Desert Bus for Hope takes off at 3pm Pacific/6pm Eastern today for the annual fundraiser and live stream marathon, supporting Child’s Play Charity.
The 24-hour, ongoing livestream will last as long as audiences are willing to donate. A team of volunteers will play the notoriously and hilariously boring game, Desert Bus.
Desert Bus was originally part of an unreleased Sega CD minigame compilation called Penn & Teller’s Smoke and Mirrors. It tasked players with driving a bus from Tuscon, AZ to Las Vegas, NV, an eight-hour trip across the desert.
The trip must be made in real time (eight hours), there are no obstacles or other cars, and the bus pulls slightly to the right, requiring constant attention by the player. If the route is complete without crashing, the player scores one point.
For 17 years, the trolling minigame has been elevated to legendary status thanks to Desert Bus for Hope, a fundraiser for charity where streamers and influencers play the boring game and others entertain them, and the livestreaming audience.
This year’s team consists of five rotating shifts and several notable guest stars, including magicians Penn and Teller, and band The Garages. Viewers can also donate via live and silent auctions for geeky prizes.
The Desert Bus fundraising results have been hugely successful. Last year’s marathon earned over $100,000 in donations, reaching lifetime donations of over $10.6 million since 2007.
