New video game records, amazing feats and the top video game characters of all-time

The ultimate ‘Video Game Bible’ returns with the newest installment of the most comprehensive collection of video game records – Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition. The global authority on record-breaking, Guinness World Records today announces the release of the fourth and latest edition featuring video game records, facts and figures - the latest in the series that tackles the best and brightest in the world of gaming.

With full-page spreads on Farmville, the “Most Popular Facebook Game†as well as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, games of every genre across all platforms are chronicled. Angry Birds is a new addition to the book as the “Top Paid-For Apple App Store Game†along with MAG, which allows 256 players on a single game, the “Most Online Players in a Console First Person Shooterâ€. A key feature in this year’s edition is the ‘Top 50 video game characters of all-time’ as voted by thousands of Guinness World Records readers with the one and only polymath plumber, Mario ranking in at number one. Nintendo’s signature character is followed by The Legend of Zelda’s Link and the Halo’s genetically engineered super soldier – Master Chief.

This year’s book is a testament to the idea that all ages are gaming with 9-year-old Ryota Wada, as the “Youngest Person to Achieve a Perfect Score on Dance Dance Revolutionâ€, to 85-year-old John Bates, who bowled his way to the “Most Perfect Scores Achieved on Wii Sports Bowling†(2,850 games). Mitsugu Kikai also took his extreme love for Mario to new extremes with his eye-popping record for the “Largest Collection of Super Mario Memorabiliaâ€, which is currently at 5,400 different Mario-themed products.

Not to be outdone by her male counterparts, one of the most successful girl gamers - Annie Leung – is spotlighted for her record for “Highest Score on Guitar Hero III for a female†with an impressive 789,349 points. Of the record, Leung says, “I’ve had to put in a lot of hard work into proving that I’m just as good as anybody out there. Ultimately I want to be known as a great gamer, not just a great female gamer.â€

With a sleek magazine-style design and cinematic images, Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition readers can check out the special “Critical Hit†spreads dedicated to record-breaking franchises such as Civilization, Halo, Wii Sports, Legend of Zelda, Fallout, and more. Gamers can also test their knowledge with “Classic Quotes Quiz†questions found at the bottom of every page, and read features on professional gaming leagues, the iPad Revolution, Indie Gaming, best-selling platforms and much more! Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition is available January 20th for a suggested retail price of $14.99.

“It’s been another great year for gaming, with incredible records broken, set, and created by players from all walks of life,†says Gaz Deaves, Guinness World Records Gaming Editor. “Gaming has become a hugely important part of popular culture and this year’s Gamer’s Edition will amaze and entertain everyone from the ultra-casual to the ultra-competitive.â€


“9 year-old Ryota Wada from Tokyo, Japan, who has become the youngest person to reach a perfect score on a Dance Dance Revolution game on the expert difficulty setting today celebrates being included in Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition out todayâ€.

“25 year-old Annie Leung from California, USA, achieved the highest score on Guitar Hero 3 by a female gamer when she racked up 789,349 points playing ‘Through the Fire and Flames’ on the expert setting. Annie is featured in Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition out todayâ€.

“25 year-old Mitsugu Kikai from Tokyo, Japan, makes it into the Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition with the largest collection of Super Mario memorabilia, 5,400 items strongâ€.

“85 year-old John Bates fro Wisconsin, USA, has achieved the most perfect games of Wii Sports Bowling ever with 2,850 perfect games and is featured in Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition out todayâ€.

 

The global authority on record-breaking, Guinness World Records, announces the latest and greatest achievements in the world of videogames in the new Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition released today. Featuring a fascinating array of new record holders, the book demonstrates the extent to which gaming is being embraced by people from all walks of life. Also announced today are the fascinating results of a search to find the greatest videogame characters of all time.

The oldest gamer to make the book is 85 year-old John Bates from Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA. The former high school principal hadn’t played a videogame until April 2009 when he received Wii Sports as a gift. John soon became hooked on Wii Bowling, becoming so good that he went on to achieve the Most Perfect Games on Wii Sports Bowling (2,850). John, who also bowls for real at his local alley said “the fundamentals of being good at ‘virtual’ and ‘real’ sports are the same: You have to be focused, yet remain relaxedâ€.

At the other end of the age spectrum is 9 year-old Ryota Wada from Tokyo, Japan who has been recognised as the Youngest Gamer to Achieve a Perfect ‘AAA’ Score on Dance Dance Revolution. Dancing since he has been able to stand, Ryota said: “I am so happy to get the record. My school class are so happy for me!â€

Mitsugu Kikai (25) from Tokyo, Japan, is recognised for having the Largest Collection of Super Mario Memorabilia (5,400 individual items). Mitsugu’s studio flat is covered wall to wall in everything Super Mario, a product of keen collecting since he was a child. “I want people to see how cool Mario is, how happy this little plumber makes people!â€

Female gaming sensation Annie Leung (26) from San Francisco, California, USA, is featured for achieving the Highest Score on Guitar Hero 3 for a Female (789,349 points). Annie, an inspiration to female gamers across the world, said: “being a female in gaming has been hard, there’s harassment and guys can under estimate you. I’ve had to work hard to prove that I’m just as good as anybody out thereâ€

Also included in the gaming Almanac are some spectacular efforts from Brits, including Croydon’s Ryan Hart who achieved the Most Consecutive Victories Against Human Opponents on Street Fighter IV (169); Primary school teacher Chris McGivern from Horsham, West Sussex, broke the record for the Longest Marathon Playing a Dance Game, an incredible 13hours 33minutes 56seconds!; And British acting legend Christopher Lee who became the Oldest Voice Actor in a Videogame at 87 years-old when he featured in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days last year.

