 -- the first day of the 2007 California Extreme retro arcade/pinball show... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Well - this doc's getting a June DVD release in the UK. I blagged an early copy and did really enjoy it. I think when it's authenticity/balance did come into slight question was at the point when they simultaneously realised they could play up the comedy side, and that they were there as the story was happening.

They obviously played up Billy Mitchell as some kind of oddball (which he really does seem) and Wiebe as a real wholesome good guy (which I also felt was true), but the doc didn't take itself too seriously as it developed so I felt it got away with a slight un-centered balance in favour of humour and a little drama.

They also got some magic moments, (like the TG founder whispering into Wiebe's ear about 'Mr Awesome' turning up, and the same guy doing his 'music'). Some of the talking heads were great too.

What really struck me is how much like an oddball cult Mitchell and his gang at TG are. Like that terrifying little self-proclaimed 'prodigy' slimeball and Mitchell's demeanor as some heaven-sent messiah. Creepy, but I loved watching it.

I particularly loved the guy who wore a glove and played marble madness with his feet. I'd be his friend!

Mainly though, it struck me how into 'America as the whole world' they were. too wondered what they'd make of Hey arcade, and if they'd ever seen a proper shmup. Are they right that Donkey Kong is 'the hardest game there possibly is'? Surely not? I admire TG's enthusiasm and dedication alot, but they seem pretty introverted.

Are they that respected by any of you?

There is a wonderfully insular Giga Wing thread over at the TG forums that you should read. They all just meander through games patting themselves on the back and awarding world records to each other.

Imagine this forum minus google, youtube, superplay, anyone who doesn't speak english as a first language, and your pretty close to what planet they are on.

freddie wrote;
^Spot on

spadgy wrote;
Indeed.
& did they really say that Donkey Kong is 'the hardest game there possibly is'? Like I mentioned earlier in this thread, my mate Craig kill screened it back when it was in the arcades. It was just another completion to him.

& Yes jpj he IS 40

TG sounds like eternal DDP High Score witch hunt 2008

As a result, I like to ignore them.

I thought the infamous tape and tweaked board allegations was decided by some people who had an idea about what was going on.

Personally it's still fishy - and if this business about "vetting" people is true, then, well, LOL.

That's not a verbatim quote, but yes, I'm certain that's what one of the younger players claimed.

Funnily enough DEL, I just got an email from the film's PR, saying they want to do a press screening of the documentary at Casino as they see it as the perfect venue(a friend of mine on a film mag who was getting called about the UK DVD release told him I go to Casino and gave him my details I think). I've tried explaining I don't professionally or officially represent the place, and that its a small working arcade. I think they're just going to phone Casino. I'm guessing they'll need some luck to make that happen! I'm not even sure if Casino are open to that kind of thing.

spadgy - They should definitely be up for that sort of thing Tell the PR guys to contact Mr John Sturges the owner.
It would be good advertising for him.
Could really boost his revenue long-term, and ensure that the games floor stays open.

Cool - I'll jump to it right now! Do you have any details for John?

spadgy - Details for John....No unfortunately. He pops in the arcade almost every night though, usually quite late. You'll have to ask Ash the smaller Indian guy for John's number, or simply talk to John. I'll have to help you out there.

Haha, I've owned the "WR" for the emulated version of Giga Wing at Twin Galaxies for almost a year with a piss-poor 28 trillion (I scored like 72 trillion during last years STGT and managed like a top 4 placing or something) throw-a-away run. It's still kind of sad that nobody has broken 15% of my score on that stupid site. Losers.

Ok Del,

I've told the film's PR and he's keen. Talking about renting a couple of DK machines to bring for a little face-off tourny with prizes. I'm down Casino tonight. Are you there at all?

Am I the only one who thinks the movie kinda drags on after a while? It was a rather interesting watch, but not up to date. Somewhere in 2007 Billy Mitchell set the latest record, which wasn't in the film.

spadgy wrote;
All of that would be a good idea
I'll get Craig to practice the DK in the multigame cab.

I'm down tomorrow night. I'll try and corner John Sturges.