A brief note to update the state of play in Pengo-land.
I’ve only been moderately active since my last post but have managed to rack up another couple of million point games.
The first was on 7 June, with a solid 1,157,930. It wasn’t anything particularly spectacular - just a good, honest, million-pointer. The second - a very handy 1,358,180 - came five days later in much more rewarding circumstances. As I was going through, I was contemplating another fairly average 700-800,000 point game, and then a disappointing 900K score when I was left with only one man in the early 900’s. But the little fella threw caution to the wind and went on a rampage, marching through a couple more sets until being eaten just 7,000 points short of a top five score.
Another highlight was on 17 June when I equalled my all-time fastest Act clearance record of 11 seconds. It happened in Act 6 the second time around, in a game where I ended up with a frustrating 921,000. I actually think I prefer dying at 300K or 400K than in the 900,000’s, knowing how close I am to the magic million mark. But such is Pengo-life.
Overall, my top five scores remain unchanged:
1. 1,884,380 - 21 February 2015
2. 1,548,250 - 6 December 2014
3. 1,452,130 - 31 July 2014
4. 1,421,010 - 8 May 2015
5. 1,365,400 - 22 January 2015
• Fastest Act clearance - 11 seconds
• Fastest Act clearance with 10,000 bonus - 23 seconds
• Highest score after first 16 Acts - 221,880
• Total scores over 1,000,000 - 27
• Total scores in excess of current official world record - 10
The top 5 official Twin Galaxies high scores remain as follows:
1. 1,217,650 - Paul Hornitzky, 9 September 2012
2. 1,110,370 - Rodney Day, 13 August 1983
3. 809,990 - Kevin Leisner, 25 February 1983
4. 723,950 - Frank Lupia, 20 September 2008
5. 694,030 - Paul Elia, 31 March 1983
On that, I’ve noticed that the Twin Galaxies website, which has improved exponentially since I first started this quest, now has a simple search function for each name in the high scores list for each game. For the Pengo top five list, it reveals that the champ, Paul Hornitzky, currently holds the official world best scores in an astonishing 19 games other than Pengo and is the second best in yet another game. While I don’t think I’ve heard of any of those various games, his credentials as a truly top class gamer cannot be denied. What a man!
The other all-rounder on our list is Frank Lupia who has been moonlighting on another game I’ve never heard of, called “Quick & Crash”. Frank holds the second best score on that game, which I’m sure is lots of fun.
Good job gents!
Thursday 18 June 2015
Tuesday 2 June 2015
Frank speaks
After the transcribed interview with former world champ Aussie Rod Day a couple of posts back, I thought I’d treat you all to another interview I’ve come across with another of Pengo’s heavy-hitters - Mr Frank Lupia.
Frank’s high score of 723,950, officially now the world’s fourth best (and the third best at the time), was achieved on 20 September 2008. Almost exactly two years before that, on 24 September 2006, he was interviewed by someone from the Classic Arcade Gaming website at a video gaming event somewhere on the United States east coast. They describe it thus:
This interview is with the ultimate winner of the East Coast Arcade Championships event - Frank Lupia. He talks about Pengo, his favorite title, plus his preference for the classics. Also, he gives a great demonstration of how to play Pengo. At the time of the interview, Frank was in 3rd place, but managed to raise that to first by the end of the event.
And here’s the transcript …
Interviewer - We’re here at Challenge Arcade in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, with Frank Lupia, a local player who comes here very, very often. Is that correct Frank?
Frank Lupia - [Nods]
Int - Ah, Frank has a lot of fame on a number of games but I guess the top game for Frank is - and it’s right in the arcade there - ah, Pengo! Now that game was featured not only this weekend in the East Coast Arcade Championships, which is the long weekend of September 21st through 24, 2006, but it was also featured in my contest - Classic Arcade Gaming Dot Com Tournament - in March of 2006. Frank has, ah, led in that contest and in this contest. Ah, do you remember what your current score is in this current contest Frank?
