Extra Life
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Hitting the Books: Thank a Swede for saving your life the next time you wreck your car
Thanks to the work of men with titles like, "The Father of Crash Survivability" and "The Fastest Man on Earth," as well as the tireless efforts from Volvo engineer, Nils Bohlin, motorists today have the best chance of walking away from a wreck in automotive history.
Twitch exceeds charity milestones, raises $90K for Typhoon Haiyan relief
Gaming-focused streaming service Twitch announced that its recently concluded Typhoon Haiyan charity drive raised a total of $90,000 for Red Cross relief efforts. Twitch solicited donations via a Teespring store advertised in channel pop-ups, with proceeds from all sales donated to the Red Cross. The site raised $82,751 from the sale of over 6,300 shirts, then kicked in an additional donation to raise the total pledge to $90,000. Twitch additionally announced that the Extra Life charity raised a record sum for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals this year, with many participants using Twitch channels to solicit donations. Over 7,500 Extra Life participants reported Twitch affiliation at signup, with collective donations reaching $1.22 million. [Pictured above: Danny Moresco (Red Cross volunteer), Victor Cordon (Corp. Developer Specialist, Red Cross), Emmett Shear (CEO/Founder, Twitch). Photo by Jarques Pretorius.]
One Shots: Sleep-deprived corgis
Extra Life, a fundraising marathon by gamers to help sick kids, recently concluded, and several MMOs featured events to support the effort. Reader Paul was part of one of these events in RIFT, although it quickly took a turn for the surreal. "This picture is from the corgi run that took place in the last hour of Trion's event," he wrote. "Basically we were all turned into corgis (and occasionally sheep too), and we took a mini-tour around the world of Telara. Sadly my computer was not able to render everyone there, and many more people were present than my picture shows. I enjoyed myself a lot during all 25 hours and would recommend that people don't hesitate to take part in next years." Now it's sleepy-time for Paul, but that doesn't mean that you can't stay up a few extra minutes to see what lies behind the curtain of secrecy in this week's column!
Extra Life raises record $3.8 million in 2013 despite Saturday's DDoS
Extra Life 2013 raised $3,809,607 for the Children's Miracle Network during this weekend's 25-hour charity game marathon – and it's not over yet. The Extra Life website came under a DDoS attack on Saturday, temporarily making donations inaccessible, and the team has scheduled a re-do day for Saturday, November 9. "I am not sure what kind of person would DDoS a charitable initiative," Extra Life founder Jeromy Adams wrote at the time of the attack. "I am so sorry that you are going through this frustration today. Our entire team is purely heartbroken that someone would do this. But it has happened. As frustrating as this is for everyone involved, it pales in comparison to what the kids we're trying to save go through. That reality, for me personally, is about the only thing keeping me somewhat calm right now." The makeup day is officially on Saturday, but participating teams can of course reschedule their streams any day they wish. Extra Life raised $2 million before the marathon and another $1.7 million over the weekend. The 2013 fundraising period ends on December 31.
Extra Life charity comes under DDoS attack [Update: Online once again]
Update 2: Extra Life has tweeted at 5:48 p.m. PT that the organization's website is once again live. Update: Extra Life has confirmed that it has been forced offline once again after battling back from a distributed denial-of-service attack earlier in the day. "We've been hit again but we're digging our heels in and will get things back up as soon as we can. Stick with us!" the organization tweeted at 4:45 p.m. PT. Original Story: Extra Life, a charity organization which raises money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, has had its website come under DDoS attack, according to a post on the organization's Facebook page. Jeromy Adams, founder and director of Extra Life, repeatedly apologized for the issue and asked fans to spread the word on "every form of social media" they could. "I am not sure what kind of person would DDoS a charitable initiative," Adams wrote." I am so sorry that you are going through this frustration today. Our entire team is purely heartbroken that someone would do this. But it has happened. As frustrating as this is for everyone involved, it pales in comparison to what the kids we're trying to save go through. That reality, for me personally, is about the only thing keeping me somewhat calm right now." Posts on the group's Facebook page say the page has been returned to normal and is now up and running, but at the time of this writing, it still seems to be experiencing difficulty.
Extra Life fundraising marathon begins tomorrow
It's once again time for gamers from around the world to come together for a cause with the annual Extra Life charity event. Every year, thousands of gamers commit themselves to playing video games for a whopping 24 hours straight from 8 a.m. November 2nd until 8 a.m. November 3rd. Participants are asked to raise money through their marathons by soliciting donations from family, friends, or even livestream viewers. In the end, all of the cash raised over the course of the event goes to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, where it's used to provide hospital treatment for children in need. But of course, if you're reading Massively, then you're probably an MMO fan, so perhaps you'd like to join one of your favorite MMO studios in its Extra Life efforts. Funcom, Trion Worlds, En Masse, and Turbine all have teams taking part in the event, so if you want to be a part of Extra Life and show your allegiance to one of those studios in the process, all you have to do is head over to that team's Extra Life page and click "join team." Not only do all players who register for Extra Life get a digital copy of Defiance and a RIFT starter pack (for free!) just for signing up, but many of the studios are holding events and prize giveaways for players who participate under their banners. Know of other MMO studios or individuals playing MMOs for charity this weekend? Share links in the comments and spread the love.
