Steve Wiebe takes back the Donkey Kong record!

[MikeyMerse]

http://kotaku.com/5642690/the-king-of-kong-once-again-the-king-of-kong



"The Donkey Kong high score record has been shattered three times this year with Steve Wiebe recapturing the title from his King of Kong rival Billy Mitchell.

Hank Chien took the title from Billy Mitchell this past March. Chien beat Mitchell's 3 year record.

Mitchell reclaimed his title in July with a score of 1,062,800. This month, Steve Wiebe beat Mitchell's score by hitting 1,064,500.

According to Twin Galaxies, Wiebe set the top Donkey Kong score record in spring 2007. His efforts were documented in the film The King of Kong."
-Courtesy of Kotaku

[KagatoAMV]

I should re-watch King of Kong tonight. 

[Havok]

And cue anti-Billy posts in 3..2..1..

[mytymaus007]

Stevie looks healthy must be all those arcade games   or just one

[RayB]

Stevie looks healthy must be all those arcade games   or just one

2007 pic

[MikeyMerse]

He says he is now focusing on Donkey Kong Junior.... and then after that, Popeye.  Popeye, really?

[OverRide]

And cue anti-Billy posts in 3..2..1..

I think Billy is a man amongst men. A true gentlemen! 

And he has great hair.

[shrunkenmaster]

Wiebe rules - again - I know who I'd rather have round my house!

[opt2not]

Wiebe rules - again - I know who I'd rather have round my house!

Heh, if I were to choose, I'd rather have Billy Mitchell around.
Wiebe seems to much of an introvert for my liking. Quiet, reserved.
I could see Mitchell being hilarious to talk to, the guy has tons of personality and would probably be full of interesting stories. He's probably a hoot at parties!

[Osirus23]

Not bad! 

[Ginsu Victim]

I love that no one is really posting a blow-out score. There's still room for more points (Billy proved it the time before last).

Time for Hank and Billy to bring it.

[nickynooch]

Get em Wiebe!  Great news!

[Malenko]

I'm pretty sure I'll never care about the high score, unless some hot asian chick does it.
Also, popeye sucks.

[JustMichael]

I have never understood what Popeye sees in that scrawny bow-legged Olive Oyl anyway...

[mytymaus007]

Thin is in  I luv olive

[javeryh]

I love that no one is really posting a blow-out score. There's still room for more points (Billy proved it the time before last).

Time for Hank and Billy to bring it.

I feel the same way.  It's like they are just going a little above what was done before to keep it interesting.  I wonder though, if they get like 1/2 way through and do the math in their heads and see if they have a chance or not.  I imagine that would be incredibly frustrating.

[RayB]

I have never understood what Popeye sees in that scrawny bow-legged Olive Oyl anyway...

So true. She's very flat chested.

As for all these DK scores recently being broken... I think maybe we are being primed for a sequel to the KoK ??

[Osirus23]

I think maybe we are being primed for a sequel to the KoK ??

I think a lot of people involved were unhappy with the result and may be less cooperative with a new film.

[opt2not]

I think maybe we are being primed for a sequel to the KoK ??

I think a lot of people involved were unhappy with the result and may be less cooperative with a new film.

It's too bad, I'd love to see them do another film, but this time reversing the protagonist/antagonist roles of those two. Wiebe as the "bad guy" would be awesome!

[shan1784]

Weibe as a bad guy??? Not sure they could pull that one off...

They were able to pull that off with Billy because, well, he's just naturally a schmuck... I know they can paint the picture however they want but let's face it, he makes it easy...

[opt2not]

They were able to pull that off with Billy because, well, he's just naturally a schmuck...

Uh oh, I'm feel some thread Déjà vu coming on...

That's a common misconception because of the movie.

I have not met the guy in person myself, but I have been told by those who have that he's actually a really nice guy.  In the movie he just played the persona of a ---meecrob---.
I'm sure Weibe can pull of the same thing, it's all just a big act to give the movie a point.

[isucamper]

what's with all the popeye hate?  i love that game

[WhereEaglesDare]

All this drama, its like 90210

[wp34]

Stevie looks healthy must be all those arcade games   or just one

Has he been sick or something?

[saint]

what's with all the popeye hate?  i love that game

 

[wp34]

what's with all the popeye hate?  i love that game

Adventureland in Altoona has a nice Popeye.  I played a few games this summer.

[Smeghead]

I love the DK but I get after 3 rounds I always quit

[versapak]

what's with all the popeye hate?  i love that game

 

2

[MikeyMerse]

They were able to pull that off with Billy because, well, he's just naturally a schmuck...

Uh oh, I'm feel some thread Déjà vu coming on...

That's a common misconception because of the movie.

