Today, a team of seven Ground Kontrol owners and staff members spent the whole day repairing and adjusting the video circuits in over a dozen games. They're looking brighter, sharper, and more vivid than ever!
Fixed: Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, Mario Bros.
Improved: Burgertime, Gorf, Joust, Moon Patrol, Phoenix, Popeye, Punch-Out!!, Tron
If you're a fan of any of these games, be sure to stop in and check out the improvement!
Ground Kontrol now open until 1AM every day of the week!
Stop in any night— early, late, or in between— to enjoy a beer, a game on the house NES system, free WiFi, and the best videogame and pinball action on the west coast!
This documentary about five comedians touring venues outside the usual standup circuit features a stop at our own classic arcade when Brian Posehn of "Just Shoot Me" and "Mr. Show" fame pays a visit. He describes Ground Kontrol as a place made just for him, like it came out of a dream...(cue daydream effects)
Flashback to him standing outside the original Ground Kontrol location on 12th Avenue. He steps inside, looks around, and says "Wow.". Time slows, and a classical aria plays as he plays his old favorites: Rolling Thunder, Asteroids, Tempest, and Mortal Kombat.
What: "Comedians Of Comedy"
Where: Guild Theatre, 829 SW 9th Avenue
When: Wednesday, September 27th, 7PM
Portland Mercury review:
Funny Ha-Ha: Laughing with The Comedians of Comedy
GAME OVER
Total Time:
54 hours, 10 minutes
Final Score:
283,779,000
Total Pledges:
$801.50
After over 54 hours of continuous gameplay, Brandon was overcome by a combination of fatigue and especially difficult gameplay and was forced to end his game just shy of the 300 million point record. Not the highest scoring game, but the longest, and enough to claim second place, an amazing accomplishment in itself. Congratulations, Brandon!
Brandon tackled this feat in an attempt to raise funds for Portland schools. If you want to support his effort, make a donation to the Portland Schools Foundation by calling Amy Anderson at (503)234-5404, extension 28 or emailing your name, contact info, and pledge amount to
starwarspledge@gmail.com.
Portland, Oregon -- May 16, 2005
To celebrate the release of Revenge Of The Sith, 25-year-old Brandon Erickson of Portland, Oregon will begin a single game of Atari's Star Wars at Ground Kontrol classic arcade at Noon, May 16th and play it continuously until the movie's premiere at Midnight, May 18th in an attempt to break a record which has stood since shortly after Return Of The Jedi first screened in 1983.
Brandon, who is “the world's premiere classic Star Wars competitor” according to videogame record keepers Twin Galaxies, says beating the 300 million point score is his most ambitious attempt yet. “The challenge is maintaining focus over such a long period of time. Letting go for even 30 seconds means ‘game over.’ There is very little room for letting my concentration flag.”
With newer Star Wars games available, why play the first one? “It's a way to celebrate the original films, and the games of that era,” he says. “Aside from that, it's a heck of a lot of fun. It's hard to top playing Luke Skywalker as he blows up the Death Star.”
Brandon's dedication and endurance will mirror that of Star Wars fans standing in lines at movie theaters worldwide. “I feel a sense of solidarity and camaraderie” he says. “May the Force be with them. Hopefully someone will save me a seat!”
But his gameplay isn't just for the love of Star Wars and classic arcades: it will also benefit education. Brandon asks that supporters pledge a dollar amount for every hour he plays to The Portland Schools Foundation by contacting Amy Anderson at (503)234-5404, extension 28.
“If I complete this challenge, I hope George Lucas grants me the rank of Jedi Master,” says Brandon. “That will look great on my resume.”
