The makers of Stride want this year's E3 to be remembered as the year Steve Wiebe breaks the world record. So they are making Steve an offer they hope will inspire him to succeed.
After hearing that the champion arcadesman will once again be jumping barrels and dodging fireballs in an attempt to beat his arch-rival's Donkey Kong world record, the Stride team decided to issue Steve a challenge: If he can re-claim the record at E3 2009, they'll give Wiebe a year's supply of Stride gum's newest flavor – Uber Bubble and $10,001 in the form of every arcade's preferred denomination, quarters (40,004 total, to be exact). *
"Steve Wiebe is an inspiration to gamers everywhere, and we believe he truly deserves the title of Donkey Kong world champion," said Gary Osifchin, Marketing Director, Stride. "This is exactly the kind of long lasting endeavor that we here at Stride appreciate, and we have full confidence that Wiebe will once again surpass the million points mark and avoid the kill screen for long enough in the process. We thought we'd give Steve a little extra motivation, and given how infrequently he dies, with that many quarters, he'll be able to play arcade games for a long, long time."
With the current world record standing at 1,050,200 points, breaking it will require both a Herculean effort and flawless concentration, as well as near-infinite encounters with Jumpman and Lady. Even a single record-breaking attempt can take hours, and most n00bs would crumble under the pressure, but never Wiebe.
After capturing the national spotlight in the documentary film The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, Steve Wiebe has proven time and time again that he has what it takes, and this year's E3 will host the challenge that classic arcade gaming fans have been waiting for. Mark your calendars!
"We can't wait to see Steve go for the record live, and we're thrilled at the chance to reward him for his timeless dedication to classic gaming. At a time when arcades are sadly closing across the country, it's great to see Steve inspire gamers of all ages to enjoy the long lasting tradition of arcades. Best of luck, Steve, we're rooting for you!" said Osifchin.
*Reward will be paid provided Wiebe successfully beats Billy Mitchell's current record of 1,050,200 during a single game of Donkey Kong at E3 2009.
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