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Walter Day has an unusual occupation. He's been designated the world's official scorekeeper for electronic video games and pinball. That means the entire gaming world depends on him every day to sanction and recognize record game scores from arcades, home consoles, and PCs. This is a big responsibility. But Walter is the perfect man for the job.
For Walter Aldro Day, Jr., "overnight success" came after two diligent decades of tracking game scores throughout the industry. Since 1981, Walter has single-handedly been record keeper, traveling ambassador, and PR man. He authored a 500-page website and a 1,000-page book of world records. And he owned and operated two video arcades. Then in the spring of 2000, Walter unexpectedly became president of Fairfield's Twin Galaxies enterprise that now employs nearly 50 writers, webmasters, and electronic game mavens.
"My scoreboard has become the official international authority for video game and pinball playing," says Walter. "My quirky little hobby is now creating commercial alliances throughout the industry. And this might be just the beginning."
One venture capital company also believes this is just the beginning. Early this year, when K.J. Investments in Philadelphia heard about Walter's website, his book, and his expertise, they signed on. They hired Dove Solutions to develop twingalaxies.com into an elaborate scoreboard database, and hired in-house content managers to expand the site into a super cyber presence, which is due for launch later this summer. The new site will feature videotaped sessions of tournament games, interviews with world record holders and game makers, and online games that automatically upload the final scores into the official Twin Galaxies database. Future plans include a family of websites such as Video Game History and LAN Central Station. In addition, Twin Galaxies Television (TGTV) will broadcast Internet TV coverage of everything you ever wanted to know about games.
The President of Twin Galaxies spoke with us about the future of the company as well as its history.
Patricia Draznin: What direction do you see for Twin Galaxies?
Walter Day: In addition to being an Internet-based business, Twin Galaxies has a real-world presence in the game industry. Game manufacturers will sponsor us to run contests to promote their games. We'll also be involved in advertising, consulting, and selling merchandise. The potential is global. Probably more people-hours are spent playing electronic games than any other form of recreation in the world.
PD: Will Twin Galaxies be collaborating with key industry players?
WD: We attend game tournaments and conventions all over the country. And we're forming alliances with arcades, with retailers of home consoles, with manufacturers of PC and online games, and with the players themselves.
PD: How did you become the official scorekeeper?
WD: In February 1982, Twin Galaxies was declared the official industry scorekeeper in two premiere game magazines, Replay and Playmeter, by seven major video game manufacturers including Sega, Nintendo, Atari, and Midway. Since then, more and more people are using our free services that include consulting, organizing contests, and verifying and recording scores. We're also developing contest packages for all areas of the industry--for pinball, for individual game titles, and for PC platforms and consoles. The Twin Galaxies Official Video Game & Pinball Book of World Records is now the Guinness of electronic games.
PD: How does your score book compare to Guinness?
WD: Verifying game scores is such complicated business that Guinness decided to avoid it completely. So Twin Galaxies has a niche as the official industry scorekeeper. We maintain and update all the record game scores dating back to 1981 in our books and on our website. We are developing a relationship with Guinness, though, for future contests and promotions.
PD: How do you confirm final game scores when you're not there to see them?
WD: The players have to prove them. And some games require more proof than others. In extreme cases, the players send us a video of the entire game. But in most games, a photograph of the final score will suffice.
PD: Can you explain your attraction to electronic games?
WD: More than games, I'm fascinated by excellence. I like watching players develop their skills, figure out how to break a record, and become the best at something. And I like dealing with champions. They're a refined group of people. Typically, they don't drink or smoke, and they're highly intelligent--sometimes geniuses. They have highly developed coordination and mental skills that allow them to master game strategies and become the best players in the world. Twin Galaxies is uniting all of these players into a worldwide brotherhood and making electronic games a more respected and professional sport.
PD: What's the average age of a champion player?
WD: Between 20 and 35. Champions are rarely older than 36 . . . probably because their reflexes slow down.
PD: Are they mostly men?
WD: There's a strong, growing culture of women who are very good at video games. But they're still in the minority.
PD: How do you feel about some of the violent themes in games?
WD: The rising popularity of games among families and the mainstream public is creating a demand for more positive games. I think the time is ripe for video game playing to become a more positive activity that emphasizes more strategies, puzzle solving, and creative skills, with less attention to mindless violence. This is a whole exciting direction for Twin Galaxies--if not on the designing end, then at least on the promotional end.
PD: Are Twin Galaxies' employees all game enthusiasts?
WD: Many of them, yes. But we need more experts who can write game reviews. They can contact David Carter at david @twingalaxies.com.
PD: Is this enterprise a dream come true?
WD: It is. After all these years, there's a financial base for implementing my own ideas and for possibilities I never imagined. And finally there's a team for making Twin Galaxies a center for electronic entertainment. It's beyond my wildest expectations.
