Newcomer sets all-time high score in Donkey Kong

Arcade gaming's most famous all-time record has a new owner: Robbie Lakeman, who on Thursday eclipsed the world high score for Donkey Kong by 3,200 points.

Robbie Lakeman (pictured) took down Hank Chien, who burst on the scene four years ago to wrest Donkey Kong's all-time high score away from rivals Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell, made famous in a 2008 documentary. Lakeman needed about four hours to reach 1,141,800; then he called and personally informed Chien he'd been knocked off.

Chien had taken the world record in February 2010, later surrendered it to Mitchell, who was then surpassed by Wiebe. Chien retook first place in February 2011 and better his score two more times, leading some to believe his scores were so high they could never be beaten.

But they were. You can watch his three hour, 50 minute assault on Chien's record here. Donkey Kong Blog has even more detail on what is now a four-way rivalry in a 33-year-old game.