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Desert Bus for Hope thread

halkunhalkun Registered User regular
edited December 2008 in Social Entropy++
I didn't see a thread.. so here it is.
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Desert Bus for Hope is a video-gaming marathon, broadcast live on the internet, in which a team of players control a virtual bus that drives an eight hour long strip of highway between Tucson, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada, on an endless loop. The game being played is a “verisimulator”; a tongue-in-cheek parody of other simulation games, which attempts to approximate the real-life situation of driving a coach bus as closely as possible, including the associated tedium. The player is required only to ensure that the bus stays on the road - If they crash, they are towed back to the start, and have to try again. Originally part of “Penn & Teller’s Smoke and Mirrors” Desert Bus is considered by many to be the most boring video game ever created.

Viewers are asked to donate money via the desertbus.org website, and as the dollar total rises, so does the length of time the team must continue driving the bus. According to Paul Saunders, one of the founding members of LoadingReadyRun, “The mixture of generosity and spite is a really powerful thing.” In order to limit the event to a few days, each additional hour costs more in donations than the previous hour did, until they become prohibitively expensive. Despite this limitation, though, last year’s event ran 108 hours long. Viewers are encouraged to participate by e-mail, or by live internet chat, where they can ask questions of the crew, make requests, and become an active participant. The first marathon was endorsed by Penn & Teller, the magicians who lent their name to the game being played. Both donated to the cause, and contacted the team by phone throughout the event.

Well, PA wanged the server. So they are now scrabbling to get things stable. The site is still there, but getting timeouts. The LRR guys are trying to get a mirror up. In the meantime, you can donate here directly to bypass the wanged server.

The direct stream to the Drivercam is here.
The direct stream to the Buscam is here.

Stop by and IRC as well.

Server: irc://chat1.ustream.tv
Channel: #desert-bus-drivercam

Call-ins From Famous Stars
Author Wil Wheaton, actress Felicia Day, and entertainers Penn and Teller call in from time to time to answer questions from fans and generally pal around.

Make the Monkey Dance
With a donation, you can make a request via IRC to make one of the LRR guys do something amusing or embarrassing.

Rock Band 2 Drawing
For every $20 donated, you get a chance to win a Full Rock Band 2 set, from Hamonix

[strike]Operation: Infinite Bus
Gabe and Tycho, starting now, will match all donations to Desert Bus For Hope, until they reach a cap of ten thousand dollars.[/strike]
Completed 8 hours after the challenge.

[strike]Bid for Epic Blizzcon Mount for World of Warcraft
In a few hours, they will be auctioning off a "Epic Blizzcon mount" for WoW.... Whatever that is. Evidently it's a "Polar Bear with a "Blizzcon" flag on it"[/strike]
Sold, was then given away to a member of the LRR team.

halkun on

Posts

  • RuckusRuckus Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    You misspelled stream. Twice.

    Ruckus on
  • JunpeiJunpei Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    And server

    Junpei on
  • MugginsMuggins Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Desert Bus is both the best game and the worst game

    Muggins on
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    hey satan...: thinkgeek amazon My post |
  • halkunhalkun Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Thanks I was typing this out as quick as possible.

    halkun on
  • TasteticleTasteticle Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    it was the best of games it was the blurst of games

    Tasteticle on

    Uh-oh I accidentally deleted my signature. Uh-oh!!
  • FutoreFutore Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    If i ever drove through the desert, I can't even tell you how many times I would masturbate into a cup

    Futore on
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  • MugginsMuggins Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Guys if you have like 3-5 hours to waste I highly recommend watching the Desert Bus LP.

    They read fanfiction throughout the whole thing

    Muggins on
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    hey satan...: thinkgeek amazon My post |
  • halkunhalkun Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I'm updating the OP with things get interesting.

    halkun on
  • DJ EebsDJ Eebs Moderator, Administrator admin
    edited December 2008
    what's hamonix

    DJ Eebs on
  • CrossBusterCrossBuster Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Veretas wrote: »
    Guys if you have like 3-5 hours to waste I highly recommend watching the Desert Bus LP.

    They read fanfiction throughout the whole thing

    That does not sound like good viewing.

