VIDEO games have always inspired rivalry. Whether it’s trying to beat your best friend at Street Fighter II or jostling for a rocking score on Guitar Hero, competitiveness is at the very heart of playing.

Since the early days of Space Invaders, elite gamers have sought official recognition; proof of their innate superiority to other mere humans. But it’s only this year that Guinness World Records – the champion of all things fastest, biggest and longest – has chosen to spin off an entire separate compendium focusing on gamers. So why now?

“There’s been a long history of gaming records,” explains the book’s editor, Keith Pullin. “Guinness have been covering it in their main book since the early 1980s, but now felt like the right time to have a separate book as gaming has become so mainstream.”

Pullin – who admits to playing space trading classic Elite on his high school computers when he should have been completing a study project – says he’s landed his dream job. He got his start manning the phone on a Nintendo tips hotline, before eventually becoming a consultant for major companies like Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and Sony.

“The book was actually around two-thirds complete when I joined the team,” he says. “So I just had to make sure it was all hanging together and had an authentic video game feel. But it was a chance to write about something that I love and that I’ve been doing all my life.”

By its very nature, the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition 2008 is a book to dip into rather than read cover-to-cover; its comprehensiveness can at first be a bit intimidating.

As well as potted histories of the main consoles, an in-depth review of the past year in gaming, the top 100 arcade games and pages upon pages of high score tables, it also focuses on dozens of the most important games of the last few decades, listing not only the records but also intriguing trivia and fun facts. Did you know Link from Legend of Zelda had his own cartoon from 1989-1990? Or that Bubble Bobble has been converted to 24 different systems?

While admiring the skill and determination involved in achieving incredible scores or completing Resident Evil in less than an hour, Pullin admits some of his favourite entries are a little more offbeat.

“I love telling people about the guy who built ‘The Most Expensive Home Flight Simulator Cockpit’ in his lounge,” he says. “It took him eight years and cost around £132,000. It’s outrageous, it’s dedicated and it’s highly impressive, which ties in with the whole ethos of Guinness records.”

Although the 2008 edition has only just been published, Pullin’s team are already working on next year’s annual. The biggest games of 2008 – like Devil May Cry 4, Tomb Raider: Underworld, Rock Band and Gran Turismo 5 – will no doubt feature, but Pullin is keen to emphasise that new records can be set all the time. So if any fresh readers fancy their chances, how do they go about setting up a world record attempt?

“The best thing to do is visit our website, which takes you through the process step-by-step. We’re also keen to build a community where people can discuss existing records and point out if they’re wrong, and we’ll also be covering any high-profile record attempts. I see the book and website as being co-dependant.”

At the London launch of the book last month, some extremely skilled players set brand new records on Guitar Hero III. And this Tuesday, Guinness World Records is hosting an attempt at the ‘Largest Gathering Of People Dressed As Games Characters’, which at least sounds like it’ll be a raucous fancy dress party: how often do you get to see Mario dancing with Sonic? Expect some amusing photographs too on the website.

One last question: is it true that Pullin has to wear a stopwatch around his neck at all times, like the late, much-missed Guinness World Records adjudicator Norris McWhirter?

“Yes,” he jokes. “I even have to sleep with it on.”

The Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition 2008 is out now (www.guinness
worldrecords.com/gamers)