Other wacky new records from Gamer’s Edition 2011 include the Most Swearing in a Videogame (The developers of the 2005 PS2 game Scarface earned its 18-rating with over 5,000 expletives); the Most People to Sing to a Karaoke Video Game (10,490, achieved by the crowd at Los Premios 40 Principales, Madrid, Spain); and the Most Popular Facebook Game (Launched in June 2009, farming simulator FarmVille quickly became the most popular application in history with 60 million monthly active users).

Guinness World Records Gaming Editor, Gaz Deaves, said: “It’s been another great year for gaming, with incredible records broken by players from all walks of life. Gaming has become a hugely important part of popular culture and this year’s Gamer’s Edition reflects just thatâ€.

Also revealed are the results of a poll conducted by Guinness World Records to find the Best Videogame Character of All Time. Over 13,000 gaming fans voted and, in the end, there was only one winner, Mario, with over 10% of the vote. In second was Link from the popular Legend of Zelda (Nintendo, 1986) series, and taking third spot was the genetically engineered super soldier, Master Chief, who made his first appearance a decade ago in Halo: Combat Evolved (Microsoft, 2001).

Nintendo dominated the chart with eleven characters in the top 50. In second place was Sony with six characters, and third came Capcom with five. The poll reveals that the best year for great characters was 1996, with five familiar faces in the top 50 making their first gaming appearance in that year, including the UK’s very own Lara Croft (seventh in the chart). The original gaming star, Pac-Man (Namco, 1980) came sixth in the poll, and Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega, 1990), who rivalled Mario for gaming supremacy in the 90s finished in a disappointing tenth.

 

Guiness world records 2011 gamer’s edition video available

Street Fighter Champion and Guinness World Record Holder

One of the most outstanding Britons to make it into Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition is Croydon’s Ryan Hart. The Street Fighter IV champion has achieved 2 Guinness World Records for the Most Consecutive Wins Against Human Opponents (169), and Most Tournaments Won on Street Fighter Games (30). Ryan’s tip to aspiring record holders: “If it’s what you love doing, stick with it and results will follow. Play to enjoy, if you have what it takes then it will happenâ€.
The global authority on record-breaking, Guinness World Records, announces the latest and greatest achievements in the world of videogames in the new Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition out now. Featuring a fascinating array of new record holders, the book demonstrates the extent to which gaming is being embraced by people from all walks of life.
For more Information visit Guinness World Records - Gamer's Edition 2011

 

TOP 50 VIDEO GAME CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME ANNOUNCED in GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2011

Guinness World Records, the global authority on record breaking, announce the top 50 videogame characters of all time in the latest edition of their best-selling gaming book; Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition. Over 13,000 readers voted for their favourite character and the end result is a “who’s who†of the top heroes and villains from more than 30 years of video game history.

Unsurprisingly it was Nintendo’s Mario who was crowned the people’s favourite videogame character. The little plumber, who made his debut as "Jumpman" in the 1981 arcade smash Donkey Kong, received over 10% of the vote. Another Nintendo stalwart, Link, from The Legend of Zelda (1986) finished runner up, followed by the mysterious super soldier Master Chief from the Halo videogame series (Microsoft, 2001).

Several omissions are sure to cause a stir. Mario’s younger brother, Luigi, fails to make the top 50. As does Mortal Kombat’s spear-tossing legend Scorpion, Bio-Shock’s terrifying Big Daddies, and the loveable Lemmings. Despite the questionable quality of recent Sonic the Hedgehog titles the little blue hedgehog has still managed to make the top 10, along with other video game icons including PAC-Man, Final Fantasy VII Cloud Strife and Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft.

The most popular publisher is Nintendo with 11 characters in the top 50. In second place Sony with 5 characters, and third comes Capcom with five. The best year for great characters was 1996, with five familiar faces in our top 50 making their first gaming appearance in that year, including Lara Croft and Pikachu

“The world has seen so many pivotal characters throughout the history of gaming that asking our readers to narrow it down to just 50 was a challenge in itself,†says Gaz Deaves, Guinness World Records Gaming Editor. “Some of the choices on the list are obvious, some less so, but it’s sure to get gamers talking about their favourites.â€

To celebrate the release of the top 50 videogame characters of all time Guinness World Records have released an Application on their Facebook page which allows you to find out what videogame character you most identify with. The application uses a multi-choice questionnaire format to quiz the visitor on their personality type before making a final recommendation. Are you more Larry Laffer than Duke Nukem? Find out here:

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