    Not even a little.

    Is it fanfiction on the level of Peter Chimera?

    CrossBuster on
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  • nevilleneville The Worst Gay (Seriously. The Worst!)Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    halkun wrote: »
    I'm updating the OP with things get interesting.

    i assume more interesting than a page not loading
    which is what happens when i try
    :(

    neville on
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  • contrabandcontraband Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I think it's important to note that everything takes place in real time. It takes eight hours to hit Vegas, and eight hours back. If you crash, you're towed back to where you started, in real time.

    Desert Bus is beautiful.

    contraband on
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  • LanglyLangly Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I am going to donate to the Penny Arcade thing, but I think we will fail at our prideful attempt at infinity

    Langly on
  • halkunhalkun Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    neville wrote: »
    halkun wrote: »
    I'm updating the OP with things get interesting.

    i assume more interesting than a page not loading
    which is what happens when i try
    :(

    The server is wanged.. Try again, or click the ustream links above in the OP.

    halkun on
  • ChicoBlueChicoBlue Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    SHOOT PEOPLE

    FOR CHARITY

    ChicoBlue on
  • HacksawHacksaw J. Duggan Esq. Wrestler at LawRegistered User regular
    edited December 2008
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    SHOOT PEOPLE

    FOR CHARITY
    Now this is some altruism I can get behind.

    Hacksaw on
  • ChicoBlueChicoBlue Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Hacksaw wrote: »
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    SHOOT PEOPLE

    FOR CHARITY
    Now this is some altruism I can get behind.

    HACKSAW

    TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES

    ChicoBlue on
  • HacksawHacksaw J. Duggan Esq. Wrestler at LawRegistered User regular
    edited December 2008
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    Hacksaw wrote: »
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    SHOOT PEOPLE

    FOR CHARITY
    Now this is some altruism I can get behind.

    HACKSAW

    TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES
    But I'm at work!

    Hacksaw on
  • ChicoBlueChicoBlue Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Hacksaw wrote: »
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    Hacksaw wrote: »
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    SHOOT PEOPLE

    FOR CHARITY
    Now this is some altruism I can get behind.

    HACKSAW

    TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES
    But I'm at work!

    IT'S FOR CHARITY

    ChicoBlue on
  • SilmarilSilmaril Mr Ha Ha Hapless. Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    SHOOT PEOPLE

    FOR CHARITY

    Everytime I see your status I start to yell at the screen.


    Then I realise its you.



    And my heart is filled with pity.




    I have a tiny heart.




    That is already full.

    <3

    Silmaril on
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  • HacksawHacksaw J. Duggan Esq. Wrestler at LawRegistered User regular
    edited December 2008
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    Hacksaw wrote: »
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    Hacksaw wrote: »
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    SHOOT PEOPLE

    FOR CHARITY
    Now this is some altruism I can get behind.

    HACKSAW

    TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES
    But I'm at work!

    IT'S FOR CHARITY
    Well if it's for charity, I suppose I could relieve myself the burden of my garments.

    Hacksaw on
  • AfroJAfroJ Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Here's the process for how money donated equates to hours played:

    "How long the team has to play Desert Bus is determined by the donations we receive–The more you donate, the longer we play.

    In order to reflect the increasing challenge as the marathon goes on, the donations required to add another hour increase geometrically every hour.

    The first hour costs $1.00, and the cost-per-hour goes up by 7% every hour (meaning the second costs $1.07). This means that the 10th hour of busing costs $1.84 and total donations are $13.82, whereas the 40th hour costs $13.99 but has made a total of $199.64.

    The donation total in the sidebar will be updated frequently. Remember that we are using ChipIn to track our donations, so all your money is going directly to Child’s Play.