FL - I beat 719,000 and change
Int - Now, what is your all-time score, approximately, on the game?
FL - Unofficially, 892,000
Int - What about unofficially?
FL - Unofficially, it was 892, yeah.
Int - Oh, I thought you were alluding that you had more unofficially. I got ya.
FL - No, no, 892 is my best.
Int - But, hey, both of those scores I believe are in second or third which shows the level that Frank’s at on the game which is just, ah, spectacular. He can play and play for over an hour - correct me if I’m wrong?
FL - In a good enough game, yeah.
Int - Awesome, awesome. Now, ah, I just told Frank that he’s ranked third in this contest but the top three is separated by less than 2% out of 100% which is a very tight grouping. Ahm, what do you think you’re gonna do and work on in this contest to try to get first place Frank?
FL - Well I guess best thing to do is shooter games [inaudible] I’m more in terms of, ah, better at the classics so I’m going to have to improve upon the shooter game.
Int - So the modern shooter games are giving you more trouble because you don’t practice as much and you, ah, perhaps have more trouble with modern games? Is that true? Don’t let me put words in your mouth.
FL- Right, right. Well I was always more a fan of the classics.
Int - Right, right.
FL - Newer games are, modern are great, but I was always more a fan of the classics.
Int - Right, well, you probably like a lot of people appreciate the good gameplay and the less violence. Is that true?
FL - Yeah, exactly
Int - So modern, modern ones tend to have a little more violence and maybe a little less substance? But let’s be honest, there’s groups that both sets of games appeal to, ah, differently, so that’s how it is.
FL - Right
Int - You get different personalities with different games.
FL - Oh sure. Modern games are great. Modern games are great. Great graphics. Good gameplay. But again, I’m just more a fan of the classics.
Int - Right, exactly. Speaking of which, can I film you for a few seconds playing your favourite - Pengo - over here?
FL - Sure, let’s go.
Int - OK, lead the way.
FL - The only thing with Pengo is, a lot of people think, a lot of people think with the classics there’s a set pattern. Pengo, really, there’s no set pattern to it. There’s a few things you can do the same way. Otherwise, really you’re on your own and it takes a lot of practice to get good.
Int - And that takes skill, which is excellent.
FL - Right. This is why this is one of the better classics. This, along with Mr Do, has always been one of the more, more challenging, and I will say, frustrating, games.
Int - Right, but frustrating in a fun way, right?
FL - You got that right. You got that right.
Int - OK. Let’s see you play, my friend.
FL - The key is to try and get the diamond blocks together to get a lot of points.
Int - Right. And remember if you push those three diamond blocks together, you get 5,000 and of course on the way you hopefully are able to pick up points by crushing the sno-bees which are those green things on the screen right now.
FL - Right.
Int - Awesome.
FL - Getting the diamond blocks together gives me 10,000 points.
Int - Oh, is it 10,000? Oh, I thought it was 5. Wow!
FL - Yeah, it’s 5,000 if the blocks are attached to the wall.
Int - Oh. 10 if they’re off the wall, I understand. Awesome. You just taught me a trick. [FL finishes Act 1, after getting the 10,000 bonus] Awesome. Well, thanks for the lesson, Frank.
FL - Sure
Int - And ah, keep, ah, keep doing your best in the contest.
As a footnote, from flicking through the web, it seems that the Challenge Arcade closed down sometime in 2010. Pity.
If you want to watch the interview, some of the audio of Frank speaking is not great and the interviewer does a bit too much of the talking, but it’s good to put a face to a name and actually see the guy in action. The link is here - http://www.classicarcadegaming.com/media/ECAC_-_Frank_Lupia_interview.htm
As for my own scoring, there’s been a couple of recent developments of note.
First, another two 1-million point games to add to the list. The first was on 15 May, with a reasonably solid 1,131,740, and the second on 28 May with a useful 1,194,580. That becomes my 10th best score and my 25th million+ score since embarking on this journey.
