Although the phrase “it’s on like Tron” might sound snappier, there is only one universally accepted way to truly get it on. And that’s like you-know-who.
Ah, Donkey Kong. Mario’s girl-crazy antagonist, who has been slinging barrels and draining allowances since 1981, is leading a classic-gaming renaissance, notably assisted by the 2007 documentary “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.”
Friday through Sunday, the planet’s greatest Donkey Kong players will converge at the 1Up barcade in LoDo for the Kong Off 2 to crown this year’s world champion. Competitors include “King of Kong” stars Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell as well as last year’s winner Hank “Dr. Kong” Chien — not to mention rivals from Australia, London and Canada.
“It’s the largest classic-arcade competition of the year,” says 1Up owner Jourdan Adler. “It’s going to set a benchmark, moving forward, of what can still be done with the roots of gaming.”
Twelve of the event’s 16 Kong machines are dedicated to players with verified scores of at least 1 million points. For $30, anyone can enlist as a wildcard challenger, taking turns on one of the other four machines.
But casual gamers beware.
“Three or four of the wildcard players have scores of 950,000 or higher, but just missed the million-point mark,” says Adler. “So it’s going to be an unbelievable weekend of gaming.”
In addition to a $2,000 Donkey Kong purse, the event offers $250 world-record bounties to anyone who breaks a currently qualified world record on one of the venue’s other games.
Confirmed bounty contenders include a roster of gaming’s most elite: George Leutz for QBert, Pat Laffaye for Frogger, William Carlton for Missile Command, Paul Dean for Spy Hunter, Donald Hayes for Dig Dug, Ben Gold for Millipede and George Riley for Donkey Kong Jr. and Donkey Kong 3.
“It’s pretty insane that this group of gamers is coming together for one weekend,” says Adler.
But the Kong Off 2 isn’t just a sequel. In fact, it represents a whole new beginning.
Earlier this year, Adler — along with 1Up’s Jon Jamshid and New Jersey’s “King of Arcades” Richie Knucklez — purchased Twin Galaxies, the world’s foremost authority on video-game high scores, and the official supplier of verified records to the Guinness Book of World Records. The organization now calls Colorado home.
“Denver is going to be the gaming epicenter of the world,” says Adler.
“The Kong Off 2 is just the tip of the iceberg,” says Twin Galaxies founder and gaming icon Walter Day. “It is merely the beginning of a new age of great, old games having their chance for a world championship, and crowning a world champion.”
As Adler’s new partner, Knucklez has dedicated himself to old arcade games. He owned an eponymous arcade in his hometown of Flemington, N.J., is currently wrapping up production on his own documentary, “The King of Arcades,” and is the founder of the original Kong Off. He also holds the standing world record for Space Invaders.
“I almost tripled the world record from the ’80s, and I’m still on top. If anybody touches it, I can go further. I quit where I quit just because I was tired,” says Knucklez.
Adler and Knucklez met thanks to the “King of Kong” himself, Steve Wiebe, following an event at the 1Up last August.
“Steve and I were at a Rockies game together, and he said I had to meet this guy Richie Knucklez, who just had an event called the Kong Off,” says Adler.
After a few e-mails and phone conversations, Adler eventually flew Knucklez and his wife to Denver to get a first-hand look at the subterranean barcade and discuss the future of the Kong Off.
According to Adler, “It was a bromance at first sight.”
“It felt like family the first time we met,” agrees Knucklez. “I cannot say enough about Jourdan, his family and the whole 1Up team. Everywhere I go, I wear the 1Up hat and the 1Up jacket. I fly the 1Up colors like it was my own company.”
Since closing his New Jersey arcade, Knucklez has immersed himself in Twin Galaxies and the upcoming film, “The King of Arcades,” which highlights his rise and fall and rise again as a leading figure in the global gaming community. Along with crowning a champ, the Kong Off will serve as the film’s grand finale, as Knucklez announces the future of Twin Galaxies and its commitment to live competitions.
Walter Day explains the importance of live competitive championships: “You could have someone sitting in their living room playing a game 500 times before sending in their best record. That’s completely different from performing under pressure in a head-to-head competition, with a limited amount of time, in a room full of people. You really have to prove yourself.”
But more than fostering rivalries, live competitions forge a sense of community; which is why Saturday and Sunday are all about scores, but Friday is reserved for getting friendly.
“We decided Friday was just going to be about having fun and building a spirit of camaraderie. That’s what’s first and foremost,” says Knucklez. “Look, it’s just a video game. Everybody’s going to shake hands and have a blast and drink together and party together, and then Saturday the gloves come off.”
KONG OFF 2. The Donkey Kong world championship descends on the 1Up, 1925 Blake St., at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with an informal meet and greet on Friday. The event is all ages on Saturday and Sunday and free to the public on a one-in-one-out basis when at capacity. $45 VIP wristbands (available at thekongoff.eventbrite.com) guarantee access throughout the weekend. the-1up.com/kongoff
