Last week, Billy Mitchell, a controversial arcade player and subject of the documentary The King of Kong, had his record scores removed by Twin Galaxies, an American organization that tracks video game world records. Yesterday evening, Billy Mitchell has released an official statement to his Twin Galaxies disqualification, as well as his removal from the Guinness World Records
The dispute started earlier this year when a member of the Twin Galaxies forum claimed that Billy Mitchell used an emulator to record his scores instead of an arcade cabinet, as the Twin Galaxies rules require. This controversy culminated with Billy Mitchell’s scores for Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Pac-Man being removed from Twin Galaxies and the Guinness World Records.
In his official response, Billy Mitchell is at the Midwest Gaming Classic, where he speaks to Old School Gamer Magazine:
“I’ve been asked to address things that are recently in the media. The fact of the matter is, now there’s a true professional due diligence being done to investigate things that happened as far as 35 years ago. In a professional manner, not in a shock-jock mentality designed to create hits. We will show that everything that has been done, everything was done professionally.
According to the rules, according to the scoreboard, the integrity that was set up. Not 2014-forward by the current regime, who wants to reach back 35 years. Everything will be transparent. Everything will be available.
I wish I had it in my hands right now, I wish I could hand it to you. But it’s taken a considerable amount of time. Witnesses, documents, everything will be made available to you. Nothing will be withheld. You absolutely have my commitment to that. We’ve been at this since 1982, and it’s not gonna stop now.”
Billy Mitchell’s response video currently has 253 likes and about 1300 dislikes. More on the story as it develops.
Disclaimer: Billy Mitchell is on the advisory board for Old School Gamer Magazine.