I'm never sure why on almost any post/article I read about Billy Mitchell, people nearly seethe with animosity, especially when they most likely have only seen clips and watched the "King of Kong" .
I was lucky enough to travel to Chicago a couple of years ago for Namco's Pac-Man infused 35th birthday celebration. Mitchell was there, as was Walter Day, and of course Toru Iwatani...and the dudes who wrote/performed "Pac-Man Fever". My only prior experience with Mitchell was of course, seeing the doc, and I'd showed it to my friend just a day or so before her and I went. Mitchell was demo'ing the Level 256 version of Pac-Man with the kill screen level ready for play . He was warm, polite, and even complimented me on a move I made while I played, (Which, I'm not really great for sure!). He took some silly photos with my friend and I, and we walked away entirely charmed and scratching our head's over the portrayal in the doc, and how we found him in person.
Later we talked with Walter Day for a minute, and shared how we were pretty taken aback with Mitchell's charm and demeanor, and he noted how King of Kong was edited to create more drama, and establish a sense of conflict between Mitchell and Weibe. That all made sense, for sure . And I can say I've heard sound bites from many celebs, and felt they'd be an ass in person, then was surprised to feel differently, and I'm sure the opposite can ring true as well.
I have no idea what's going on with this 2010 score/tape. I do know either way that score, and his play in general is largely irrevelant towards the current and future high score . I also know, that his play as a teen, and his continued push of his personal and public appearances in the gaming field, have done more help than harm. Personally, he helped, in addition to everyone else there, make for one of the most memorable experiences my friend and I have ever had in gaming. I've got over thirty years playing, and my friend just picked things up a few years back. That said, I'm grateful for him being out there, more so than ready to brandish him anything other than who he is, or seems to be, a really fantastic competitive gamer, and a guy that managed to push his success in gaming, in ways most haven't or ever could achieve.