Guinness World Record holder John Bates
ONALASKA, Wisc. -- Onalaska, Wisconsin is not number one on the list of places you'd expect to find an elite video game player.
Here in this quiet community, 85-year-old John Bates is bowling for the record books. He's the best Nintendo Wii bowler in the world.
"Its not as easy, the game is not as easy as it sounds," says Bates. "There's no doubt about it."
For the past two years, John has perfected the art of Wii bowling. Game after game, strike after strike. The retired high school principal is compiling the records to the tune of 3,300 perfect 300 games.
He submitted his detailed notes to the Guinness World Records, when a few weeks ago; he officially became the record holder for the most perfect games in Wii bowling.
"I worked very hard on this," says Bates. "I've tried different areas of the bowling alley and it took quite some time before I moved all the way over."
John is referring to his unorthodox style of bowling. He lines Billy, his character, in the gutter and throws across the lane. He keeps two hands on the controller and lifts straight up for the perfect bowl.
He's only rolling for strikes, and if he gets a spare he starts over.
John also bowls competitively in real life, which is partly why he's so good on the Wii.
"Of course, there's the same amount of pins down there, plus the sound effects are pretty much the same."
He never plays more than 21 games a day which is why "it never gets boring for me, its a challenge."
John says he'll keep bowling perfect games as long as he can. After all, there's nothing like saying you're the best in the world.
"I am right now. That's the title I have. The best in the world in Wii bowling. It makes me pretty happy just to think about it."
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