Billy Mitchell Regains Donkey Kong And Donkey Kong Jr World Records

Disclaimer: Because we're a movie blog, news from other mediums (like video games) sometimes take longer to get to us. So please excuse us if you already read about this on a video game website or blog. And I figure if I somehow missed this news, some of you might have as well.

Many of you probably have seen the 2007 documentary The King of Kong (and if you haven't, Netflix it now!). The movie follows the battle between Steve Wiebe and noted Donkey Kong/vintage video game champion Billy Mitchell, over the world record for Donkey Kong. Since the release of the film, it has been fun tracking the back and fourth battle between Wiebe and Mitchell for the world record (we've even covered it on the site in the past). But in March of this year, Queens plastic surgeon Hank S Chien beat Mitchell to become the Donkey Kong champion. I was left disappointed. If some random guy can beat Billy and Steve, then it's no longer as interesting...

Cut to: August 7th 2010....

On the day he was to be inducted into the inaugural class of the International Video Game Hall of Fame, Billy Mitchell once again became the world record holder in Donkey Kong. Mitchell scored 1,062,800, 1,100 points more than Chien's record score, before he reportedly quit his Donkey Kong game (still in progress). Asked why, Mitchell said: "Some say I'm being cocky. Some say I'm being lazy. I say, I'm being Billy Mitchell." But that's not all — in the spur of the moment, Mitchell decided to go after the Donkey Kong Jr. record as well:

"I remember a lot of celebration; hugs, kisses and a lot of hooting and hollering," Mitchell said. "Once that died down, stood there looking at Donkey Kong Jr. and thought 'there's one more thing I have to take care of'."

Mitchell went on to score 1,270,900 to also take the Donkey Kong Jr. crown. The scores were certified by Twin Galaxies at Boomers-Grand Prix Arcade in Dania, Florida.  Mitchell's time on Donkey Kong was two hours, 42 minutes; on Donkey Kong, Jr. it was three hours, 58 minutes. Steve Wiebe was also inducted into the hall of fame as well.

via: Gamesradar / Twin Galaxies