Game changer

Those of you who have been paying attention will recall that back in June, I wrote:

… I am quietly confident of soon eclipsing Mr Hornitsky’s 1,217,650 world mark (the first anniversary of which is coming up). That is, as soon as (a) I can get a bit more time to focus on it, and (b) I get my hands on a machine that has the regulation six Pengos, not the four I’ve been confined to on the museum’s machine since this quest began a few short months ago.

And on both those fronts, dear reader, I expect to be able to report to you some very good news in the very near future.

Well, dear reader, “the very near future” has finally arrived.

First, I have just started a period of leave from my job - 12 months to be exact. I’ve been heavily engaged in a senior position in a government agency over the past few years and the opportunities for taking time off have been severely limited. As circumstances have unfolded, that opportunity has now presented itself. So while I have no designs on becoming a full-time gamer, I will have much more time available to devote to this little quest of mine.

Second, I have today taken delivery of my very own table-top Pengo machine. It’s actually a multi-game machine with all the old arcade games loaded up - except, sadly, Moon Patrol. But my one and only requirement was that it meet the specifications that Twin Galaxies mandates before it will certify high scores for Pengo. I am assured it does. It’s also the first time I’ve ever played with six Pengos. All my games to date have only had four - three to start with and a fourth after 30,000 points.

Exciting times indeed.

I will report shortly on my first experiences with the new machine.