Video Game Masters Tournament

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The Video Game Masters Tournament was an event that was created in 1983 by Twin Galaxies to generate world record high scores for the 1984 U.S. Edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. [1] It was the most prestigious contest of that era and the only one that the Guinness book looked to for verified world records on video games at the time.[ citation needed ] This contest was conducted under the joint efforts of Twin Galaxies and the U.S. National Video Game Team in 1983, 1984 and 1985 and by the U.S. National Video Game Team alone in 1986 and 1987. [2]

Contents

During its first year, 1983, the event was called the North America Video Game Challenge (State Teams Tournament), but was changed to the Video Game Masters Tournament by the second year. [3]

In order to administer the contest, Twin Galaxies appointed the U.S. National Video Game Team to the task of collecting and verifying scores from the eight cities that participated in the 1983 edition of this event. The cities were Seattle, Washington; Lake Odessa, Michigan; Coeur D'Alene, Idaho; Omaha, Nebraska; Dayton, Ohio; San Jose, California; Upland, California and Chicago, Illinois. [4]

The 1984 event was also conducted in eight cities while the 1985 event was conducted in 35 cities. [5] [6]

1983 Event - August 24–28, 1983

Event DateLocationArcadeWinner
8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Seattle, WAArnold's on the Ave.TBD
8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Coeur D'Alene, IDMr. DeliTBD
8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Omaha, NESpace CityTBD
8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Villa Park, IL Video Wizard TBD
8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Lake Odessa, MILake Odessa Fun CenterTBD
8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Dayton, OHVideo CityTBD
8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983San Jose, CA Video Paradise TBD
8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Upland, CAStarship VideoTBD

1984 Event - June 29 - July 1, 1984

Event DateLocationArcadeWorld Records
6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Seattle, WAArnold's on the Ave.TBD
6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Wilmington, NC World Class Amusements TBD
6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984New York, NYBroadway ArcadeTBD
6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Victoria, BC, Canada Johnny Zee's TBD
6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Miami, FLCloverleaf Golf N GamesTBD
6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Anchorage, AK Space Station Arcade TBD
6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984San Jose, CA Space Shuttle Arcade TBD
6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Oklahoma City, OK Starbucks Family Fun TBD

1985 Event - June 28–30, 1985

The 1985 Video Game Masters Tournament was conducted as a fundraiser to raise donations for CARE. The fundraiser set aside half of all entry fees for the CARE/Twin Galaxies African Relief Fund. [6] [7] [8]

Event DateLocationArcadeWorld Records
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Seattle, WAArnold's on the Ave.TBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Kansas City, MOFun FactoryTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Hilo, HawaiiFun FactoryTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Frederick, MD Fun Factory TBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Honolulu, HawaiiTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985North Bergen, NJ Big Mouth Pizza TBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Victoria, BC, CanadaJohnny Zee's ArcadeTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Dawson's Creek, BC, CanadaCelebrity Fun Ctr. IITBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985San Jose, CASpace Shuttle ArcadeTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Anchorage, AKSpace Station ArcadeTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Citrus Heights, CAThe Game Room ArcadeTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985College Station, TXGames GaloreTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Riverside, CACastle Park ArcadeTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Montreal, Quebec, CanadaAmusecorpTBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Montclair, CAHuish Family Fun Ctr.TBD
6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Valdosta, GATBDTBD

1986 Event - June 27–29, 1986

Event DateLocationArcadeWorld Records
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Virginia Beach, VAAladdin's Castle #251TBD
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Maryland Heights, MOAladdin's Castle #462TBD
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Culver, CAAladdin's Castle #91TBD
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Rancho Cucamonga, CAGalaxy ArcadeTBD
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Citrus Heights, CAThe Game RoomTBD
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Bronx, NYPlayland ArcadeTBD
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986San Jose, CASpace Shuttle ArcadeTBD
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Houston, TXAladdin's Castle #120TBD
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Brea, CAFlipper FlapperTBD
6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Dublin, GAAladdin's CastleTBD

1987 Event - July 3–5, 1987

Event DateLocationArcadeWorld Records
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987No. Miami Beach, FLAladdin's Castle #378TBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Annapolis, MDAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Culver, CAAladdin's Castle #91TBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Wintersville, OHAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Bronx, NYPlayland ArcadeTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Independence, MOAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987San Jose, CAAladdin's Castle #188TBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Middlesboro, KYAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Lakewood, CAAladdin's Castle #283TBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Mesa, AZAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Etiwanda, CAAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Beverly Hills, CAAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Waunakee, WIAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Fredericksburg, VAAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Boulder, COAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Hollis, NYAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Meridian, MSAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Madison, WIAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Monrovia, CAAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Marshalltown, IAAladdin's CastleTBD
7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Miami Beach, FLCloverleaf Golf N GamesTBD

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References

  1. "'86 Video Game Masters Tourney Set for June 27–29" (PDF). Cash Box. 50 (2): 34. June 28, 1986. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  2. They're Masters of Video Games - Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA - August 24, 1983 Archived December 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. State Teams Tournament - Poster, August 24-28, 1983 Archived January 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. U.S.Video Team Forming; Plans Call for Match with Japan - RePlay Magazine, October, 1983 [ dead link ]
  5. 1985 Video Game Masters Tournament - Computer entertainment Magazine, July, 1985
  6. 1 2 1985 Video Game Masters Tournament - Poster, June, 1985
  7. "Industry Sponsors Ethiopian Fund " Play Meter Magazine , New Orleans, LA. May 1, 1985.
  8. Twin Galaxies Sets 3rd Video masters Tournament - RePlay Magazine, Los Angeles, CA - April 1, 1985