We announced our plan for GameBlast24 in September.
Pete and I have taken part in this annual streaming marathon since the first event in 2014. Every February, we join hundreds of gamers all over the UK for extended gaming sessions on Twitch with the aim of raising funds and awareness for the awesome SpecialEffect.
The charity transforms the lives of people with physical challenges through the innovative use of technology. At the core of their mission is their work to optimise inclusion, enjoyment and quality of life by helping individuals to control video games to the best of their abilities. This not only brings families and friends together but has a profoundly positive impact on confidence too.
Next year, our Pixels to Pavements format will see us taking part in two types of long-distance event for SpecialEffect. I’ll be lacing up my running shoes to hit the streets for the London Marathon on Sunday, 21 April 2024 and you can find out more in this update. Before that however, Pete will be joining me for a 24-hour streaming session from 08:00 on Saturday, 24 February 2024 for GameBlast24.
It’s never too early to start planning the stream and we usually begin thinking about the games we’re going to play around this time of year. We’ve switched up the format in recent times so it’s been a while since we last went live for a 24-hour period – three years according to my last post about GameBlast. Back when we did this duration annually, we used to split up the session into eight three-hour sections during which we’d play a different genre of video game.
This always felt like a good format because it meant that no game outstayed its welcome and there was something to suit everyone on the schedule. It therefore makes sense to return to it again for the next event. The question is now though: what are the genres going to be this time around and when can you expect to see them on Twitch? The following schedule may end up changing over the next three months but here’s what we’re going with at the moment:
| Day | Time | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 24 February 2024 | 08:00 GMT | Platformer |
| 11:00 GMT | Retro | |
| 14:00 GMT | FMV | |
| 17:00 GMT | Adventure | |
| 20:00 GMT | Action | |
| 23:00 GMT | Horror | |
| Sunday, 25 February 2024 | 02:00 GMT | Something different |
| 05:00 GMT | RPG | |
| 08:00 GMT | Stream ends |
This leads us on to the next question: which games are going to be selected for each of these genres? This is where we’d like to ask for your help. If there’s a particular release you’d like to see or a certain title which would be great for streaming, please get in touch or let us know in the comments below. Seeing as I recently wrote about the use of AI in video games, I thought it would be rather apt to ask ChatGPT for its suggestions to give us all a bit of inspiration:
- Platformer: Celeste
- Retro: DOOM
- FMV: The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker
- Adventure: Thimbleweed Park
- Action: Dying Light
- Horror: Layers of Fear
- Something different: an escape-room-in-a-box
- RPG: Final Fantasy XIV
You’ve got until Monday, 20 December 2023 to let us know your suggestions before our next GameBlast24 update. In this, we’ll be combining all the suggestions received into a series of polls so everybody has the chance to vote on the games they’d like to see make the cut. There’ll also be some news about a potential 12-hour stream on New Year’s Eve to get us in the right frame of mind for the marathons, so keep your eyes peeled for details soon!
If GameBlast sounds like something you’d like to take part in yourself, keep an eye on the official website for registration. There’s also plenty of useful information on the SpecialEffect website including details about other events you can get involved in. It’s time to help everybody get back in the game.
I’d second ChatGPT’s suggestion of Celeste for the Platformer. Little worried that y’all will find it a bit frustrating, but I know a handful of different folks that aren’t the best at platformers who both finished it, and really enjoyed it when they did.
Not sure on the other categories though. I’m sure other folks will have excellent suggestions.
You’re the fifth person who’s mentioned Celeste now, so it’s a popular suggestion. It’s one we’ve never had on the schedule before because – yep, you guessed it – it’s probably too difficult for us! But who knows, maybe this is the year we give it a try.
Yeah I was thinking it may be too “tough” for a stream, but the plentiful difficulty options could make it palatable. 🙂
I feel like Pete and I are only people who haven’t played Celeste at this moment ha ha! I didn’t realise there were difficulty options though – I’d only heard it was ‘tough’ – so maybe it could work. Platformers are never going to be our strong point so we’re going to be terrible at whichever game gets voted for. 😉
Yeah, Celeste has an Assist Mode which lets you really tailor the game to your needs. You can add extra dashes when you are in mid-air, slow the speed of the game, become invincible, or even skip sections if you are super stuck. It is really in depth 😀
Hmm ok… looks like it’s available on Game Pass at the moment so let’s download it and give it a try.
I’m a big platformer buff, but feel if I make recommendations you’ll probably hate playing them in the end lolz. But Celeste is very famous, a modern classic. You may find it frustrating. It’s a mental health game, though, so perhaps worth the trip for you!
I can suggest ElecHead or Runner2 instead. The latter is a great fun rhythm game.
Other suggestions:
Something different: SPACEPLAN (great fun clicker game with spuds)
Retro: Doom 64 or Turok Dino Hunter or Rayman Origins or Earthworm Jim 2
What, no Duck Hunt?!
You have 24 hours to fit it in, so why not!? Only problem is the game has a replayability value of a couple of minutes.
Fair point! Earthworm Jim 2 is a pretty good shout though. I’m wondering how much I’m going to have to donate to persuade Pete to do an associated cosplay…
Pete has his Pikachu onesie and he’ll find that very comfy for the 24 hour duration.
Those Pokémon onesies are horrible, they’re not the nicest thing to spend 24-hours in! 😆
I guess they won’t be putting that as a review on the front cover.
They can use Pete’s usual testimonial instead: ‘It’s alright.’
lolz I’m sold I’m getting one.
For some reason Minit came into my head as a fun game to include in a gaming marathon, if you haven’t already played it. Not sure what category it would fall under, though. Action, maybe?
I do find ChatGPT’s suggestion of Final Fantasy 14 rather amusing, for a three hour timeslot. I love the game, but being an MMO it’s a slow burn, and I know you’re not the biggest fan of the franchise either!
For “Something else”, how about some Jackbox games, or similar, with chat joining in? Not sure if I’d be awake at 2 am to join in. Just thought might be a bit less taxing on brainpower than trying to solve an escape-room-box with no sleep.
ChatGPT is such a joker. I thought I’d leave that suggestion in there as it would give a few people a laugh. 😉
I’ve got a few ideas for slower-paced things which might work during the quiet 02:00 to 05:00 slot. Someone has suggested a TTRPG during that period too, although I think that might end up getting pretty crazy with Pete playing after being awake for 16 hours!
Literally laughing out loud at the fact ChatGPT wants you to play another Final Fantasy game. Silly AI 😆
I thought you’d like that. You have clearly been influencing ChatGPT with your Final Fantasy ways!
Sounds so fun!! For something retro, Lemmings came to mind for me. Though, I don’t know if three hours of Lemmings would be that engaging. Maybe it would be! Or Sim City 2000. Classic (and best) sim game!
Oh I love Lemmings! That’s a great idea. I think I’ve got a copy for my PS2 somewhere so that could work…
How about Oxenfree? It is a very chill but engrossing mystery game that only take a few hours to beat. 🙂
Also great to hear you are doing it again, it is so awesome you do this every year. 😀
I started Oxenfree a couple of years ago but never quite got around to finishing it, so it could be a good excuse to finally complete the game and then move on to the sequel.
I can’t believe we’re going back to 24-hours. I know our bodies are going to regret it the following day!