Extra Life and Sony partner for 25-hour charity drive
Charitable foundation Extra Life is teaming up with Sony Computer Entertainment America to host this year's series of 25-hour gaming marathons to raise money for hospitals within the Children's Miracle Network. The first 50,000 participants that raise $10 or more will earn a 30-day PlayStation Plus membership. The first 20,000 that clear the $25, $50 and $75 goals will win When Vikings Attack, Wipeout HD and LittleBigPlanet Vita, respectively. The event's grand prize consists of a 1 year PS+ membership and "a lineup of PS4 games" that includes Knack, Killzone: Shadow Fall and Driveclub. It will be awarded to the team that raises the most funds from today until 8am PST on November 3. If you're interested in participating, sign up here. Due to laws in the UK and Australia restricting the ability of non-profit organizations to raise funds in either country, international participants will need to play their marathons for the benefit of the international efforts of three hospitals: Boston Children's, SickKids in Toronto, or Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Preparing for the Mad King in Guild Wars 2
By now, Lion's Arch probably looks a little different than we're used to. It had already taken on a decidedly ghoulish cast in Guild Wars by Friday, so I guess the Mad King's influence shifted by a few calendar days over the course of the 250 years between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2. Longtime fans of the original game don't need a lot of convincing to get anxious for the fulfillment of the spooky foreshadowing that's been going on for the past week or two. For those of you whose knowledge of Tyrian lore is either developing or a wee bit rusty, let's take a look at what's in store. Let us begin with a question. Why can't you borrow money from a Dwarf?
Massively's Beau Hindman streaming 24 hours of gaming for Extra Life charity
It's that time of year again! What time, you say? After all, it's too early for Halloween and Thanksgiving. It's never too early for games, though, and it's time to play them for 24 hours straight and raise money for Extra Life and the Children's Miracle Network Hospital! I've participated in this event for the last several years, sometimes taking along other friends, co-workers and wives. This year is no different and in order to keep me awake and on my toes I will be livestreaming the entire event on our very own MassivelyTV channel. That's right: you can watch as I slowly disintegrate into a pile of goo over the course of the day. Don't fret... a lot of other gamers and developers will be participating, so I won't feel alone. You can join my team if you want to game all day or just donate directly to my page. Starting at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, October 20th, I will begin broadcasting a list of approximately 24 games randomly chosen throughout the day. There's no real science to it, and if I happen to be having a ton of fun in one particular game then I might just continue playing it. Feel free to come suggest games in the chat room. I might even have another Massively staffer or two jump on the stream with me, or take over the stream when I need to fix a sandwich. The real reason I'll be there is to raise money for sick kids. Every cent goes to the charity, and so far Extra Life has raised millions! Wish me luck, and bring coffee!
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.
Play games, heal kids: It's time for Extra Life 2011
Extra Life is upon us once again. Arguably the biggest annual charity event in the gaming world, Extra Life challenges gamers from all over to round up sponsors for their individual gaming marathons in support of Children's Miracle Network hospitals. Massively's own Beau Hindman will be one of those stepping up to the plate for a 24-hour gaming marathon. He'll be on Massively's Livestream channel beginning tomorrow morning, October 15th, at 9:00 a.m. EST to stream a variety of games. Want to help out? Visit Beau's donation page to contribute any amount, then check out his Livestream beginning tomorrow morning. Want more? Follow along after the jump for a roundup of our Extra Life posts from this week, and be sure to leave a comment and let us know about other MMO-related Extra Life events -- particularly those that you're involved in!
Paragon Studios games for charity with Extra Life
Paragon Studios, being the charitable bunch that it is, has announced that on Saturday, October 15th, it will be taking part in the Extra Life charity event. The game-for-charity marathon benefits the Children's Miracle Network and its associated hospitals, making it a more-than-worthy endeavor. The studio will be streaming its contribution to the event on its Ustream channel this Saturday, so players can tune in, relax, and banter with the devs. And of course, if you're feeling particularly generous, you can donate to Paragon's Extra Life marathon. For more information about the event, check out its official site, and be sure to tune in to Paragon's stream this Saturday.
Funcom signs on for Extra Life charity event
Trion isn't the only MMO studio ponying up for charity on October 15th. Funcom is also partnering with Extra Life for a bleary-eyed 24-hour gaming marathon designed to raise money and awareness for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Here's how it works: You'll need to register with Extra Life and collect pledges from friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else you come across. Then you can join either the Age of Conan or Anarchy Online in-game event and try to stay awake. What's in it for you? Well, aside from doing the right thing to help a bunch of kids in need, you might win beta access to The Secret World. While you're at it, don't forget to follow Massively's own Beau Hindman (and donate as much as you're able) as he embarks on his own Extra Life marathon.
