The 2005 Funspot International Classic Video & Pinball Tournament   June 2005, Weirs Beach, New Hampshire

Introduction    (click here to skip to menu)

     The annual Funspot tournament (seventh edition) happened, as usual, from the Thursday (June 2nd) thru Sunday (June 5th) period after Memorial Day.   In addition to the tourney, which features 3 open categories (color games, mono games, and pinballs), plus one just for the ladies, Robert Mruczek offered numerous bounties for video gaming feats.  Billy Mitchell even anteed up, and offered two four-figure, and one five-figure, set of specific-player bounties.

    Of note too were some of the gamers that appeared this year.  Robert Griffin (of past Guinness fame, and controversy), for the first time in 20 years or so, attended a contest event, plus Dwayne Richard was back, for the first time since 2002 (when he also was involved in a controversy, related to the tourney, which TG ran).  Numerous gamers broke world records, including some superb marks by Greg Erway (Tapper), Steve Wiebe (Donkey Kong), Bryan Wagner (BurgerTime), and Darren Harris (Indiana Jones).

    Finally, one thing that made this year stand out was the extensive coverage by two film crews.  Ed Cunningham and company, plus Ross Tuttle and crew, were interviewing numerous gamers, including myself, for documentary projects.

Picture galleries    (click here to go to top menu)

    by:  Mark Alpiger  -  covering Friday, June 3rd thru Sunday, June 5th

    by:  Fred Pastore  -  covering Friday, June 3rd thru Sunday, June 5th

Mark Alpiger's pictures

    Shown in thumbnail view below is a pictorial summary of the events that surrounded this year's Funspot tourney.  All of these 122 pictures are shown in chronological order, and span the final three of the four contest days ( which were Thursday, June 2nd through Sunday, June 5th).  For the full-size version of the picture, click on any thumbnail shown, and you'll also get more details about each shot, including the day, and time, it was taken.

