Is the individual bigger than the Donkey Kong hobby?

[homerwannabee]

A thought occurred to me.  We have some pretty famous people in this hobby.  Billy Mitchell, and Steve Wiebe have had millions see their movie as it has been on cable a few times.  Hank Chien, Dean Saglio, Robby Lakeman, and now Wes Copeland have received national attention.  But having said that this game is actively played by less than 250 people at any given time.  And with that I am probably being generous.

It seems to me that their popularity far outweighs how big this community is.  Not saying they are superstars, but let's be honest this is a niche of a niche of a niche hobby.  So in a sense I believe these people have become bigger than the hobby.  Yes Tiger Woods is famous, but millions play golf actively.  Yes Lebron James is famous, but millions of people play basketball actively.  So their stardom doesn't really outweigh the activity of the hobby as a whole.

But with this hobby, I truly believe people are bigger than the hobby.

[BillyGaines]

None of those sports have an Allen Staal.    u luv it!

[CaptainJivePants]

Hacksaw Jim Duggan is bigger than Wes. HOooooooo!

[QAOP Spaceman]

We have some pretty famous people in this hobby.

I disagree.

If you mean 'famous' as in the average person in the street would recognise a name or a face, there's maybe one - at a stretch. And they don't know the name, just the mullet. And for any normal person who happens to remember him from that film they were half paying attention to on a wet Thursday night in November a coupla yeras ago, he's a focus of derision and even contempt.

It seems to me that their popularity far outweighs how big this community is.

This is impossible. Their 'popularity' is exclusively within 'this community' (i.e. a couple of hundred handbangers).

[f_symbols]

Another homerun in my books George   

[homerwannabee]

We have some pretty famous people in this hobby.

I disagree.

If you mean 'famous' as in the average person in the street would recognise a name or a face, there's maybe one - at a stretch. And they don't know the name, just the mullet. And for any normal person who happens to remember him from that film they were half paying attention to on a wet Thursday night in November a coupla yeras ago, he's a focus of derision and even contempt.

It seems to me that their popularity far outweighs how big this community is.

This is impossible. Their 'popularity' is exclusively within 'this community' (i.e. a couple of hundred handbangers).

Yeah, I think this could get into an argument of semantics.  I think we have a fairly close idea of how popular the Donkey Kong champs, and Steve Wiebe, and Billy Mitchell are. 

Perhaps "Pretty famous" is a bad term.  I guess I would change this to people who have gotten "National attention" for their gaming.

So having said that I still firmly hold that my statement stands correct.  The Donkey Kong champs and their knowness(not an actual word) far outweighs the interest by people playing Donkey Kong.

On a side note, this is not limited to Donkey Kong.  I think this is true of even minor arcade champs like myself.   For instance, there is a Donkey Kong 3 video of my gameplay that has over 12,000 in views.  I have some serious doubts to whether 12,000 people have even played DK3 in the past six years.  But despite that you will have that many willing to watch this video.

[CaptainJivePants]

Number of views of a video does not necessarily equate to number of people, nor does it make George Riley more famous than DK3. I don't think any other gaming film has had more exposure than KoK, and I would say that film only made Walter, Billy, and Steve "famous" (not    or Hank or anyone else, sadly). Go to an arcade or talk about Donkey Kong with people of all ages, and they at least know of the character and maybe the arcade game. Put a picture of DK arcade gameplay and a picture of Billy Mitchell out there and see how many can identify each (q-ratings style). I think you'll find DK is more recognizable overall, which leads me to believe it's bigger than any individual.

[homerwannabee]

Number of views of a video does not necessarily equate to number of people, nor does it make George Riley more famous than DK3. I don't think any other gaming film has had more exposure than KoK, and I would say that film only made Walter, Billy, and Steve "famous" (not    or Hank or anyone else, sadly). Go to an arcade or talk about Donkey Kong with people of all ages, and they at least know of the character and maybe the arcade game. Put a picture of DK arcade gameplay and a picture of Billy Mitchell out there and see how many can identify each (q-ratings style). I think you'll find DK is more recognizable overall, which leads me to believe it's bigger than any individual.

OK, good point.  But is CaptainJivePants bigger than Mustache Boy?  Inquiring minds want to know!

[Simpsons99]

hmm Yes the players are making Donkey Kong more of a known game in this day and age .

Now they should do a year in the life of  a Donkey Kong Player movie .. Cover all the different players as they get ready for event though out the year ..

With Donkey Kong it's not just about the Kong Off ..  Even though that is the Super Bowl of Donkey Kong Events ..

[TheKookOfKong]

[muscleandfitness]

Wat da , who is this take that pic down at once fttt lit

[tudose]

Wat da , who is this take that pic down at once fttt lit

[Simpsons99]

what is the problem with it Allen? 

[Barra]

[dimmu--borgir]

My guess is that Dwayne Richards posted the picture.