Today marks the momentous occaision of rolling Defender almost 30 years after I first did it.

I was a bit concerned I wasn't going to ever see that again after I put Defender back together and had some respectible scores but nothing close to assuring I would roll it over.

I've lost track of how much time I put into playing it again, but with this one game you form such a symbiotic relationship with the machine that time just flies.

Knowing when the processor slows, loading it up appropriately, prioritizing your actions perfectly while glancing at the HUD at the appropriate time is all part of playing the game well.

Like a roll over newb though I left my line of ships while colliding with objects to get 999,975 up on the score. I hit 999,975 and started hyperspacing off the ships. Next thing you know I end up on a ship and now she reads 125. Crap

Defender still #1 in books after all these years for vids.

Great to read this. Never play enough Defender or Stargate to be a good player but i understand all your feelings !  
Maybe you know about the dvd ''The chasing Ghosts, beyond the arcade''
Here's some of the best arcade players back in time, a fantastic picture for arcade history and in my mind  

http://www.classicarcadegaming.com/contests/Nov1982/life.htm

Looks like it's being aired on Showtime.

http://www.sho.com/site/schedules/product.do?episodeid=133953&seriesid=0&seasonid=0

It is a great felling when you accomplish something you've been working for... and to do it again 30 years later.. Wow that's pretty cool!  Congrat's!

I once (after months of play) beat my Atari 400 "PacMan".  I was sorely disappointed however to find out that after 1,000,000 points, the only reward I got is a new ZERO score to continue my game with!!!! AHHHHH!

I gave up trying to beat video Arcade Machines after that event (or lack of!)

Congrats! Took you 30 years to find out again that the developers underestimated the gaming ability of the public.

Quoted from jonny_eh

Congrats! Took you 30 years to find out again that the developers underestimated the gaming ability of the public.

I am sure they could have tweaked the code and issued new ROM's if people started ruling their games.

In the west end of Toronto I only encountered one other guy that could do it on the several machines I played. Now this was early on when it first came out but it was only his initials or mine in the top spots. Pretty sure Marktoo said he was able to roll it. I would be curious how many people can on default settings. My suspicion is it isn't common.

just wanted to say i acquired that movie last night and watched it. very interesting and a nice view in to the death of the arcade.

It was interesting for sure. The question is who will replace Walter Day when he writes that hit song?

Nice Glenn.  Getting that ....975 has got to be tough.  I never really tried for that back in the day but, should make an effort some time.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Pretty sure Marktoo said he was able to roll it. I would be curious how many people can on default settings. My suspicion is it isn't common.

Used to be able to do it relatively frequently.  Generally it would depend on how badly I had to pee, how strong the muchies were hitting me, or if everyone else was done playing and wanted to get going.  I don't turn the machine on more than once every few weeks but I posted a 900K+ score a couple months back.  I think I'd really have to play for a few days to really get the feel back.

I picked up that Avenger a few weeks back but, haven't had a minute to even look it over.  It'd be neat to get it working again and see just how crappy it really was.  I seem to remember the landers being shaped just a little different (skinnier maybe?), than Defender - aside from the other obvious differences.

Anyhow, nice job - we need to play sometime.

I wonder if a classic video game tournament would see any attendance up here?

The other day I was discussing that very same pee issue with Mr Hide at his house. I mean to play this game in Marathon your talking hours if not days. What do you do? I got to think these guys are wearing diapers to stand there for 36hrs straight.

Grown man wearing diapers vs holding the world record. Hmmm, I may have to pass on attempting the record...

no need for diapers when you can just run a catheder discretely down the pant leg into a bag (or out into the street gutter)
Although it might make for a few yuks in the crowd, when your assistant has to change a bag on the fly.

and the other part of the equation is easy:  just eat foods that constipate you.. 36 hours  with no bowel movement is childsplay. upto 72 hours without movement is still healthy.

Urination on the other hand, happens more frequently.

or maybe in tournament settings, they adopt the same urination practice(s) that cyclists use on endurance races.  

Quoted from necro_nemesis

It was interesting for sure. The question is who will replace Walter Day when he writes that hit song?

Apparently he has already placed Twin Galaxies in the hands of his successors

http://www.gameroommag.com/ret.....-confirms-retirement