Second, the 28 May game also saw me equalling my record for the fastest clearance while achieving the 10,000 bonus. It came during Act 1 (the third or fourth time around, can’t remember), with a sizzling 23 seconds. It actually felt a little faster than that and I don’t know how I could have done it any more efficiently, so maybe 23 seconds is the fastest time actually possible. We’ll see.
And before I go, a shameless plug for my new blog - BQ Quest - which you’re welcome to check out if you need a break from destroying all those sno-bees and ice-blocks. As well as being a moderately successful Pengo player, and the compiler of a reasonable collection of ‘do-not-disturb’ signs, I also enjoy the challenge of distance running. So I’ve set myself a goal of trying to qualify to run the Boston marathon. This is known in the trade as getting a ‘BQ’ - a Boston Qualifier. A BQ is the holy grail for those like me who, despite our best intentions, were invariably hopeless at athletic pursuits in our younger days but who’ve decided to give running a crack as we’ve aged. It’s going to be extraordinarily difficult and will take a few years, so I thought it’s a perfect subject for a blog. The public accountability associated with this Pengo quest of mine seemed to work (albeit I still need to make my performances official one day), so let’s see how it goes over there.
Just google ‘BQ Quest’ and ‘blogspot’ if you’re interested.
Frank’s high score of 723,950, officially now the world’s fourth best (and the third best at the time), was achieved on 20 September 2008. Almost exactly two years before that, on 24 September 2006, he was interviewed by someone from the Classic Arcade Gaming website at a video gaming event somewhere on the United States east coast. They describe it thus:
This interview is with the ultimate winner of the East Coast Arcade Championships event - Frank Lupia. He talks about Pengo, his favorite title, plus his preference for the classics. Also, he gives a great demonstration of how to play Pengo. At the time of the interview, Frank was in 3rd place, but managed to raise that to first by the end of the event.
And here’s the transcript …
Interviewer - We’re here at Challenge Arcade in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, with Frank Lupia, a local player who comes here very, very often. Is that correct Frank?
Frank Lupia - [Nods]
Int - Ah, Frank has a lot of fame on a number of games but I guess the top game for Frank is - and it’s right in the arcade there - ah, Pengo! Now that game was featured not only this weekend in the East Coast Arcade Championships, which is the long weekend of September 21st through 24, 2006, but it was also featured in my contest - Classic Arcade Gaming Dot Com Tournament - in March of 2006. Frank has, ah, led in that contest and in this contest. Ah, do you remember what your current score is in this current contest Frank?
FL - I beat 719,000 and change
Int - Now, what is your all-time score, approximately, on the game?
FL - Unofficially, 892,000
Int - What about unofficially?
FL - Unofficially, it was 892, yeah.
Int - Oh, I thought you were alluding that you had more unofficially. I got ya.
FL - No, no, 892 is my best.
Int - But, hey, both of those scores I believe are in second or third which shows the level that Frank’s at on the game which is just, ah, spectacular. He can play and play for over an hour - correct me if I’m wrong?
FL - In a good enough game, yeah.
Int - Awesome, awesome. Now, ah, I just told Frank that he’s ranked third in this contest but the top three is separated by less than 2% out of 100% which is a very tight grouping. Ahm, what do you think you’re gonna do and work on in this contest to try to get first place Frank?
FL - Well I guess best thing to do is shooter games [inaudible] I’m more in terms of, ah, better at the classics so I’m going to have to improve upon the shooter game.
Int - So the modern shooter games are giving you more trouble because you don’t practice as much and you, ah, perhaps have more trouble with modern games? Is that true? Don’t let me put words in your mouth.
FL- Right, right. Well I was always more a fan of the classics.
Int - Right, right.
FL - Newer games are, modern are great, but I was always more a fan of the classics.
