Wait, the government is telling me to stay at home? I mean, it would be irresponsible to not stay home and play video games all day. I’m doing my civic duty!

When the COVID-19 lockdown hit the world, many people turned to video games to stay sane. It’s a lot easier to social distance if you’re at home saving the princess, and by abiding by the rules of lockdown you’re probably saving lives.

But some avid gamers have taken it a step further. The organisers of Games Done Quick, a series of charity-supporting speedrunning marathons, have introduced a special Corona Relief event in to their usually biannual roster. The new event (occuring between the 17th and 20th April, 2020) will support Direct Relief’s efforts in tackling the Coronavirus Pandemic in the US.

Games Done Quick, or GDQ, have supported many charities in the past including Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Their most recent event, Frost Fatales, worked with an all-female gamer group to fundraise for the Malala Fund – a charity which helps support the availability of female education in developing countries. This marathon managed to raise over $54,000. Overall, GDQ have donated over $22.3 million for various charities and causes.

Playing video games all day is a little more useful than some people give it credit for.

The full schedule for the event is up, and it adjusts the times for your local time zone (which I thought was pretty neat). There is a huge variety on the line-up, from SNES classics like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time to new releases such as Ori and the Will of the Wisps. There’s something for everyone!

If you’d like to check it out, you’ll be able to find them over on Twitch. More importantly, you’ll find the donate button.

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I wanted to take this chance to say that I hope you’re all okay. It’s a strange time out there for everyone.

Best wishes from the team here at PanaceaPlays.