I have not met the guy in person myself, but I have been told by those who have that he's actually a really nice guy.  In the movie he just played the persona of a ---meecrob---.
I'm sure Weibe can pull of the same thing, it's all just a big act to give the movie a point.

Gordon has claimed to have painted Billy Mitchell as a lighter character than his real life persona[22] concerning the movie. Gordon also claims that Billy Mitchell is "so much worse than we painted him out to be", but he chose to only include scenes that were necessary to tell the story, because the movie would have been "darker" had he not played with the facts.[22]

Wikipedia, courtesy of the original article posted here: http://www.411mania.com/games/columns/135856/Pixels-%5C%5Cn-Bits-04.14.10:-The-King-of-Kong.htm

Not saying he's an outright ass, but as that article says: Stories have a hero and a villain, and Billy just happens to match the latter perfectly.

[hockeyfreak186]

So randomly I decided to watch the king of kong again with my room mate.  He didnt think he would enjoy it but he did.  After the movie we went online to check the new high score since I know its changed hands a few times, only to see that Steve beat is on top again( ) and it happened only 2 days ago!  We got a pretty good kick outta that.

[Frigo]

Somewhere in a dark arcade corner Brian Kuh is fuming.

[shan1784]

Somewhere in a dark arcade corner Brian Kuh is fuming.

Lol!!! Ok, can we all agree that he is a ---meecrob---???

[bradx]

Weibe as a bad guy??? Not sure they could pull that one off...

They were able to pull that off with Billy because, well, he's just naturally a schmuck... I know they can paint the picture however they want but let's face it, he makes it easy...

wiebe got his board from and teamed up with his friend mr awesome to take down bill mitchell and twin galaxies, he admitted it during the movie.  wiebe neglected his children so he could compete on a video game score.  people say billy is a jerk for not dropping his family and life or dragging them halfway across the country to play a video game.  it seems to me that billy mitchell has his priorities more straight than wiebe, and his choice of friends in brian kuh is far less distasteful than wiebe and his buddy mr awesome...  billys gonna beat him soon, wait and see.

[shan1784]

Wow!!!! I think Billy himself just posted...

[ahofle]

I was thinking Brian Kuh. 

[saloonstudios]

  it seems to me that billy mitchell has his priorities more straight than wiebe,

Real or perceived, Billy is a verified jackass. If Steve is a bad parent, then so be it. They are both committed to Donkey Kong. Also, I went back and read all of your posts bradx, and why are you so angry at the world? Let's just play some games man-

[Ginsu Victim]

Real or perceived, Billy is a verified jackass.

Everything I've seen, from people I know that have met him, to interviews and videos online, indicates a really good guy who plays up the ego of the character that is "Billy Mitchell," rather than just being Bill Mitchell that most people know in day-to-day life. He has fun with it and it garners more attention than just being the sauce guy that can play DK really good.

I mean, if Hank Chien showed more personality, we'd hear more about him.

[saloonstudios]

Real or perceived, Billy is a verified jackass.

Everything I've seen, from people I know that have met him, to interviews and videos online, indicates a really good guy who plays up the ego of the character that is "Billy Mitchell," rather than just being Bill Mitchell that most people know in day-to-day life.

I've never met him so I have to take your word for it. If he's playing to the character, then that would fall under being a "perceived" jackass. Either way, these two guys are good for Donkey Kong because they seem to be so polarizing.

[Havok]

Real or perceived, Billy is a verified jackass.

Everything I've seen, from people I know that have met him, to interviews and videos online, indicates a really good guy who plays up the ego of the character that is "Billy Mitchell," rather than just being Bill Mitchell that most people know in day-to-day life. He has fun with it and it garners more attention than just being the sauce guy that can play DK really good.

I mean, if Hank Chien showed more personality, we'd hear more about him.

So what it boils down to is that Mitchell is a good guy, but an attention whore.

[Ginsu Victim]

So what it boils down to is that Mitchell is a good guy, but an attention whore.

Exactly.

[opt2not]

And cue anti-Billy posts in 3..2..1..

How about anti-Steve posts?

One thing that bothered me the most about the movie was the playing up of Weibe being the failure at life, the underdog. The unfortunate loser. "Oh poor me, I failed at everything I was passionate about, but yet I have a stable job, a house, a wife and child that loves me unconditionally,  (and now some minor fame) ...but they're nothing in comparison to my needs!".

I realize they need it for the story, but if people are upset about the perception of Michell being a cocky, arrogant, jackass...then how about the perception of a selfish, self-doubting, jackass that is ungrateful for all that he has?