RIFT Extra Life charity event coming in October
If you're feeling charitable this year but don't want to take time to log out of your favorite MMO to make a donation, Trion Worlds is offering you the next best thing. October 15th marks the date of RIFT's Extra Life event, which will feature a 24-hour gaming marathon designed to put a little coin in the pocket of the Children's Miracle Network. How does it all work? First you'll need to register with Extra Life and decide whether you want to play as part of a team or as an individual. Then you'll need to spread the word to family, friends, and anyone else who might be willing to sponsor your 24-hour Telara marathon. Finally, you can join up with Trion staffers in-game on the 15th and do your part for charity. There are a couple of pretty cool rewards on tap too, namely in-game titles like "the Charitable" (for all participants), and "the Insomniac" (for those who manage to last the entire 24 hours). You can find more details on the RIFT forums and at the Extra Life website.
You can game and give for good on Xbox 360 October 1
Microsoft is looking to chip in for charity through a new initiative on October 1 called Gaming and Giving for Good. All you have to do to get involved is register and get to gaming online. Basically, family and friends pledge money for each hour you game online. Don't have Gold? Don't sweat it -- by registering, you'll get a free weekend of Gold so you can fulfill your end of the bargain. All proceeds benefit Extra Life, a fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals which supports over 170 hospitals across North America. GameStop has partnered with Microsoft to host in-store events promoting the Gaming for Good event.
Join Massively's Seraphina Brennan for a 24-hour Extra Life gaming marathon
The Extra Life charity gaming marathon is always a source of excitement for the Massively staff. We love the event and are thrilled to see gamers reaching out to help the Children's Miracle Network. Are you interested in the event, but not sponsoring or watching anyone in particular? Our very own Seraphina Brennan will be gaming for 24 hours on behalf of Extra Life and the Children's Miracle Network. You can keep an eye on events, participate in the chat, and offer tips, all through our Livestream feed. Check it out below and on Massively TV at Livestream!
Extra Life extravaganza: Donate to (and watch) our 24 hours of live marathon MMO gaming
Hey Massively readers! We need you guys to rally up and help us help an awesome cause! As we reported on earlier, the Extra Life charity video game marathon is going on this weekend, and we're participating in it! Beau Hindman and I (Seraphina Brennan) will be stepping up to our keyboards for 24 hours of non-stop grinding this weekend, and we'd love it if you could support us! Extra Life is asking for donations of $24 (but you can donate whatever amount you wish), and this year the money is going to Children's Miracle Network. Beau is supporting the Texas Children's Hospital, while I will be supporting the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Every dollar donated is 100% tax deductible and will go towards helping out these two fine hospitals and the many kids who depend on them. So please click on this link to support Beau, or click on this link to support me (Seraphina). If you're participating, you can also join our site's team and lend your fundraising efforts to the Massively.com Mob! For more information on participating, check out the Extra Life homepage here. Even if you can't spare the money, you can still join us this weekend and cheer us on as we livestream our gaming to the masses! I will be livestreaming my gaming on Massively TV, while Beau will be streaming on his own channel, Beau Turkey TV. The madness begins at 9:00 a.m EDT for Beau and me, but you can drop by at any time that day to watch us and cheer us on! Please contribute if you can. Every amount helps, and your donations will help give kids an extra life in their fight!
Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling to be noob tubed for charity
Is there anything worse than succumbing to the grenade launcher -- AKA the dreaded noob tube -- in Modern Warfare 2? Several scientific studies (not really) have shown that there is not. And yet, Infinity Ward's Robert "fourzerotwo" Bowling has agreed to do just that. As part of an Extra Life charity gaming marathon supporting Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Bowling has agreed to a match of Modern Warfare 2 with Pixel Enemy's BrassMonkeigh. Furthermore, Bowling will actually allow himself to be noob tubed during said match. Bowling is hoping to raise $5,000 with his marathon, with users contributing $1 for each of the 24 hours he will be playing various games. With a degrading noob tubing on the table, we can only hope he reaches his goal. If you're interested in setting up your own charity marathon (with or without celebrity pwning), head over to the Extra Life charity website.
It's time to play games and heal kids with Extra Life
It's time once again to start registering for Extra Life. If you've been a member of the gaming community for a while, you're probably aware of this great charity event started by the Sarcastic Gamer blog. If you're unfamiliar with it, Extra Life is a 24-hour gaming marathon to benefit your local children's hospital through the Children's Miracle Network. Players sign up individually or as a team, gain sponsors willing to pledge $1 per hour, and play for 24 hours straight. Last year the organization raised over $150,000, and the organizers would love to see that number exceeded this year. Hundreds of gamers, including our very own Beau, have signed up to participate in this event, which begins October 16th. You can sign up as a participant through the site, or as a sponsor through the individual gamer pages.
Sunday Morning Funnies: Epic win
First of all, I would like to congratulate Keyra for winning the virtual cookies! This batch is vegan upon request, comes with a nice tall glass of cold soy milk, and I'll even throw in some fresh berries. Khloe Kardashian was the right answer to last week's impromptu trivia question! Watch out for this week's trivia question, buried in amongst the comics. Unfortunately, I didn't receive any new comic tips, but I don't think you'll be disappointed! On a side note, I feel very lucky that photographing one's collection of My Little Ponies is a relatively popular occurrence, for how else would I have found such a lovely epic pony? I had more to choose from than I would have imagined, but I finally narrowed it down to the lucky pony on the right.
