Well it now looks like I was dead on the money. Not only was I right, but it was worse than I thought. So yes, Dean did not get any worldwide press. This was expected. Dean did not get any Nationwide press. This was also expected. Dean did not get Kataku press. This was expected by some including myself. Dean did not get any Twin Galaxies press. Again I was expecting this. Dean did not get any press from "The Entertainer". Again I was expecting that. What I was not expecting is that the 1.2 million game would not get any attention from the Donkey Kong blogspot. That one surprised me since the 1.2 million was so important in the writings.
So what does this mean? It means that Brian Allen's killscreen MAME game that he failed to submit to Twin Galaxies got more press than Dean's 1.2 million. So my friends it's time to stick your heads in the sand, and pretend this really isn't a problem. See I know one thing. Like most hobbies, most of you are CONFORMISTS. Generally being a conformist is a good thing. But in this situation you wanting to not rock the boat, and keep things copacetic is one of the few times when being a conformist is a bad thing.
I wish there were more people like me who could take a stand and actually speak up when they see something that is completely screwed up to the nth degree.
George, no one ignored what was not presented to them. The score was not submitted to us, therefore it was not verified which, in turn, never appeared as a possible story subject in my email. Twin Galaxies' determination of world records operates on a Referee System, created by Walter Day over 30 years ago. It has been in place as the standard for decades. TG has never operated without it.
It was related to me that Mr. Saglio did not wish to submit it. I honor that choice as well as the remarkable score he put up on MAME. I waited for it to come for adjudication, even wrote up the bulk of the article, before making an inquiry in which I was told he did not want to submit it to Twin Galaxies. Actually wanted no fanfare. Nonetheless, I wrote up a quick piece of info with his contact information and sent it abroad. I received a reply from some that if it was not adjudicated, then it wasn't a story they could use. It being on MAME was also a problem for some. For me, no. But I am not "the world press".
Also know how pop-media sources operate: Kotaku, Game Informer and The Examiner have strict policies their writers must adhere to that have been stiffened over the last year. One is, a breaking story will not be printed after the fact. Meaning, you set a WR then the writer has 48 hours to post it and share it with contacts. Not a week or two. It must be current. So if you sit on news...you loose. Only in rare instances will you ever see this being overturned. It is for this reason, scene writers become quite valuable to the gamer as, if one wants international press, your chances are higher of getting it picked up if your come to them in the first place....and quickly. For what you think might be a shot heard 'round the world, if it originates from an island, cut off from communication outside its home base -which is this how this community often operates- if it's not submitted to us knowledge of it doesn't reach me for days. I cannot constantly be monitoring a single game scene when there are 100s of other gamers and other titles also doing great things. Even so, I give quite a bit of DK coverage, more than anyone these days, and worked on the Press Project for two months that went out to affiliated news sources for national coverage for players at The Kong Off 3.
Classic Gaming is a niche subject, and that niche is small compared to the multi-billion dollar industry that eSport is. Someone could beat the impossible Robotron record tomorrow and, though it would get press for certain, the coverage would not reach the circulation level of fame that a $400K Warcraft tournament winner would receive...or an XBox release...or GTA V that made over a billion dollars in 3 days.
In the case of Brian Allen, you will note if you reread the article again, that the story is about one man's struggle over social adversity to beat a personal goal. Gaming encompasses far more than high scores. In fact, over 90% of its participants are not competitors at all. So for you to indicate rather loosely that I gave way to favoritism is incorrect and rather petty if not hurtful altogether. But that's okay. I've well grown used to it over the years. But dragging Saglio and this fine community into your beef to pick with TG and others over events decades past completely unrelated to anyone on board is unfair.
The owners of Twin Galaxies opens their door to the DK Community every year, by putting on an event that costs tens of thousands of dollars, 1000s of hours of prep and requires the input of numerous people, including the most professional press core it has ever had, and will be present this year. The owners of TG, Richie and Jourdan, don't make money off of it and exploit no one. They do it for the love of gaming. For the thrill of charging old school arcade tournaments back to life again. They do it for the community.
Want to talk about screwed up, George? Why is it one can point fingers at TG and, respectively me -as I do the bulk of the reporting- and make accusations of lack of support, when you don't even support us in the first place? Hmm? How does that work? You seem to expect me to work hard elevating yours and others achievements, but also expect me to accept the fact there is no reciprocation of support or even respect? Just a slap in the face...criticism and blame-games. Not really a fair trade, is it?
Nonetheless, I am thankful for the community who does respect my arduous and passionate efforts, and who do come to me for support and in turn support me. There are more of them than the latter, and in every country. You don't have to like me. But if you can't recognize my passion and dedication then you aren't looking for it.
This is not directed at the DK Community, or any other posters or opinions on this forum other than George's comments.
Please do not take my statement out of context.
-Cat
