Last year I became the holder of two world video game records, Urban Champion and Robocop, both NES titles. My title on Robocop has since been beat twice, but my title of Urban Champion remained. But that record was for Urban Champion on the Wii’s Virtual Console. Not to dis the Wii, but that just ain’t the same.

First amazement, then anger. That’s how it went when I saw that my Robocop world record had been beaten. Why amazement? Well, obviously I knew my record wasn’t unbeatable but to be taken down so quickly after I earned it? Sucko. I only had that top spot for a little over a month. Then anger. But it was a good competitive anger because I now have a retro rival and it’s on.

I’ve done it again. I have obtained another world record for a video game that no one really cares about. A co-worker asked me, “why don’t you try to beat a record that people know,” and my response was quite simple, “that’s hard.”

Retro gaming is yet one more vice I enjoy along with my Hot Wheels, although I don’t think I’ve spent as much on old video games as I have on my Hot Wheels…how bad is that? When I heard mention of a retro gaming convention last month or so over at the GameOn podcast, I marked it on the calendar. I knew it would be my kind of gamers - old gamers that remember high scores and multiplayer games that required you have friends close by.

I’m not one that puts a lot of stock in awards and accolades. For the most part I believe they’re completely arbitrary and in many cases the entrants have to pay the organization that gives out the awards. If awards were fair then I’m sure I’d be more inclined to care about them. However there seems to be one area where awards and championships are legit, despite what popular culture may otherwise suggest - video games.