Ottumwa, Iowa says it's the world video game capital

More like "The 80's Video Game Capital of the World"

And here I was was thinking Cambridge (Massachusetts, not England) was a bigger epicenter of video games. Because, you know, they make them here.

Billy Mitchell:

"Because I was the number one star...in the world...ya hear me?! Bang! The world..."

I am from Iowa, and this is kind of a statewide things going on. Towns claim to be * of the world. Usually doesn't mean much unless you are LeMars, Iowa. Ice-cream Capital of the World! But they have Wells Blue Bunny there. They make more Ice Cream and produce more milk than most places. I would say the most in the country, but I don't have any proof. Just a thing towns in Iowa do.

People are taking this far too seriously. Relax, please.

I would take the trip out there just so I can take a crap right on there door step of the "hall of fame"...So says Garth Knight.

Err... seriously? Just for that reason?

....lame

Billy Mitchell looks like Satan in that pic and everyone just signed there life away to the Devil. I mean Billy

"Their basis for the claim? Billy Mitchell scored a Donkey Kong world record at an Ottumwa arcade in 1982. In fact, you can now see that machine for yourself, as The Mitch donated it to the city yesterday"

WOW.

Whoever wrote this obviously has no clue about video gaming history.

Ottumwa has been known as the video game capital of the world, since it was the original home of Twin Galaxies Arcade, back during the golden age of gaming.

Joystiq and GamePolitics - it's called research. Try hiring some writers OVER 30, who were actually alive, back then, and know what they're talking about.

Like me, since I'm in my mid-30's, I've been gaming for 31 years now, and know the history of gaming like the back of my hand.... :)

And BTW, whatever happened to Eric Ginner? Back in the day, he was the undisputed king of the high-score.

Billy Mitchell may be more well known today. But back in my day, Ginner was the undisputed king.

Centipede, Ms. Pac... You name the game, most likely he had the record for it.

And to me.... Eric Ginner will always be the undisputed king of the 'cade.

He was the undisputed king, back in the golden age, but he just fell off the map, wen the industry died, back in the mid-80's

Oh, and if you don't believe my above comment - try me.

DAMMIT JOYSTIQ - FIX YOUR COMMENT SYSTEM!

billy mitchell is a prick,
self centered fuck!

It's about 300 miles from me. I'll probably make a road trip at some point, but probably once the hall of fame is done.

Billy Mitchell is a douche.

@joystiq
You have lost all respect. We never once claimed our selves the Video Game Capitol of the World. That was given to us in the 80's by our governor because of Walter Day and Twin Galaxies, the story you should have covered. It is sad and very pathetic for a game journalist to have done absolutely no research on the subject. Walter Day deserves much credit for the work he has done for the gaming community and I expected you to recognize him as an important gaming figure.

To any one who wants to take this serious please visit twingalaxies.com or http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=653380494&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=84123712888

This isn't a capital of the world for video games. How do I know? Because it's not the place where the best or the most video games are made, nor is it the place where the most games are played publicly or competitively. To be a capital of the world, it would have to have a serious stake that is constant, not something that happened more than twenty years ago. And creating a hall of fame doesn't count. Until all of that happens, it's not a true capital.

They need to change it to "Self proclaimed video game capital of the world."