RED BANK, New Jersey (Achieve3000, November 19, 2019). Picture it: You're playing Fortnite or Super Mario Bros. Everything is going your way. You've avoided every electrical storm. You're racking up all the coins. And you're bound for glory. Now imagine that every successful move could put the world one step closer to finding a cure for cancer or providing medical care for those who need it most.
That's exactly what's happening on Twitch, a popular streaming platform owned by Amazon. Organizations like Games Done Quick (GDQ) are using Twitch to host video game fundraisers. Viewers can donate funds to charities as they watch the experts play. Forget Super Mario coins. We're talking millions of real dollars!
The experts who play the games are volunteers. They're essentially donating their time and video game talents. And they've often spent years mastering their methods. Called speedrunners (or just runners), these gamers try to break records while encouraging viewers to donate. They play through an entire game (or level) as quickly as possible. Just how quickly, you ask? One runner once played—and won—the entire game of Super Mario Bros. in 4 minutes, 55 seconds!
GDQ pioneered the streaming-for-charity movement and continues to host biannual speedrunning marathons: Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ) in June and Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) in January. The events bring players and fans together to fundraise for various charities. Money raised by SGDQ goes to Doctors Without Borders. The group sends doctors to poverty-stricken areas of the world. AGDQ raises money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, a group that focuses on outreach and cancer research.
These events, which consist of 24/7 game play for an entire week, have raised over $22 million for charity since 2010. Tickets to the events—capped at 3,000 spectators for AGDQ in 2020—typically sell out within 24 hours. But the action can also be seen from any streaming device. In 2017, AGDQ boasted 1.3 million viewers. That's a lot of eyes and, more importantly, a lot of opportunities for donation dollars.
But why are people so excited to watch others play video games instead of, say, playing themselves? There are several factors at play (pun intended) here. One is community interaction. Viewers aren't expected to be silent spectators in speedrunning events. Take the GDQ "couch." It's just like it sounds: a living room couch where other runners and the host sit behind the player of the game. There's a lot of friendly teasing and jokes (the couch even has its own Twitter account). And donors can join in on the fun by writing messages that may be read by the host for the couch and audience to hear.
Another bonus for viewers? Everyday gamers can learn strategies and tricks from the experts to improve their own game play. Both beginners and skilled players can learn moves and shortcuts that allow them to conquer their favorite games.
In June 2019, GDQ set a new all-time event record. It raised over $3 million in one week! But the organization isn't the only way video gamers are doing good. Twitch offers charity extensions on its platform. And since 2011, the company and its users have raised over $130 million in donations. The current record belongs to user DrLupo. He's raised over $1.3 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, mostly by playing Fortnite.
Many people once dismissed video games as a pointless pastime. But it's safe to say these gamers have gamed the system when it comes to raising money for important causes!
1. Based on the Article, which best replaces the question mark in the diagram above?
There is a large rectangle with a question mark in it. Above the rectangle, it says "Main Idea of the Article." Under the rectangle, there are three smaller boxes with arrows pointing up to the rectangle. Each small box includes a detail from the Article. The first box on the left says "Gamers play video games on the streaming platform Twitch ." The box in the middle says "The gamers are some of the fastest and best players around." The box on the right says "Viewers can donate money to different organizations."
Press enter to interact with the item, and press tab button or down arrow until reaching the Submit button once the item is selected
A. People who watch Games Done Quick marathons can virtually join in on the fun by writing messages that may be read by the host for the couch and audience to hear.
B. It's possible to attend a Games Done Quick event in person, but tickets were capped at just 3,000 people in 2020 and the marathon typically sells out within 24 hours.
C. Games Done Quick hosts video game marathons where gamers, called speedrunners, play through an entire game as quickly as they can with the purpose of raising money for charity.
D. One very talented speedrunner at a Games Done Quick event was able to complete an entire Super Mario Bros. game in an incredibly fast 4 minutes, 55 seconds.