Int - Right, well, you probably like a lot of people appreciate the good gameplay and the less violence. Is that true?
FL - Yeah, exactly
Int - So modern, modern ones tend to have a little more violence and maybe a little less substance? But let’s be honest, there’s groups that both sets of games appeal to, ah, differently, so that’s how it is.
FL - Right
Int - You get different personalities with different games.
FL - Oh sure. Modern games are great. Modern games are great. Great graphics. Good gameplay. But again, I’m just more a fan of the classics.
Int - Right, exactly. Speaking of which, can I film you for a few seconds playing your favourite - Pengo - over here?
FL - Sure, let’s go.
Int - OK, lead the way.
FL - The only thing with Pengo is, a lot of people think, a lot of people think with the classics there’s a set pattern. Pengo, really, there’s no set pattern to it. There’s a few things you can do the same way. Otherwise, really you’re on your own and it takes a lot of practice to get good.
Int - And that takes skill, which is excellent.
FL - Right. This is why this is one of the better classics. This, along with Mr Do, has always been one of the more, more challenging, and I will say, frustrating, games.
Int - Right, but frustrating in a fun way, right?
FL - You got that right. You got that right.
Int - OK. Let’s see you play, my friend.
FL - The key is to try and get the diamond blocks together to get a lot of points.
Int - Right. And remember if you push those three diamond blocks together, you get 5,000 and of course on the way you hopefully are able to pick up points by crushing the sno-bees which are those green things on the screen right now.
FL - Right.
Int - Awesome.
FL - Getting the diamond blocks together gives me 10,000 points.
Int - Oh, is it 10,000? Oh, I thought it was 5. Wow!
FL - Yeah, it’s 5,000 if the blocks are attached to the wall.
Int - Oh. 10 if they’re off the wall, I understand. Awesome. You just taught me a trick. [FL finishes Act 1, after getting the 10,000 bonus] Awesome. Well, thanks for the lesson, Frank.
FL - Sure
Int - And ah, keep, ah, keep doing your best in the contest.
As a footnote, from flicking through the web, it seems that the Challenge Arcade closed down sometime in 2010. Pity.
If you want to watch the interview, some of the audio of Frank speaking is not great and the interviewer does a bit too much of the talking, but it’s good to put a face to a name and actually see the guy in action. The link is here - http://www.classicarcadegaming.com/media/ECAC_-_Frank_Lupia_interview.htm
As for my own scoring, there’s been a couple of recent developments of note.
First, another two 1-million point games to add to the list. The first was on 15 May, with a reasonably solid 1,131,740, and the second on 28 May with a useful 1,194,580. That becomes my 10th best score and my 25th million+ score since embarking on this journey.
Second, the 28 May game also saw me equalling my record for the fastest clearance while achieving the 10,000 bonus. It came during Act 1 (the third or fourth time around, can’t remember), with a sizzling 23 seconds. It actually felt a little faster than that and I don’t know how I could have done it any more efficiently, so maybe 23 seconds is the fastest time actually possible. We’ll see.
And before I go, a shameless plug for my new blog - BQ Quest - which you’re welcome to check out if you need a break from destroying all those sno-bees and ice-blocks. As well as being a moderately successful Pengo player, and the compiler of a reasonable collection of ‘do-not-disturb’ signs, I also enjoy the challenge of distance running. So I’ve set myself a goal of trying to qualify to run the Boston marathon. This is known in the trade as getting a ‘BQ’ - a Boston Qualifier. A BQ is the holy grail for those like me who, despite our best intentions, were invariably hopeless at athletic pursuits in our younger days but who’ve decided to give running a crack as we’ve aged. It’s going to be extraordinarily difficult and will take a few years, so I thought it’s a perfect subject for a blog. The public accountability associated with this Pengo quest of mine seemed to work (albeit I still need to make my performances official one day), so let’s see how it goes over there.
Just google ‘BQ Quest’ and ‘blogspot’ if you’re interested.
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