An Interview With Billy Mitchell

The world's first perfect Pac-Man player.

On July 1, 1999, Billy Mitchell of Florida scored the world's first (and only) perfect game of Pac-Man. This means he cleared all 256 boards, ate all the bonus fruit and four ghosts with each power pellet, and didn't die. His final score was 3,333,360 points. The game lasted over six hours and landed Billy in the Twin Galaxies Videogame Hall of Fame. Videogames.com caught up with Mr. Mitchell recently to ask him a few questions about Pac-Man, his accomplishment, and life in general.

GS: Why Pac-Man?

Billy: Because Pac-Man is the Cadillac of games. The most distinguished game. The most legendary game. In fact, the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard and the Classic Gaming Expo '99 proclaimed Pac-Man the "Game of the Century" at the recent CGE '99 in Las Vegas and at the Tokyo Game Show, where Walter Day [a Twin Galaxies referee] presented a framed, ornate certificate to Mr. Masaya Nakamura [President of Namco] attesting to this fact. In other words, Pac-Man is the game to beat. And whoever beats it is the Heavy-Weight Champion of the Video Game World. Also, beating Pac-Man was a challenge that was irresistible. Out of the ten billion times that Pac-Man was played during the last 20 years, no one had beaten the game. I decided that I had to be the first.

GS: You mentioned you're planning on beating your record, timewise, in just over three hours.

Billy: There are two categories of Pac-Man score recognized by the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard. I have already won my place in video-game history by being the first player to achieve a perfect Pac-Man game. This means that the Twin Galaxies record book will permanently recognize me as the Pac-Man champ. However, the other category of score is for the fastest perfect Pac-Man score. Being a serious competitor, I plan to hold that record too, and I believe that I can lower the time to just under 3:45 hours. The person who knows the game best is also the person who can finish a perfect game the fastest. It is possible that in time others will also achieve a perfect game. However, history will honor the fastest time as the best performance.

GS: How do you prepare for this?

Billy: Practice, practice, practice. Mental preparation and lots of hot sauce. I get mentally psyched and will not accept anything less than victory. I'm just too damn stubborn.

GS: You've stated that you didn't use any patterns while beating the game. How is this possible?

Billy: I understand the behavior of the ghosts and am able to manipulate the ghosts into any corner of the board I choose. This allows me to clear the screen with no patterns. This was a more difficult method for the initial 18 screens. I chose to do it this way because I wanted to demonstrate the depths of my abilities. I wanted to raise the bar higher - to a level that no one else could match.

GS: Were there any moments when you were afraid you'd had it? Getting crowded in by ghosts, racing for a power pellet?

Billy: There were numerous times that I had difficulties. On the 16th board I thought they had me pinned. However, I managed to get out of my problems. However, from the 21st board onward (345,000 points) I never made another bad turn until 1.9 million. I entered a rough period where my psychology was overshadowed as I realized I had over 100 more boards to go. I cheated death again and again. At approximately 2.1 million I mentally and verbally coached myself in order to continue onward. After 2.1 million and onward I was free from mistakes.

GS: How did you feel when you realized you had finally done it?

Billy: I was relieved. I could now quit playing Pac-Man. There was nothing further I could accomplish. The 17-year journey had finally come to a close. However, now I am resolved to continue on competing, dominating any new Pac-Man titles that come out.

GS: How has your life changed since you scored the first perfect game?

Billy: People recognize me on the streets. The media calls nearly every day. Some of the media invitations are very interesting, but, at this time, I have to keep them secret. Many big companies have shown interest in doing promotions with me, and I was crowned the Player of the Century by the Classic Gaming Expo '99 and the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard during the recent convention in Las Vegas. This award was given for my accomplishments over the last 17 years, which included more world records on more prominent games than any other player in history. This award was also presented to me by Mr. Masaya Nakamura onstage at the Tokyo Game Show in front of a crowd of thousands.

GS: Do you have any plans to take on other Pac-Man games, like Ms. Pac-Man? Billy: I am already only a razor's edge behind the Ms. Pac-Man world record holder, Chris Ayra of Miami, Florida, who also is my best friend. I will challenge his supremacy soon. Meanwhile, Pac-Man World 2000 is my next conquest, and I plan on spending a lot of time learning the game.

GS: What do you think of the new Pac-Man titles?

Billy I think that Pac-Man World is awesome. It offers the original, classic Pac-Man as well as modern versions. This new edition is a very challenging version and will become a very successful member of the Pac-Man family.

GS: Do you own a Pac-Man machine?

Billy: Yes, I have one in my home and one at each of my offices.
GS: Do you have any problems with a particular ghost, or are they all the same in your eyes?

Billy: I don't have any problem with any of the ghosts. Remember, I'm perfect.

GS: Any other thoughts or comments you'd like to share with us?
Billy: All my life I wanted to do something unequivocal... and I haven't done it yet.

Click to enlarge

Special Bonus Question: What happened to that quarter?

Billy: It was a token.

Twin Galaxies referee Walter Day looks on as Billy Mitchell scores the world's first perfect Pac-Man game.