Upcoming Gaming Marathons

(As a side note, you can check the GamingMarathon subreddit set up by directionalpad)

Audio Announcement

So, with the Rupeethon wrapping up later today, you might be wondering if there are any other video game marathons for charity coming up. Well, fear not, there are plenty in the coming weeks and months worthy of your attention (and donations, if you can spare any).

First up is the ExtraLives Bootleg Bonanza marathon, starting this Friday, 26 August. There’s been a lot of discussion behind the scenes and on the forums about what this marathon will be like, but decisions have now been made. Tim and the ExtraLives crew will be playing a number of pirated games (a full list of these games are on the site). Changing a bit from their usual style of only having the games on the visual side of their feed, Tim’s adding in a green screen that will allow for MST3K-style silhouettes of people there. This marathon should go on for about three days. This marathon will benefit Free the Children, a charity that constructs schools in developing nations.

The NESIT Marathon is starting up on 2 September. This will be that group’s first ever marathon, so tune and help out if you can. They’ll be playing through a number of Super Mario games, starting from the original trilogy on the NES through to titles on the Wii. Besides the main series, they’re throwing in three Mario Kart titles. Should be a great marathon. This marathon benefits Child’s Play Charity.

Following from there is the Mega Man for Healing marathon. They’ll be playing through Mega Man 1-10 and a few spin-off games. Further levels will be unlocked via donations, so if you want their marathon to continue, please donate. This marathon will benefit Child’s Play Charity.

Team Brocket, another newcomer to the gaming marathon scene, is doing their own Zelda marathon starting 1 September. Interesting notes about their plans include a three-heart run of Majora’s Mask, and the inclusion of both DS Zelda games (Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks). This marathon will benefit Child’s Play Charity.

October looks to be empty of gaming marathons at the moment. If you know of any happening in that month, please let me know.

November is when things pick up again. A group in the UK is doing their own Legend of Zelda marathon, but the timing and duration of their event (it starts on 11 November) allows for a rather awesome addition to their lineup. First off, they’re planning on playing 21 Zelda games, including the three atrocities that appeared on the Philips CDi. However, their marathon should extend to and a bit past the 18th of November, which is the release date in the UK for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and yes, that game is part of the latter end of their lineup of games to play. So, if you’re not too busy playing Skyward Sword, tune in and watch these guys play it. This marathon will benefit GamesAid, which is a broker that divides proceeds among five charities in the UK (Special Effect, Action For Kids, Winston’s Wish, Willow Foundation, and Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability).

On 25 November, the Mass Effect Marathon returns. They’ll be playing both games in that franchise that are out at this point. All sorts of shenanigans are in store for this marathon this year, so please tune in. This marathon benefits Child’s Play Charity.

18 November is when one of the biggest gaming marathons of the year starts. The fifth annual Desert Bus for Hope marathon begins at 6pm PST on that day. Join the LoadingReadyRun crew as they begin playing one of the worst games ever played. This marathon may only have one game, but the LRR crew makes it very entertaining, with donor challenges and special guests. The whole point of the Desert Bus game is that they have to drive a virtual bus from Tuscon, AZ, to Las Vegas, NV, a drive that takes eight hours of continuous play. This marathon benefits Child’s Play Charity.

So there you have it, a list of upcoming gaming marathons from now until November. If you are planning one, or know of one, that I haven’t listed here, please let me know and I’ll get the word out.