The Gadget Show witness gaming world record: Longest video game marathon!

The Gadget Show  Friday 29 June 2012

A UK gamer plucked from millions helped set a Guinness World record for the Longest Video games Marathon Playing a Card Game, playing over 30 hours of PopCap Game’s Solitaire Blitz. And The Gadget Show was there in London to witness it. It was quite a night, with over $90,000 raised for charity too! Here’s how it went down. 



For the world record attempt Solitaire Blitz players Laura Rich (pictured above) and Kathleen Henkel from Cardiff, Wales and New Jersey took part in a game spanning 30 draining hours. The lucky two were selected from the many millions who play the game daily.

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And so it began. The UK’s Laura Rich played from the unique setting of London’s Sea Life Aquarium. With the famous shark tank as her backdrop, Laura was in prime position to distract her opponent, Kathleen Henkel, playing from New York.

The Gadget Show was on hand to witness the record being set. If the marathon 30 hours was taking its toll on either player, it didn’t look like it, as even the PopCap Games crew on hand, and yours truly felt tired just thinking about it.

But it wasn’t all about who won. The record attempt, set up by PopCap Games, makers of the excellent Plants vs. Zombies saw the participants raise over $90,000 for charity water, which brings clean, safe drinking water to those in developing nations.

More good news came when countdown finally made its way to the 30-hour mark, and a new record was set. The UK’s Laura Rich said she was “thrilled” to have taken part. It was a victory for both UK gaming and charity – and a fine example of how video games can do good. Everyone’s a winner.

The Gadget Show was glad to see history being made. Think you could break the record? If so you’ll need to get on Solitaire Blitz, Popcap Games new social card game on Facebook, where you too can compete with players around the world.

If you could set a gaming world record, which game would you play?

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