It’s Retro Wednesday, and like we always do on Retro Wednesday*, we’re getting retro. Today, getting retro is all about John McCallister, a locksmith from Seattle, who’s just cracked a 28-year old world high score in Asteroids. Yeah, so apparently people are still playing that or something.
For those whippersnappers in short pants out there who don’t remember Asteroids, it’s sort of like a lo-fi Geometry Wars, but presented in 1979’s state-of-the-art black and white vectors. I’d say I remember it being all state-of-the-art for some old skool credibility, of course, but I’d only undermine my carefully constructed image of being a whippersnapper in short pants.
Way back forever ago in 1982, Scott Safran of New Jersey set the until now unbroken Asteroids world high score of 41336440. He trained up for two years, and the record setter took him almost 20 hours to get over at his local 7-Eleven. He died tragically in 1989, but at least everyone would remember him for his obviously unbeatable high score, right? Besides, everyone was playing Double Dragon by then.
Everyone except John McCallister, maybe. That high score and Bestest Asteroids Player Ever title haunted his every waking moment. “It’s basically considered a Holy Grail” he told a local news crew at the record breaking event. “It was a title that a lot of people would want, and I wanted it.” And McAllister wanted it so much, he played a straight 58 hours (58 hours!) on a single quarter to get it, with a final score of 41338740. I think that deserves a golf clap.
A video of the session has been submitted to official game high score people, Twin Galaxies, for verification.
No confirmation yet on a triumphant teabagging of Safran’s grave.
* Starting today, anyway.
