The Speed Gamers return with another 72-hour marathon for charity

by Jordan Mallory on Dec 6th 2012 3:00AM

Texas-based marathon-gaming group The Speed Gamers is preparing for its annual winter charity drive once again, this year raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation through extensive exposure to Mario and his various exploits.

Starting at 7 p.m. Eastern on December 14, the group's non-stop 72-hour gaming session will work its way through a respectable block of Mario games, spanning the vastness of the plumber's body of work, both new and old. The whole event will be streamed live on the group's official website, where viewers can donate to not only help a worthy cause, but to also win prizes and play practical jokes on the marathoners.

So far this year, The Speed Gamers has already raised $59,324.36 for charity, thanks to its insane 168-hour Pokemon marathon last June. In total, the organization has accumulated $369,304.15 for various causes since it was founded in 2008.

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The AbleGamers Charity Launches New Service for Gamers with Disabilities

PRESS RELEASE

International Charity Sets New Milestone Opening First Physical Laboratory for Gamers with Special Needs

The AbleGamers Charity Launches New Service for Gamers with Disabilities

Harper’s Ferry, WV – Sept 11, 2013 – The AbleGamers Charity is thrilled to announce the opening of the first AbleGamers Lab for gamers with special needs. Located in the headquarters of the AbleGamers Charity just outside of Washington DC, the AbleGamers laboratory features all of the top-end gaming devices and cutting-edge assistive technology set up specifically to enable those with disabilities to play video games.

“This day has been nearly a decade in the making,” said Mark Barlet, Founder and Director of the AbleGamers Charity. “And up until this point, the AbleGamers lab has only been a dream.”

“But I’m proud to announce that this dream has become a reality,” he continued. “We already have our first appointment scheduled and will continue consulting with special needs gamers as quickly as we can. It is, has been, and will always be our primary goal to empower and enable any gamer with disabilities to play video games.”

“It’s all thanks to the community,” said Steve Spohn, Chief Operations Officer and Outreach Chair for the AbleGamers video game charity. “We have had a tremendous outpouring of generosity from the videogame industry and community over the last year. These amazing donors have enabled us to begin consulting with gamers one-on-one to figure out the exact equipment each individual needs to get back into the game.”

Consultation is free, but by appointment only. Each appointment lasts approximately 1-2 hours, but can sometimes take longer depending on the individual’s particular needs. For more information, gamers with disabilities and/or caretakers can email lab@ablegamers.com to schedule an appointment with one of our assistive technology specialists.

About AbleGamers

The AbleGamers Charity is a 501(c)(3) public charity that runs AbleGamers.com, which provides news and reviews on the accessibility of mainstream video game titles, as well as consultation on assistive technology. As an alternative to Serious Gaming, mainstream video games supply many disabled individuals and veterans with rehabilitation as well as social stimulation in situations where they may be otherwise shut out of society’s idea of normal everyday life.

[PR Email]

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Grasshopper announcing 'charity app' at streaming event March 30

by JC Fletcher on Mar 24th 2011 4:00PM

A Grasshopper Manufacture event originally announced in February will now serve as a charity function following the March 11 earthquake. The "Grasstream 2" event will be held at the Shinjuku Loft Plaza One venue on March 30, with ticket sales going to the Red Cross -- and it will also be streamed on Ustream in both English (thanks to 8-4) and Japanese.

That night, Grasshopper will show a new the GDC Shadows of the Damned trailer, accompanied by a talk by Suda 51 and audio director Akira Yamaoka. A new "charity app" will also be introduced on stage by model Kayo Sato and J-pop group Vanilla Beans. "If you own an iPhone or iPad," the announcement notes, "don't forget it!" This segment of the presentation is in the same time slot as the "new game announce" that was originally planned -- and features the same personalities on stage -- suggesting that a new Grasshopper-developed iPhone game is now being adapted for charitable purposes.

In addition, a No More Heroes 2 segment will feature music by Kazutoshi Iida, discussion from artists Yusuke Kozaki and Shigeto Koyama, and a talk by Suda about Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which is notably similar in story to No More Heroes.

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