There is no way to know whether the video game tournament produced by ABC in partnership with Twin Galaxies was truly the first in the world, as the video's title claims. What we can say is that it was the first to be televised, at least until new evidence proves otherwise. Held on January 8 and 9, 1983, in Iowa, the "Coronation Day Tournament" brought together nineteen of the best players in the United States in a true marathon of the era's games, from Frogger to Donkey Kong Jr. The final took place at the studios of the show "That's Incredible," and it is truly a historical document.
The Twin Galaxies Connection
Twin Galaxies is the most respected association in the world when it comes to guardians of video game high scores. It's no joke or exaggeration: the Guinness World Records themselves trust its judgment and have it as the official provider for records in the field. With guidelines as strict as they are specific, and a track record dating back almost to the very creation of the industry, Twin Galaxies today enjoys the gratitude and admiration of anyone interested in the topic. Of course, all that glory wasn't built overnight, and in this video we can see one of the association's first contributions: the first televised video game championship in the world, co-produced with ABC.
The Qualifying Marathon
The first part of the competition took place in January 1983 at Twin Galaxies' headquarters in Ottumwa, Iowa. There, nineteen of the best arcade players in the United States faced off in an all-or-nothing marathon across five of the era's arcade games: Frogger, Millipede, Joust, Super Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong Jr. The three finalists from that first stage not only earned a good number of prizes but also the chance to compete in the final in front of the cameras, on the ABC show "That's Incredible." That's exactly what you can see in the video.
The Live Final
The methodology chosen for the final was dynamic and frantic, very televisual. The three participants started on the same game, playing simultaneously, and only switched machines after surpassing the required point totals. The first to reach all the required points per game was crowned champion of champions. Simple and very fun to watch. The games in this final were Cosmos, Burger Time, Millipede, and Donkey Kong Jr. The commentators' insights were incredibly spot-on. A true spectacle.
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