King of Kongs
In college, quarters were only good for doing laundry and, well, for playing “quarters” if there was pitcher of beer handy. But back in the olden days (that’d be the glorious ’80s), quarters were like gold to us kids. They were the magic key to a world of unknown geekdom. They were the only thing keeping us from reaching nirvana at the local arcade. Well, that and a ride to the arcade from mom.
We didn’t have these fancy shmancy PlayStations or Xbox360s back then. Sure the Atari 2600 was all the rage, but nothing compared to the beeps of the machines, the cursing of the kids and that “chaching” sound of the quarter falling into the machine.
And that’s why today is such a historic day. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters comes out on DVD and I so cannot wait to race out and pick this sucker up. It’s the story of hot shot Billy Mitchell (dick!) versus Steve Wiebe (nice guy!) for the ultimate world record: the high score on Donkey Kong. Relive the total embareesment of the ’80s (especially the clothes and hair styles), while watching the growing rivalry between these two. Rocky vs. Apollo? Feh. Superman vs. Lex Luthor? Please. I’ll take Billy vs. Steve any day.
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Comments
In 1982? Boy. You realize that you’ve just dated yourself right? I’d watch the movie, but I wouldn’t by the DVD.
I had the Atari 2600 and was addicted to it!
I also remember being 18 or 19 years old and going to the Rockin’ Raceway Arcade in Pigeon Forge all the time. I had such a blast! Me and my friends went there all the time.
Oh yeah, it’s been on my Netflix que for a while now. It actually ran at a theater near me but I couldn’t justify the arm/leg.
Paula - Thanks very much! Glad you like it. And I still have my Atari 2600 if you can believe it, along with roughly 200+ games or so. I should break it out one of these days for a marathon tournament.
Leon - Dated myself? I’m all about the ’80s, man. I have no qualms telling all you yahoos that I’m a spry 35 years old. And I’m so buying this DVD tonight!
Tish - That is awesome that you remember the name of the arcade, and that it’s still around!!! We used to hang out at Mr. Arcade or the Video Game Asylum (which was attached to a huge Nathan’s restaurant). Arcades are all but gone here. If you don’t count Chuck E. Cheese’s, we have a few very small ones in the mall. Lame.
Jason - I don’t recall it ever running in theaters around me. Probably played at some art houses in Manhattan I’m sure, but that’s too much of a pain for me to hit.
Donkey Kong was just a bit before my time. I was born in 1982! My first arcade memories center around Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Killer Instinct.
I’m excited about the upcoming DVD release though. I love stuff like that!
Andrew! I absolutely love the new blog. How come I didn’t know about it? What’s my problem? LOL! And like you, I’m stuck in the ’80s so I feel at home here man. This post is so funny and right-on. I gotta get this movie. I had the Atari 2600 and I well remember that feeling about quarters being like gold. Now my Starbucks card gives me the same giddy feeling.