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The charity that wants video game karts in every hospital
In many ways, Jonathan Watson is like other 11-year-olds. He does his homework, dreams of becoming a doctor and plays video games when he can. Depending on the day, his favorite is either Minecraft or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Unlike most kids his age, though, Jonathan is at the hospital every three weeks for blood transfusions -- a procedure that can take up to six hours at a time. When I visited him at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he wasn't slaying dragons or building a pixelated fortress; he was replaying the opening levels of Rayman Legends on a kart that had just been wheeled in. The kart was donated by a local Eagle Scout who raised funds through the Gamers Outreach Foundation (GO), a nationwide charity that puts medical-grade gaming equipment in hospitals around the country. The "GO Kart" Jonathan was using included everything needed to play video games: a modest Samsung television, an Xbox 360 (though any console will fit) and a pair of gamepads. The kit itself is hardly revolutionary, but anyone who's schlepped their gear to a LAN party can appreciate the simplicity of this rolling, self-contained setup. At Mott and 19 other hospitals around the country, they're the most popular "toy" available. And when you're a kid with a medical condition like Watson's, it's easy to see why.
Extra Life 2011 charity event starts today, to raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
You may have already heard about this one, but in case not, know that starting today through tomorrow morning, quite a few folks online are going to be playing video games for 24 hours straight, aiming to raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The Extra Life Charity marathon is going on this weekend, and though players don't have to stream (or play the whole 24 hours, really -- it's all in good fun), lots of people will be doing so. Our very own Arthur Gies is even participating in the event all weekend long, as is Massively writer Beau Hindman. The Paragon Studios team will have a livestream up, Rift has a special in-game event going, and outlets like G4, GotGame, Aussie Gamer, and Platform Nation are all joining in to play and raise money. If you'd like to contribute, it's definitely not too late. Play some games, watch some people playing others, and by all means, head on over to the Extra Life site and donate a few bucks to the cause. It's great to see gamers come together in a huge event like this, to both celebrate the act of playing games, and of course raise some money for charity as well.
Comic Watch: Extralife goes for the gold
Ahh, gold farming. It is, if you'll excuse the pun, a gold mine of comedy. This was proven most recently in the webcomic Extralife, which shows us a meeting between a player and an enterprising businessman.Actually, while this is obviously humor, it does give one pause to consider what sort of life the actual farmers must lead. As with all such low-skilled labor, the profits for the people in charge are probably much greater than what the actual workers receive. That line about feeding the whole family for 3 months ... is it funnier if it's true, or just horrible?
Readers pick best webcomic: a Goomba's life
The life of a Goomba is boring, tragic and short. A webcomic on the life of a Goomba isn't, as Ninja Ken's strip (direct link) took top honors in this week's webcomic wrapup.Second place goes to RPG-TV (you'll need this for context) and third is a virtual tie between Extra Life and Dueling Analogs. Thanks to everyone who voted; this Saturday we're planning to do an all-BioShock wrapup, so be sure to let us know of any related comics you stumble upon! (Regular format will return the week after.)
Readers pick best webcomic: The Tournemon, Part One
We want a wall poster of the second slide from Penny Arcade's The Tournémon, Part One, this week's most popular gaming comic, so badly. We don't want to spoil it for you.Second place goes to Ctrl+Alt+Del and third place Extra Life. Thanks to everyone who voted and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!
Readers pick best webcomic: nightmares
It looks like ze secret formula has once again worked, as Scott Johnson's Extra Life strip claimed the top spot for best webcomic of the week.Coming in second place was Dueling Analogs, while the frisky VG Cats take third. As always, thanks to everyone who voted and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!