The players line up along the row of tournament games.   Contestants work hard, and even draw onlookers.   Robert and Dwayne check out one gamer's play.   Abdner and Robert look at Shawn's Zoo Keeper prowess.   Another view of contest game row.   Zack, Eric, and Donald look at Zack's 'baby', Arkanoid, while Dwayne lurks in the background.   Zack gives Dwayne a little lesson on playing Arkanoid.   A shot of Adam Wood's new wr score on Quartet.   Zack poses in front of 'his' game.   Adam cuddles up next to the machine with his new world record.   Zack has a go at the progenitor of his favorite title (Arkanoid) - Breakout.   Darren eyes Cameron's Elevator Action game while Abdner tries out Zoo Keeper.   Doris Self poses with her game of fame - Q*bert.   Brian, Kelly, and Donald take in Jason's Alpine Ski play.   The famous Steve Wiebe poses next to his wr title game - Donkey Kong.   Dwayne wants in on Steve's pic.   Now Dwayne and Steve are joined by TG guru Walter Day.   Steve's newly made wr score is shown in this shot.   Rob decides to play a game of Indy, which is well-deserved, since he donated it !   Donald strives for yet another wr - this time it's Pac-Man.   Dwayne tries his hand at 1942.   Abdner plays Junior Pac-Man, which is inside another cabinet.   Rob is still playing Indiana Jones, and attracts a crowd, including Darren, and Pat.   Steve stares down 'his' game.   Steve still tries for higher on DK.   'Bondo' bonds with Make Trax.   Robert gets some tips on Zoo Keeper from current record holder Shawn Cram.   Rob gets ready for a game of Commando as John looks on.   Fred just has to point out something about Carnival to Robert.   The pinball contest players are hard at work (or, make that play).   Contest players are overseen by the refs, in the foreground.   The head of TG talks to the managerial head of Funspot.   Abdner can never get enough of Junior Pac-Man (inside this cab).   Darren continues his quest for the bounty on Indiana Jones.   Steve decides to take on another Nintendo title - Popeye.   Todd Rogers tries his hand at Leprechaun, a moppet title.   Brian decides to try for a record on Donkey Kong.   Ronald Mowry shows off his jacket, detailing his pinball marathon record.   Ronald poses with Doris, and they both show that gaming is a multi-generational thing !   Back to work for Doris.   Jason trudges on, and has a go at Alpine Ski.   2004 POTY David Nelson plays on his favorite genre - monochrome.   Greg has to 'serve up' a Tapper game at least once each tourney.  Brien King looks on.   Another shot of Greg and Brien, with Steve still toiling on DK, at left.   A group gathers to watch Eric play Robotron.   Robert tries to pick up a few tips from Darren's play.   Greg looks on as Dwayne gets set for an interview.   Jason, Kelly, and Donald get in another round on contest games.   Adam can't keep off of Quartet.   Dwayne tries out his Robotron skills in front of master players Abdner and Eric.   Walter and Brian prepare for a 'major' announcement, as Don waits in the wings.   The TG guys promise that Donald will want to hear their news.   Finally, the revelation - Billy Mitchell has a 'large' game of Donkey Kong to be viewed.   The Funspot crowd awaits the tape.   Billy's game begins, starting about 2/3 of the way through.   While the tape plays on, I take a break and take a pic at Mike Klug's request.  Nice shirt !   Inside, Mike poses by his former wr title - Pole Position.   The result of Mike's play attempts on Pole Position - a supreme score that's close to his highest ever.   Another shot of Mike's great score.   Back to the Billy Mitchell tape.  He's up to 998,300.   The score cuts off the 1M digit, but Billy is 800 points past that mark, and still humming along.   The final score - good for a true wr of 1,047,200 points.   A close-up of the score.   Just before opening, Greg Erway decides to do a little tail-gating.   Pat keeps on delivering, while racking up bounties, on Paperboy.   Abdner goes solo on Robotron.   Steve can never get enough Donkey Kong, but, with a 5-digit bounty available, it's no wonder.   As Steve perseveres, Greg makes one final run at TGTS Tapper.   Still on his first man near 600K, Greg's got some game going.   The Ladie's Challenge sees some competitors going at it.   Adam and Martin take on two 'color' titles.   Darren takes a break from Indy, while Donald still tries for the ever-elusive 'perfect' game.   Jennifer Harding jams out, while honing her Dr. Mario skills.   Bryan gets a grip on BurgerTime.   Greg and Dwayne look at the current tourney standings.   The 'Brothers Cram', as I call them, are checking out Satan's Hollow.   Todd gives his trademark 'thumbs up', while friend Morningdove does the same.   The contestants are in full focus, with the contest in its last few hours.   Joel's Xybots skills make a captive audience out of Adam and Don.   David goes for the Mystery Game of the day - Asteroids Deluxe.   One last try for Donald, since $1,000 is on the line.   Walter drinks in the play of the oldest player at the contest - Doris.   Pat and Don go after some buzzards while playing Joust doubles.   Christian Cram and Lisa Paul give it their all for the Ladies Challenge.   Frustrated on Pac-Man, Donald goes back to his 'roots' - Centipede.   One of the multiple camera crews at the tourney interviews Dwayne.   Dwayne and Brian take a break, after a full weekend of gaming.   The players try to fit in one last game.   The tourney is officially over, and now everyone waits for the ceremony start to be announced.   Everyone has gathered in the sunroom for the contest results, and prize handouts.   Here come the awards, presented by Mike Stulir and Justine Barker.   The crowd eagerly awaits the start of the awards being handed out.   Here's a view of the full audience, taken from the rear of the sunroom.   'Show me the money' !!  Jason gets the color competition check.   Dave's turn is next - he's the monochrome champion.   Dan Howard collects for winning the pinball competition.   Anna Cram gets her due, as Ladies Challenge champion.   Now for the overall winner - newcomer Mike Sao Pedro takes it.   Mike poses with the lovely Justine.   Dave decides to copy the signature gesture of Todd Rogers and Billy Mitchell, after he collects a Mystery Game bounty.   Walter prepares to hand out certificates of achievement.   Pat Laffaye becomes the first recipient of both certificates, and bounty money, for Paperboy.   Jason gets recognized for Rampage.   Donald Hayes gets recognition for his three most recent world records.   Don takes his (paper) 'booty' back to his seat.   Chris McClard gets recognized for his Radical Radial wr.   Robert Mruczek gets special recognition from Walter Day.   Fred gets a certificate for his scoring ability on Depth Charge.   Brien King gets noticed for Stampede.   Another crowd shot during a break in the awards.   Walter confirms that all awards have been presented, just before the end of the ceremony.   Joel Hedge wanted me to memorialize this shot of his new personal record on Battlezone.   Joel mugs for the camera, doing his best 'Dr. Evil' imitation.   Proof of Pat's playing prowess on Paperboy (say that three times in a row !!), Pat meaning Laffaye.   Yours truly (Mark Alpiger) poses with my (his) fave game of all time - Crystal Castles !   A screenshot showing Darren Harris' new inaugural wr on Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, seven lives start.   A shot of the 3 lives start high score screen.  Looks like Darren has that one too (along with the bounties).   Here's part of the group that went to Laconia Pizza.  Even there, they must answer the call of the 'video Gods'.   Mike S. P. gets up for some napkins, while the rest of the table eats.   Another view of the group around the main table.   A view of the rest of the gang in the restaurant's booths.   The best shot is for last - here's Don and Dwayne showing off their CAGDC awards, presented by Mark Alpiger, for their place in his web site's 'Hall of Fame'.

