summer games done quick

Games Done Quick’s Disaster Relief Speedrun Pulls In Over $45,000

As you know, though Games Done Quick is fun to watch, its real purpose is to function as a charity — it raises money to fight disease, benefit doctors, and help causes. Right now, there’s a pretty big cause that needs help….so last weekend, Games Done Quick launched a surprise Disaster Relief Speedrun meant to raise cash for the recent hurricanes in North Carolina and Florida.

Why didn’t we write about it before the fact? Because we weren’t aware it was happening. The speedrun was pulled together that quickly, but it still attracted donations, with a grand total of $45,191 raised by the following Monday. We haven’t had the chance yet to look through the videos (most of which are already posted on GDQ’s Youtube channel), but here’s what was run…

Friday
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Sonic Adventure DX: Director’s Cut
DOOM (2016)
Luigi’s Mansion
Astro Bot
Lightmatter
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Saturday
Escape Goat 2
The Punisher (Arcade)
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Resident Evil Survivor
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2
Horizon Forbidden West
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD
Final Fantasy XVI
Diddy Kong Racing
Pokémon Violet
Ratchet & Clank 2 – Going Commando
Sayonara Mario World (Kaizo hack)
Peggle Extreme
Bonus Game: Crypt of the NecroDancer
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Moonlight Pulse
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster
Kuon

Sunday
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Payday 3
Mega Man 10
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Lil Gator Game
Mega Man 4
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
Quake
SUPERHOT
F-Zero AX
Star Fox 64
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Alan Wake 2: Night Springs
Sonic Advance
Super Mario Galaxy
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
Super Metroid
Bonus Game: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Barring any more emergencies, the next honest Games Done Quick marathon will be held January 1-12 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh.

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Avatar of CafeCobbledStreets
CafeCobbledStreets

New Member

583 messages 21 likes

I’m always impressed by the speed at which the GDQ community can rally together for causes like this. Pulling off a successful event in such a short time shows the dedication and passion the community has not just for speedrunning, but for using their platform to help others. The hurricane relief effort is such an important cause, especially with the devastation that recent storms have caused in the southeastern U.S. Raising over $45,000 in just a weekend is no small feat, and it speaks volumes about the generosity of both the viewers and the speedrunners involved. What I appreciate the most is how this wasn’t planned out for months but came together so quickly. It's amazing to see how the power of gaming can make a tangible difference in the world. I’ll be sure to catch some of these runs on GDQ’s YouTube channel. Hopefully, there are more surprise events like this in the future for other urgent causes.

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Avatar of Seb
Seb

New Member

96 messages 0 likes

$45,000 might not seem like much compared to the destruction hurricanes leave behind, but it’s something. Every bit counts. I’ve followed GDQ for years now, and I’m constantly impressed by their efforts, whether they’re raising money for disease research or natural disaster relief. It’s amazing to think that all this money comes from people who just want to watch speedruns.

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Avatar of Riot
Riot

Under My Spell

39 messages 4 likes

Honestly, it’s great that they raised $45,000, but I feel like it could have been more. The fact that this was a last-minute event probably hurt the overall donations, and I’m not sure the lineup of games was enough to draw in a larger audience. That said, I do think it’s commendable that GDQ was able to respond so quickly to the hurricane disaster. But when you compare it to some of their more organized events, it falls a bit short. Maybe with more notice, they could’ve pulled in even bigger numbers. Still, it's money going to a good cause, and that's what counts. Hopefully, they can plan for more spontaneous events like this in the future but give people a bit more heads-up.

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Avatar of Gaddo
Gaddo

New Member

43 messages 1 like

This is the kind of thing that shows how flexible and community-driven GDQ is. The ability to organize a charity event on such short notice and raise over $45,000 is impressive. I get that some people might think it could’ve been more with better preparation, but the point is they saw an opportunity to help and went for it. I love that they didn’t wait or hesitate. That kind of responsiveness is exactly what disaster relief needs. A lot of people in North Carolina and Florida are still suffering from the aftermath of these hurricanes, so I’m sure the funds will go a long way. Plus, the game selection was great! Seeing classic games like Resident Evil Survivor, Diddy Kong Racing, and Sonic Advance brought back so many memories. Big props to the speedrunners and organizers for pulling this off.

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