    Here is a very quick overlook:


    Total Money $10.26 = Hours 8 Days 0.33
    Total Money $102.07 = Hours 31 Days 1.29
    Total Money $1070.80 = Hours 64 Days 2.67
    Total Money $10 104.50 = Hours 97 Days 4.04
    Total Money $100 952.11 = Hours 131 Days 5.46
    Total Money $1 007 439.84 = Hours 165 Days 6.88
    Total Money $10 052 477.33 =Hours 199 Days 8.29
    Total Money $100 304 888.34 = Hours 233 Days 9.71
    Total Money $1 000 853 692.41 = Hours 267 Days 11.13
    Total Money $10 685 696 139.43 = Hours 302 Days 12.58
    Total Money $106 623 089 429.58 = Hours 336 Days 14"

    AfroJ on
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  • ChicoBlueChicoBlue Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Silmaril wrote: »
    ChicoBlue wrote: »
    SHOOT PEOPLE

    FOR CHARITY

    Everytime I see your status I start to yell at the screen.


    Then I realise its you.



    And my heart is filled with pity.




    I have a tiny heart.




    That is already full.

    <3

    I'M GOING TO DONATE THE 5 DOLLARS IN MY PAYPAL ACCOUNT TO DESERT BUS BECAUSE SILMARIL SUCKS

    ChicoBlue on
  • SilmarilSilmaril Mr Ha Ha Hapless. Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    ChicoBlue wrote: »

    I'M GOING TO DONATE THE 5 DOLLARS IN MY PAYPAL ACCOUNT TO DESERT BUS BECAUSE SILMARIL SUCKS


    Me sucking equates to Five whole bucks?



    Man, I've been undercharging!

    Silmaril on
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  • MugginsMuggins Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Chico you can help me make these eight hours go by real fast.


    with your penis

    Muggins on
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    hey satan...: thinkgeek amazon My post |
  • RuckusRuckus Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I just got the weirdest sense of deja vu.

    Ruckus on
  • MugginsMuggins Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    My penis tends to do that

    Muggins on
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    hey satan...: thinkgeek amazon My post |
  • SnowbeatSnowbeat i need something to kick this thing's ass over the lineRegistered User regular
    edited December 2008
    because it's so average?

    Snowbeat on
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  • MugginsMuggins Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    :rimshot:

    Muggins on
    BdVvFJu.jpg
    hey satan...: thinkgeek amazon My post |
  • halkunhalkun Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    UPDATE: They will be auctioning off a "Epic Blizzcon mount" for WoW.... Whatever that is. Evidently it's a "Polar Bear with a "Blizzcon" flag on it"

    halkun on
  • KaemonKaemon Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    halkun wrote: »
    UPDATE: They will be auctioning off a "Epic Blizzcon mount" for WoW.... Whatever that is. Evidently it's a "Polar Bear with a "Blizzcon" flag on it"


    >_> I can't see how that could be useful in anyway. But then again, I won't play WoW.

    Who really needs a Polar Bear?

    Anyway, I hope these guys get to the 45k. That would be purely amazing.

    Kaemon on
  • halkunhalkun Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    You have too see what they are doing... They are shaving Paul!

    halkun on
  • GravesGraves Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I almost made this thread yesterday.

    I decided not to.

    Graves on
  • zimfanzimfan Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Felica day?

    zimfan on
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  • KovakKovak did a lot of drugs married cher?Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    this is my favorite charity event ever

    there is nothing like trapping people in a horrible virtual roadtrip

    Kovak on
  • halkunhalkun Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    zimfan wrote: »
    Felica day?

    Half hour from now...

    halkun on
  • zimfanzimfan Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    halkun wrote: »
    zimfan wrote: »
    Felica day?

    Half hour from now...

    how'd that go

    zimfan on
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  • RobchamRobcham The Rabbit King of your pantsRegistered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Halkun your av creeps the fuck outta me

    Robcham on
  • AfroJAfroJ Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I won the polar bear mount last night and since I don't play wow anymore I gave it back to them.

    EDIT
    zimfan wrote: »
    halkun wrote: »
    zimfan wrote: »
    Felica day?

    Half hour from now...

    how'd that go

    Went well, she talked about The Guild and other geek related topics. She also donated season 1 of The Guild signed by the entire cast and it sold for $400. I would direct you to their ustream archive but it looks as though they didn't record her interview. There's some other stuff you might find amusing so here's the link anyway http://www.ustream.tv/loadingreadyrun/videos.

    AfroJ on
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