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Fred Pastore's pictures

    The following coverage is by way of the ever-kind Fred Pastore.  I've filled in the brief captions that Fred gave to each original picture's file name (and only on this page; linked pages will eventually have them added there too).  Note that on a few, I've inserted commentary, explanation, and / or additions, in parenthesis.

    There are 38 pictures in this set, which begins on Friday afternoon (June 3rd), and continues on into Sunday evening (June 5th).

(The Funspot) Wall of Fame.   (A) Wall of Fame close-up.   Jenn (Moore) Sweet (helps run the event, from a side room in the arcade).   Randy (Lawton) and Robert (Mruczek stand next to a game Rob donated - Indiana Jones).   (The new Funspot) sign (stands out in front of the location; shot 1).   (The new Funspot) sign (stands out in front of the location; shot 2).   Eddy Inserra.   Rondo the Beeperman and Eddy.   Tapper guy Greg (Erway, playing Astro Fighter).   Robert Griffin (poses in front of one of his faves - Depth Charge).   Darren Harris (stands at the ready, in front of Ms. Pac-Man).   Todd (Rogers) the Champ ! (He holds the wr on Gorf.)   Dwayne (Richard leans on Bosconian).   Joel (Hedge sidles up to Battlezone).   Funspot billboard.   Paperboy Pat (Laffaye, left) and Carl (friend of Pat).   (The) marquee says it all !! (L-R: Fred, Walter Day, and Gary, in front of Clowns).   Greg on Donkey Kong.   Frogger Pat.   Mr. Kelly R. Flewin.   Christian Cram (likes her pins).   Jason Cram (stands by Congo Bongo, one of his wr titles).   Shawn Cram (is shown next to Zoo Keeper, on which he has the wr).   The Donald (posing by one of his wr titles - Dig Dug).   Bondo (posing by Mappy, on which he holds the wr).   Miss Winni - Justine Barker.   Adam (Wood poses next to Quartet, which he set a new wr on twice during the event).   The Cameron (Feltner, next to Elevator Action).   Steve K. (that's Kyriakides; he is shown towering over a favorite title - Leprechaun).   Martin (Bedard poses by Timber, a game he holds the wr on).   Greg and Tapper (on which he possesses two world records).   Carnival Fred with 2 faves, and wearing a t-shirt from the 80s. (He holds the wr on Carnival.)   Fred unsuccessfully tries to help David (Nelson) grow a moustache.   Brian Kuh (stands next to the game he set the wr on at this event - Joust 2).   Brian watches Dwayne's attempt at a bounty (on Joust 2).   Dave (poses).   Who is this guy ? (Answer: Mark Alpiger.)   WonderGirl Anna Cram (stands next to her former wr title - Wonder Boy).

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Other scores of note    (click here to go to top menu)

    Not all scores that occurred outside the tournament are noted below, as some accomplishments are unknown.

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Media coverage    (click here to go to top menu)

    This article appeared in the Monday, June 6, 2005 edition of  .

LACONIA — A new game system was unveiled at Funspot's seventh annual Classic Gaming Tournament, and money was raised for a good cause as well.

Mike Stulir of Legacy Engineering Group raffled off several Atari Flashback 2.0 game systems.

Modeled after the Atari 2600 console—complete with classic joysticks and vintage controls—it's loaded with 40 of the original classic games, including Pong, Asteroids, Centipede, Lunar Lander, and Missile Command, among others.

The original Atari Flashback, which was released in 2004, sold 550,000 units. The company has made some improvements since then, though.

The game system will be available this summer.

The Funspot event also raised money for the Children's Miracle Network, an organization that provides medical care to children who otherwise wouldn't receive it. Miss Winnipesaukee Justine Barker, who helped out at the Funspot competition, explained that the Miss America organization raises money for the Miracle Network each year.

"We had people donate this weekend, which is really great," she said.



The winners in the Funspot Tournament were as follows:



PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1st place Michael Sao Pedro

2nd place Dave Nelson

3rd place Martin Bedard



COLOR GAMES

1st place Jason Cram

2nd place Martin Bedard

3rd place Michael Sao Pedro



PINBALL

1st place Dan Howard

2nd place Michael Sao Pedro

3rd place Leonard Moscaritolo



MONOCHROME GAMES

1st place Dave Nelson

2nd place Michael Sao Pedro

3rd place Jon Zabel



LADIES CHALLENGE

1st place Anna Cram

2nd place Christian Cram

3rd place Lisa Paul

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