The Video Game Masters Tournament was an event that was created in 1983 by Twin Galaxies to generate world record high scores for the 1984 U.S. Edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. It was the most prestigious contest of that era and the only one that the Guinness book looked to for verified world records on video games at the time. This contest was conducted under the joint efforts of Twin Galaxies and the U.S. National Video Game Team in 1983, 1984 and 1985 and by the U.S. National Video Game Team alone in 1986 and 1987.They're Masters of Video Games - Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA - August 24, 1983
During its first year, 1983, the event was called the North America Video Game Challenge (State Teams Tournament), but was changed to the Video Game Masters Tournament by the second year.State Teams Tournament - Poster, August 24-28, 1983
In order to administer the contest, Twin Galaxies appointed the U.S. National Video Game Team to the task of collecting and verifying scores from the eight cities that participated in the 1983 edition of this event. The cities were Seattle, Washington; Lake Odessa, Michigan; Coeur D'Alene, Idaho; Omaha, Nebraska; Dayton, Ohio; San Jose, California; Upland, California and Chicago, Illinois.U.S.Video Team Forming; Plans Call for Match with Japan - RePlay Magazine, October, 1983
The 1984 event was also conducted in eight cities while the 1985 event was conducted in 35 cities.1985 Video Game Masters Tournament - Computer entertainment Magazine, July, 19851985 Video Game Masters Tournament - Poster, June, 1985
1983 Event - August 24–28, 1983 Event date Location Arcade Winner8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Seattle, WAArnold's on the Ave.TBD8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Coeur D'Alene, IDMr. DeliTBD8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Omaha, NESpace CityTBD8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Villa Park, ILVideo Wizard TBD8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Lake Odessa, MILake Odessa Fun CenterTBD8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Dayton, OHVideo CityTBD8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983San Jose, CAVideo ParadiseTBD8/24/1983 - 8/28/1983Upland, CAStarship VideoTBD
1984 Event - June 29 - July 1, 1984 Event date Location Arcade World records6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Seattle, WAArnold's on the Ave.TBD6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Wilmington, NCWorld Class Amusements TBD6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984New York, NYBroadway ArcadeTBD6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Victoria, BC, CanadaJohnny Zee's TBD6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Miami, FLCloverleaf Golf N GamesTBD6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Anchorage, AKSpace Station Arcade TBD6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984San Jose, CASpace Shuttle Arcade TBD6/29/1984 - 7/1/1984Oklahoma City, OKStarbucks Family Fun TBD
1985 Event - June 28–30, 1985 The 1985 Video Game Masters Tournament was conducted as a fundraiser to raise donations for CARE. The fundraiser set aside half of all entry fees for the CARE/Twin Galaxies African Relief Fund."Industry Sponsors Ethiopian Fund " Play Meter Magazine, New Orleans, LA. May 1, 1985.Twin Galaxies Sets 3rd Video masters Tournament - RePlay Magazine, Los Angeles, CA - April 1, 1985
Event date Location Arcade World records6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Seattle, WAArnold's on the Ave.TBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Kansas City, MOFun FactoryTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Hilo, HawaiiFun FactoryTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Frederick, MDFun Factory TBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Honolulu, HawaiiTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985North Bergen, NJBig Mouth Pizza TBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Victoria, BC, CanadaJohnny Zee's ArcadeTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Dawson's Creek, BC, CanadaCelebrity Fun Ctr. IITBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985San Jose, CASpace Shuttle ArcadeTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Anchorage, AKSpace Station ArcadeTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Citrus Heights, CAThe Game Room ArcadeTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985College Station, TXGames GaloreTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Riverside, CACastle Park ArcadeTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Montreal, Quebec, CanadaAmusecorpTBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Montclair, CAHuish Family Fun Ctr.TBD6/28/1985 - 6/30/1985Valdosta, GATBDTBD
1986 Event - June 27–29, 1986 Event date Location Arcade World records6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Virginia Beach, VAAladdin's Castle #251TBD6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Maryland Heights, MOAladdin's Castle #462TBD6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Culver, CAAladdin's Castle #91TBD6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Rancho Cucamonga, CAGalaxy Arcade TBD6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Citrus Heights, CAThe Game RoomTBD6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Bronx, NYPlayland ArcadeTBD6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986San Jose, CASpace Shuttle ArcadeTBD6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Houston, TXAladdin's Castle #120TBD6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Brea, CAFlipper FlapperTBD6/27/1986 - 6/29/1986Dublin, GAAladdin's CastleTBD
1987 Event - July 3–5, 1987 Event date Location Arcade World records7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987No. Miami Beach, FLAladdin's Castle #378TBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Annapolis, MDAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Culver, CAAladdin's Castle #91TBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Wintersville, OHAladdin's Castle TBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Bronx, NYPlayland ArcadeTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Independence, MOAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987San Jose, CAAladdin's Castle #188TBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Middlesboro, KYAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Lakewood, CAAladdin's Castle #283TBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Mesa, AZAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Etiwanda, CAAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Beverly Hills, CAAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Waunakee, WIAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Fredericksburg, VAAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Boulder, COAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Hollis, NYAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Meridian, MSAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Madison, WIAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Monrovia, CAAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Marshalltown, IAAladdin's CastleTBD7/3/1987 - 7/5/1987Miami Beach, FLCloverleaf Golf N GamesTBD
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