You may remember Walter Day from the movie King of Kong. Day opened an arcade in 1981 in Ottumwa, Iowa called Twin Galaxies. Day later became the rule setter for gameplay on hundreds of games. Twin Galaxies is considered the first organizer of professional gaming and has the largest database of competitive high scores.

When Walter caught wind of Steve Wiebe’s planned record breaking attempt of the Donkey Kong high score at Twiistup, he reached out to us immediately. As it turns out a new Donkey Kong high score will only be an official score if a high ranking Twin Galaxies referee is present and we’re using a certified board. We’ve booked his flight and he’ll be joining us at Twiistup 4.

There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding the circumstances by which someone can attain a high score as documented in the popular documentary. Video taped score achievements, mystery substances found on boards and of course, Billy Mitchell have all contributed to this compelling saga. All that said, we’re going to make sure there’s a legitimate environment for Steve to get his game on. We’re also very excited to have Walter Day and Twin Galaxies represented as they’re part of gaming history no matter how you see it.

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, you really should before Twiistup 4.

In 2007, Steve Wiebe’s quest to take the world high score from then Donkey Kong champion Billy Mitchell was documented in the film ‘The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters’. This time, Wiebe will compete for the highest score of record at the Twiistup 4 arcade, giving attendees the chance to put their video game skills to the test, as well as learn more about the ups and downs of Wiebe’s world record holder mission.

We are ecstatic to welcome our guest of honor Steve Wiebe. His journey to conquer a seemingly impossible goal is an inspiration to us all. Many parallels can be drawn from his attitude, perseverance and heart to the start-ups that attend Twiistup. These individuals continue to tackle their challenges head on as they aim to embark toward successful futures in an increasingly competitive environment.

“I am thrilled to take part in such an exciting event like Twiistup,” said arcade king Steve Wiebe. “Not only does this give me an opportunity to break the Donkey Kong top score, but I also get the chance to meet some of the brightest and innovative minds in Southern California.”

The Bristol Room inside the Viceroy Hotel will be transformed into an 80s arcade, complete with games such as Donkey Kong, Ms. Pacman, Centipede and Space Invaders. GirlGamer, a community, digital magazine and video game review Web site focused on serving the female gaming demographic, is sponsoring the arcade. GirlGamer provides a space for female gamers to contribute, interact and connect with each other.

“Everyone at GirlGamer is excited about the GirlGamer Arcade at Twiistup. It’s a great opportunity at a great event. This year is going to be legendary, especially with Steve Wiebe from King of Kong joining us. We hope you all enjoy it and look forward to seeing you there!” – Alexandra Mokh, Co-Founder, GirlGamer.com