Desert Bus for Hope takes the world’s most boring video game and turns it into a gigantic fundraiser.
Feelgood Friday: Raising Millions for Charity by Playing the World’s Most Boring Game
Written by Ollie Bradley at 11/17/2022, 11:08 PM
We've got a lot of respect for video game fundraisers. But it has to be said that while staying up for a 24-hour game-athon might be a little rough on the eyes and enthusiasm, it's something we've all thought we can achieve if we had the right selection of games to entertain us. Hell, for some people it's a standard weekend. But if the game itself was a chore, that's another story.
This was the reasoning of internet comedy sketch group LoadingReadyRun when they began Desert Bus For Hope - the world's longest running internet-based fundraiser that has, to date, raised over $9million for Child's Play. And they are currently in the throes of their 16th event.
Desert Bus For Hope is a charity gaming stream with a twist. Because their game of choice, Desert Bus, is widely considered to be the most boring video game that one can play.
The unreleased Sega CD game was created by famous illusionists Penn & Teller as a satirical response to the anti-video game lobby. In it, players must drive a bus for eight hours through a desert road connecting Las Vegas, Nevada and Tucson, Arizona. That's it. That's the game.
To maximize the torment, however, players are unable to pause for the whole trip, and can't even leave the controller as the temperamental vehicle will always list to the right, forcing players to stay somewhat alert to keep on-course.
Not content with using a generous helping of tedium to fuel their fundraising efforts, LoadingReadyRun have even doubled down on the time-frame. Currently in their fifth day of streaming, the team have been known to go a full seven days hauling that busted-up bus through the desert.
Of course, it's not all doom and boredom. Throughout the stream, the host of funny guys (who we can only assume are working in shifts) are subjected to tasks, games, and challenges so that their brains don't suffer the same fate as the insects on the bus's windshield.
All in all, this live stream of the world's most boring video game is genuinely quite entertaining. So give it a watch and, while you're at it, why not throw a donation their way for Child's Play.