'Donkey Kong' Champion Accused of Cheating Releases Statement

Donkey Kong player Billy Mitchell has given his side to the story after he was stripped of his world record scores amid cheating accusations. The story officially broke earlier this year, when a forum poster argued that Mitchell used an emulator and a modified version of Donkey Kong to record his scores rather than an arcade cabinet. The rumors were confirmed by high score tracking company Twin Galaxies, which stated that Mitchell’s scores weren’t possible unless they were made on the updated version of the game.

Since the discovery Mitchell’s scores were removed from Twin Galaxies and Guinness World Records books and now the disgraced pro gamer released a statement arguing his innocence. In it, he says that he is working on an argument for why his records should still stand. You can watch the video below as well as the original King of Kong documentary, which is available in full on YouTube. His statement in full is below.

“I’ve been asked to address things that are recently in the media. The fact of the matter is, now there’s a true professional due diligence being done to investigate things that happened as far as 35 years ago. In a professional manner, not in a shock-jock mentality designed to create hits. We will show that everything that has been done, everything was done professionally.

According to the rules, according to the scoreboard, the integrity that was set up. Not 2014-forward by the current regime, who wants to reach back 35 years. Everything will be transparent. Everything will be available.

I wish I had it in my hands right now, I wish I could hand it to you. But it’s taken a considerable amount of time. Witnesses, documents, everything will be made available to you. Nothing will be withheld. You absolutely have my commitment to that. We’ve been at this since 1982, and it’s not gonna stop now.”

In related news, Football Manager is out now on the Nintendo Switch.