85-Year-Old Lands Wii Bowling Guinness Record

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An 85-year-old man earns a Guinness Record thanks to Nintendo's Wii console.

An 85-year-old man from Onalaska, Wisconsin has landed in the Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer's Edition book for the most perfect games of Wii Sports Bowling.

According to Guinness, John Bates, a retired high school principal who regularly bowls in a league, started playing Wii Sports Bowling at a friend's house at the end of 2008. He then began recording his perfect games in April 2009.

Ambidextrous by nature, Bates started perfecting his bowling scores by using both his right and left hands. By October 2010, he managed to score 2,850 perfect games, earning his Guinness placement.

"John, as the most venerable record-holder in the 2011 Guinness World Records Gamers Edition, we salute you," said Guinness over on the official website. "You are an example to us all, and proof that you don’t need to be a stereotypical gamer to be the best in the world."

Other amazing gaming feats seen in the latest edition include "Longest gaming session in indoor freefall" which lasted 18 minutes 52 seconds at Indoor Skydive, Roosendaal, Netherlands. There's also a listing for the longest video games marathon on a first-person shooter, lasting 33 hours and achieved by Rustler's Gamesafe team in Newbuty, UK.

Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer's Edition went on sale here in the US on January 4, 2011.

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Kevin Parrish

Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then, he’s loved all things PC-related and cool gadgets ranging from the New Nintendo 3DS to Android tablets. He is currently a contributor at Digital Trends, writing about everything from computers to how-to content on Windows and Macs to reviews of the latest laptops from HP, Dell, Lenovo, and more. 

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17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Marco925
    Damn.... A young whippersnapper such as I has a tough game to beat.

    I better start training....
    Reply
  • Anomalyx
    There's also a listing for the longest video games marathon on a first-person shooter, lasting 33 hours and achieved by Rustler's Gamesafe team in Newbuty, UK.
    33 hours? That's it? They must have some pretty strict rules on what defines a marathon (no eating/drinking/peeing?) because I've gone longer than that. I think it was about 40 hours of Perfect Dark. We stopped to eat and for pee breaks, but nothing else that could be considered a real break from the game.
    Reply
  • jakmove
    How do they know he scored a perfect game on all those games? Was there video of every one? Didn't think you could have a record unless it was taped or witnessed.
    Reply
  • scione
    Anomalyx33 hours? That's it? They must have some pretty strict rules on what defines a marathon (no eating/drinking/peeing?) because I've gone longer than that. I think it was about 40 hours of Perfect Dark. We stopped to eat and for pee breaks, but nothing else that could be considered a real break from the game.
    I guarantee you that there are more than a few people who have beaten that, its just that 33 hours is the most that anyone has REPORTED with PROOF.
    Reply
  • Marco925
    Anomalyx33 hours? That's it? They must have some pretty strict rules on what defines a marathon (no eating/drinking/peeing?) because I've gone longer than that. I think it was about 40 hours of Perfect Dark. We stopped to eat and for pee breaks, but nothing else that could be considered a real break from the game.Hehe, Perfect Dark was AWESOME. used to have marathons with that game too.
    Reply
  • Yuka
    Kudos to that old man.

    I'm very impressed and pleased to know "grown ups" still game and kick butts.

    Cheers!
    Reply
  • Kahless01
    yeah to get a record you have to pay guiness $5k and have them send an official out to record your attempt and verify your claims. it used to mean something but now they have records for every single retarded thing you can imagine.
    Reply
  • restatement3dofted
    jakmoveHow do they know he scored a perfect game on all those games? Was there video of every one? Didn't think you could have a record unless it was taped or witnessed.
    It said he began recording them in 2009, which suggests that he had recorded evidence of his feat. However he did it, he managed to meet Guinness's strict standards of proof.
    Reply
  • joelmartinez
    I don't have any records :(
    Reply
  • eklipz330
    Marco925Hehe, Perfect Dark was AWESOME. used to have marathons with that game too.OMG PERFECT DARK WAS THE SHEEEEEETTT!!!

    if only rare could create a proper game again =
    Reply