The plant has his time
We've played through enough Super Mario Bros. games to have learned that no pipe should be approached without caution. After a lifetime of suffering piranha plant attacks, always at the least opportune moments, we've trained ourselves to scrutinize every green tube before hopping over it. We'll sit there for up to two minutes, staking out the pipe to make sure there isn't a hidden fly trap hoping to dupe us with its delayed pattern. Sometimes, we'll even see their eyes poking out, anxious to see why we haven't jumped yet.These guys seem to pop up everywhere! In addition to their appearances in almost every Mario-related title over the past two decades, the piranha plants extended their roots to Tetris Attack and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening! They've also been spotted in last Wednesday's Extra Life comic, illustrated by the always-awesome Scott Johnson. It's a predictable punchline, but no less hilarious because of it. We implore you to check it out!
Readers pick best webcomic: Wii and my shadow
It's the punchline, really. Steve Napierski's Dueling Analogs bundles a PS3 with the Wii and takes home the Quidditch Gold Cup for Webcomics. (Yeah, we know that makes no sense.)Second and third places go to Digital Unrest and Extra Life, respectively. Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!
Readers pick best webcomic: tryouts
For the second week in a row, 2P Start has taken the top spot as the webcomic of the week -- they've come a long way since their start on Valentine's Day. Second place goes to Penny Arcade and Extra Life takes the third place position.Thanks to everyone who voted; be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!
Have Mario on your toilet seat
We've posted crazy eBay auctions before, mostly concerning massive collections. This is a bit more unique.Extra Life's Scott Johnson has sketched his rendition of Mario on what we hope is a brand new toilet seat. Of course, the jokes regarding an Italian plumber (never seen on the job, mind you) immortalized on porcelain are far too many. Johnson is putting the seat on eBay; the proceeds go to the charitable cause of himself -- specifically, he's putting it towards Photoshop CS3. Current bid is $72 and the minimum for Photoshop is $199 for the basic CS3 upgrade. The time lapse of his creation, featured on Extra Life TV #9 , is embedded after break.
Readers pick best webcomic: the real winner
Proving that the quality of clever observation can trump the importance of finished, colorful artwork, Scott Johnson's Extra Life took first place in this week's webcomic wrapup for understanding the real winner of the so-called "console wars." Second place goes to Ctrl+Alt+Del and third place goes to 2P Start. (Yes, Ray and Tim, we also wouldn't be surprised.) Thanks to everyone who voted and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomic you stumble upon this week!
Readers pick best webcomic: Hecker the Traitor
It may have required some background knowledge of 300 and Chris Hecker to understand, but the Joystiq webcomic lovers chose via parliamentary procedure 2P Start's entry as the best webcomic of last week.Second place went to Penny Arcade and third from Scott Johnson's Extra Life. Thanks to everyone who voted and be sure to let us know of any gaming comics you stumble upon this week!
Joystiq profiles Extra Life's Scott Johnson
Scott Johnson's Extra Life is a gaming strip that, much like Penny Arcade, is equal parts comic and blog. Johnson's embrace of the Internet and new media has put Extra Life into territories such as blogging, podcasting, and vidcasting. Johnson also contributed some spiffy Joystiq-themed banners for our trip to E3 last year. Chatting with us via e-mail, Johnson explains that there is, in fact, life outside of World of Warcraft.Who is the Scott Johnson outside of Extra Life?You mean my "Regular Life"? I am a 37-year old marketing director for a small web company in Salt Lake City. Happily married with three great kids. A video game freak at heart, beginning back in the 80's when I helped my Dad maintain three arcades and a burgeoning gaming business. People ask where I got hooked on gaming, and I tell them it in my basement, with free play turned on, burning the night away on Missile Command, Pac-Man and Burgertime, to name just a few. I was rather popular with the neighbors back then, as you might guess.
Readers pick best webcomic: Santa needs a Wii
Even the Jolly Old Man in Red can't seem to keep up the demand of children on his Good List this year. Joystiq readers en masse chose Extra Life's Santa Wii strip as the best weekly webcomic.Second place went to personal favorite Perry Bible Fellowship (even if the joke is reminiscent of a Simpsons' gag) and third place was claimed by perennial Joystiq commenter Game Boyz. Congratulations, and thanks to everyone who voted -- be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!