If I were to choose between either of these movie personas, I'd go with Michell for sure. The guy clearly has leadership qualities, wit, and is confident in his abilities -- like a man should be...unlike the Wiebe persona who lacks any personality, playing the victim, and pushes that emo-pathetic-pity-me button.

Just saying, between the choice of a Lion and a Lamb, I'd go with the Lion.

Underdog stories are so overdone...they should just come out with another Mighty Ducks movie and be done with it!   

[BadMouth]

I'll have to watch the movie a second time, but I had a completely different take on it.

I viewed it as "normal guy with wife and kids invades geeks' territory and they feel threatened and freak out, then accept him in the end"

[saloonstudios]

Mitchell's so-called;

leadership qualities, wit, and is confident in his abilities -- like a man should be...

can be attributed to and described based on his behavior as being;

cocky, arrogant, jackass

Arrogance may lead to success but that doesn't make you a better "man."

[Ginsu Victim]

Arrogance may lead to success but that doesn't make you a better "man."

It's an act. He's playing a character.

[opt2not]

Notice I used the words "movie persona".
Movie character would have worked too...

[saloonstudios]

Absolutely, but if you're agreeing he's playing a character or persona, is he really a lion? Is Steve really a lamb?

I don't care either way. In fact I think it's awesome that we can debate over two personalities of people that we've never met. (if you have I apologize)

[saloonstudios]

Nevermind, I think I see what you're trying to say. And for the sake of arguments, there cannot be lions without lambs.  So I guess all I'm really saying is I'm glad there is a Billy for a Steve.

[opt2not]

Nevermind, I think I see what you're trying to say. And for the sake of arguments, there cannot be lions without lambs.  So I guess all I'm really saying is I'm glad there is a Billy for a Steve.

Amen brother!

[urbecrisch]

Who cares about Wiebe and Mitchell!  Give me more of theses two boneheads!  LMFAO!

[DaveMMR]

And cue anti-Billy posts in 3..2..1..

but yet I have a stable job, a house, a wife and child that loves me unconditionally,  (and now some minor fame) ...but they're nothing in comparison to my needs!".[/i]

Well I can't prove the accuracy behind it, but didn't Steve say that he was laid off from his job a millisecond after closing on his house in the movie?  As a matter of fact, the reason he began playing DK was because he had a lot of sudden free time. 

I was on the anti-Billy bandwagon back before the movie when he got the perfect score in Pacman.  I was reading an interview online and I remember thinking this guy was incredibly arrogant.   Yes it was quite the accomplishment and it was ridiculously cool, but I remember thinking to myself that someone needed to tell him that he had not found the cure for cancer and was just really, really good at a video game.   I had no trouble believing the persona he presented in the film was fairly accurate. 

Who knows if Steve Wiebe is secretly a jerk behind the scenes.  Whatever, he has a better PR guy then.

[RayB]

I'll have to watch the movie a second time, but I had a completely different take on it.

I viewed it as "normal guy with wife and kids invades geeks' territory and they feel threatened and freak out, then accept him in the end"

Oh come on. They showed him crying at some point, and it wasnt over anything significant like the death of a family member. Made him come off like a sad little marshmallow.

[Gray_Area]

I'll have to watch the movie a second time, but I had a completely different take on it.

I viewed it as "normal guy with wife and kids invades geeks' territory and they feel threatened and freak out, then accept him in the end"

Oh come on. They showed him crying at some point, and it wasnt over anything significant like the death of a family member. Made him come off like a sad little marshmallow.

I think you're forgetting Walter Day's opening words in King of Kong. Forgetting the reason TG exists.

[DrFrag]

So does Donkey Kong have a score ceiling?  Is there "The Perfect Game"?

[Frigo]

So does Donkey Kong have a score ceiling?  Is there "The Perfect Game"?

There's probably an upper threshold for the highest possible score; mathematically speaking, of course. However, due to the randomness of the game engine, I doubt there's any single score someone can attempt to achieve at any given time.

[Lilwolf]

btw, Steve's score didn't count!  He never posted on High Score Competition #50!  (check http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=105183.0)

And I like Steve.  Freakn amazing wife to let him get to that point.  At least Mitchel can say he has a business reason to play that much.  But Steve has kids, job... then comes home and plays enough video games to get world records.  Heck, my wife gets made if I play for more then 10 minutes!

[EvilNuff]

...At least Mitchel can say he has a business reason to play that much.  But Steve has kids, job... then comes home and plays enough video games to get world records.  Heck, my wife gets made if I play for more then 10 minutes!

Come on now, every family works their time allocations out for themselves.  Maybe he has a deal with his wife that he gets 'game night' 2x a week or maybe he plays after the kids are in bed, etc.  My wife is a flight attendant and I can game all that I want when she's out of town.  That doesn't make me a bad person.