Roy Shildt

Roy Shildt, aka "Mr. Awesome," is a self-proclaimed fitness guru and pickup artist whose provision of a Donkey Kong circuit board to Steve Wiebe sparked the chain of events which comprised the documentary film The King of Kong.

Shildt was a "professional" gamer in the 1980s who claimed to hold the highest score ever recorded on a Missile Command game. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIsvRiiiVkQ Mr. Awesome Promo Video] Retrieved May 25th, 2008] The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Dir. Seth Gordon. Released by New Line Cinema, 2007.]

During his days as a gamer, Shildt claims to have been given the nickname "Mr. Awesome" by his fellow gamers; ever since, Shildt has largely used the moniker in place of his name, and often refers to himself in the third person as "Mr. Awesome." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIsvRiiiVkQ Mr. Awesome Promo Video] Retrieved May 25th, 2008]

Upset about the lack of press coverage for his achievement, Shildt became a fierce self promoter, appearing in a 1988 issue of Playgirl magazine and beginning work on the first "comic book autobiography". After his appearance in Playgirl, Shildt began publishing his personal information in magazines, including his IQ and sperm count. Shildt claims to have received dozens of calls in response to the ad, including one from Madonna and an unnamed male celebrity whom Shildt claims to have photographed performing oral sex on him. Shildt claims to have used these trysts for the basis of a dating program he formulated to help men pick up women. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIsvRiiiVkQ Mr. Awesome Promo Video] Retrieved May 25th, 2008]

Shildt rose to national prominence when he was featured in the documentary film The King of Kong. He is first mentioned as having provided Steve Wiebe, one of the film's two core subjects, the circuit board for his Donkey Kong machine. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Dir. Seth Gordon. Released by New Line Cinema, 2007.] After Wiebe breaks record holder Billy Mitchell's high score, Mitchell sends people to Wiebe's house to investigate the machine. They learn that the board was provided by Shildt, at which point the film delves into Shildt's history, and explains that Billy Mitchell brought Shildt's Missile Command score under scrutiny, preventing him from being recognized as the high score holder. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Dir. Seth Gordon. Released by New Line Cinema, 2007.] Ever since, Shildt and Mitchell have been embroiled in a bitter rivalry. Mitchell alleges that Shildt modified the circuit board that he provided to Wiebe, and as a result, Wiebe's score is nullified. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Dir. Seth Gordon. Released by New Line Cinema, 2007.] The remainder of the film follows Wiebe's quest to clear himself of any wrongdoing while at the same time re-claiming the high score; Shildt appears at the end to wish Wiebe success in his life, and also to continue promoting himself and his ongoing quest to be recognized as the Missile Command high-score holder.

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