Just counting down the days now until I take on the Pengo machine at Chicago’s Galloping Ghost arcade. And, hopefully, I can do so with some good form under the belt. In that regard, February saw some quite heavy scoring, culminating in a new 2nd best all-time score of 1,888,030 among a total now of 59 million point games.
The month started very well with a 1,491,770 achieved on 7 February 2016. It was my (then) new 5th highest score. I had a solid opening few Acts but overall it was nothing spectacular. After losing two men in one frame, the last man battled for well over 600,000 points. I was just hoping to get another 140,000 or so to get the million so the additional score was a big bonus. I eventually died on Act 3 after a simple error at the end of a long period of mistake-free play.
Three days later, in an otherwise forgettable 826,000 game, I completed an Act 7 in a record-equalling 11 seconds. In the game itself, I had too many early losses to expect the last man to convert it into a million point game, albeit he did try valiantly.
Then, on 12 February, I scored a sold 1,115,000, where I died on Act 9 after a long session with the final two men. It was another case of a poor start followed by exceptional performances from the one or two remaining Pengos to take it past the milestone.
A week later, on 19 February, came the new second best score - 1,888,030. I ended up dying on Act 13 after a tremendous start, especially when compared with the past few weeks. I lost my third man just before passing the million point mark and the absence of silly errors gave me a feeling that this was going to be a very special game. I started recording just after I passed the million, where I’d completed Act 16 again. At the time, I was 3 men down and the score was on 1,058,460.
I survived the next 16 Acts without loss with the score on 1,229,020 (170,560 in the previous 16 Acts). After the next 16 Acts, I’d lost my fourth player, but had racked up a score of 1,409,220 (180,200 in the previous 16 Acts). By the time I’d completed the next 16 Acts, I was down to one player, with the score on 1,598,600 (189,380). And my palms were getting decidedly sweaty deep into the third hour of play.
The next 16 Acts went clear and I was left with a score of 1,749,560 (150,960) - and a feeling of great expectation as the two million point summit came into view. But that was the last time I was to see Act 16. I died on Act 13 the next time around with the score just shy of 1.9 million. Just think. If I’d cleared Act 13 and those next three Acts, I would definitely have had a clear shot at the 2 million. Nonetheless, it was a very good game. I was especially pleased at myself for minimising silly errors and maintaining a consistently high scoring average. I think I was simply outsmarted on most, if not all, of my deaths - so fair play machine!
And then on 21 February the heavy scoring continued with 1,527,780. It was another solid start with another outstanding contribution from the final two men. I never expected to end up with such a huge score, but I’ll certainly take it.
Things have been somewhat lean in the time since then, with less opportunity to play. But I expect to get some quality game time in over the next couple weeks before I fly out to try my luck in the windy city.
With all this, my scoring record now stands as follows:
Top 5 scores:
1. 1,905,430 - 17 August 2015
2. 1,888,030 - 19 February 2016
3. 1,884,380 - 21 February 2015
4. 1,785,850 - 29 July 2015
5. 1,548,250 - 6 December 2014
Other records/milestones:
• Fastest Act clearance - 11 seconds
• Fastest Act clearance with 10,000 bonus - 23 seconds
• Highest score after first 16 Acts - 228,840
• Total scores over 1,000,000 - 59
• Total scores in excess of current official world record (1,217,650) - 26
