Mario Marathon
Encyclopedia
Mario Marathon is an annual fund raiser for Child's Play Charity. As of July 18, 2011, the event has raised a total of $235,901.08 in the four years it has been running. In 2008, the event organizers also orchestrated a smaller Zelda marathon that managed to bring in an additional $2,477.00 for Child's Play Charity.
The Mario Marathon team plays the Super Mario
video game series. Levels to be played are each unlocked at specific total donation levels, which the Mario Marathon team plays nonstop until either all the games are completed or until gameplay catches up to the current unlocked level.
Mario Marathon completed its fourth event on June 28, 2011, with $112,668.62 raised over 110 hours, including approximately $13,000 before the event started on June 24th.
, was inspired to start a Super Mario
video game marathon after watching a group of college students who attempted to complete all four of the 3-D Zelda
games in a 48 hour time period. Over a period of 57 hours starting on June 27, Brian Brinegar, Dan May, and John Groth raised $11,767.00 for Child's Play Charity. Later that year, they teamed up with the Four48 group who inspired the original Mario Marathon. Together they held the Zelda Marathon, raising $2,477.00.
The second year of Mario Marathon began on July 10, 2009. Chris "SlouchGuy" Deckard expanded the player roster to take the place of Dan May, who was out of the country. The event raised $29,082.76 and lasted over four days. It was also the first year that Mario Marathon started to finish various Mario games at 100% completion.
The third year of Mario Marathon started on June 25, 2010 and raised $82,382.70 over 109 hours. This was the first year to include Skype
interactivity with both Wil Wheaton
and Felicia Day
making Skype calls during the Marathon. Mario Marathon 2010 also achieved $25,310 within the first 24 hours, nearly the total of Mario Marathon 2009.
The most recent Mario Marathon began on June 24, 2011 and raised $112,668.62 (as of July 18, 2011) over a period of 110 hours. Mario Marathon 2011 advances include Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
and upgraded video and audio equipment.
A Mario Marathon for 2012 has been confirmed, but no set date has yet been announced.
Zoe, known as Couch Dog, is the unofficial mascot of the Mario Marathon. In Mario Marathon 2, the participants set up a camera that focused on Zoe. This became so popular that they used this camera to drive donations.
In 2010, the Couch Pig was brought upon the stream. This large ceramic piggy bank became a fixture of the later stages of the marathon. Certain donation amounts would allow the Couch Pig to be place on the couch, while other donations would revoke those privileges. In 2011, Love Seat Pig, a smaller replica Couch Pig was raffled off for donations.
1. No swearing or offensive language
2. No stereotyping based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
3. No religious or political conversations
4. If you need to answer your phone, go outside
5. Clean up after yourself and take out the trash!
6. Shower once per 24 hours
7. FAIL 5 times = FAIL hat
8. FAIL 10 times = EPIC FAIL hat
Remember, it's for the children
The Mario Marathon team plays the Super Mario
Super Mario
Super Mario may refer to:*Mario , a video game series by Nintendo- Video games :*Mario, the star character of Nintendo's Mario series...
video game series. Levels to be played are each unlocked at specific total donation levels, which the Mario Marathon team plays nonstop until either all the games are completed or until gameplay catches up to the current unlocked level.
Mario Marathon completed its fourth event on June 28, 2011, with $112,668.62 raised over 110 hours, including approximately $13,000 before the event started on June 24th.
History
Mario Marathon began in 2008 when Brian Brinegar, a 29 year old web developer in Lafayette, IndianaLafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
, was inspired to start a Super Mario
Super Mario
Super Mario may refer to:*Mario , a video game series by Nintendo- Video games :*Mario, the star character of Nintendo's Mario series...
video game marathon after watching a group of college students who attempted to complete all four of the 3-D Zelda
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda, originally released as in Japan, is a video game developed and published by Nintendo, and designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. Set in the fantasy land of Hyrule, the plot centers on a boy named Link, the playable protagonist, who aims to collect the eight fragments...
games in a 48 hour time period. Over a period of 57 hours starting on June 27, Brian Brinegar, Dan May, and John Groth raised $11,767.00 for Child's Play Charity. Later that year, they teamed up with the Four48 group who inspired the original Mario Marathon. Together they held the Zelda Marathon, raising $2,477.00.
The second year of Mario Marathon began on July 10, 2009. Chris "SlouchGuy" Deckard expanded the player roster to take the place of Dan May, who was out of the country. The event raised $29,082.76 and lasted over four days. It was also the first year that Mario Marathon started to finish various Mario games at 100% completion.
The third year of Mario Marathon started on June 25, 2010 and raised $82,382.70 over 109 hours. This was the first year to include Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
interactivity with both Wil Wheaton
Wil Wheaton
Richard William "Wil" Wheaton III is an American actor and writer. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayals of Wesley Crusher on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gordie Lachance in the film Stand by Me and Joey Trotta in Toy Soldiers...
and Felicia Day
Felicia Day
Kathryn Felicia Day is an American actress, known for her work as "Vi" on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and for parts in movies such as Bring It On Again and June, as well as the Internet musical, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog...
making Skype calls during the Marathon. Mario Marathon 2010 also achieved $25,310 within the first 24 hours, nearly the total of Mario Marathon 2009.
The most recent Mario Marathon began on June 24, 2011 and raised $112,668.62 (as of July 18, 2011) over a period of 110 hours. Mario Marathon 2011 advances include Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
, also known as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, is a platforming video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Family Computer Disk System...
and upgraded video and audio equipment.
A Mario Marathon for 2012 has been confirmed, but no set date has yet been announced.
Participants
There are a number of recurring members of the Mario Marathon team. The players trade off on a game-to-game basis. The supporting cast keeps up with donations and crowd interaction. The list below are participants who have appeared in at least two or more Mario Marathons:Players
- Brian "ShirtGuy" Brinegar
- Dan "ChairGuy" May
- John "CouchGuy" Groth
- Chris "SlouchGuy" Deckard
- Nate "ShortsGuy" Jones
- Bobby "McLoveSeat" Arnold
- Shanna "Shannabad" Brinegar
Support
- Sundeep "OrangeShirtGuy (OSG)" Rao
- Ben "MacGuy" Cotton
- Emily "BlanketGirl" Blue
- Stephanie "SlouchGirl" Deckard
- Jed "Jed" Johnson
Recurring Themes
To break up the monotony of playing games for upwards of 100 hours, the participants started performing special dances for the viewers. These events were commonly the dance associated with the Super Mario Super Show. In 2011, the team implemented the Wheel of Awesome. For every $1,000 donated, a random event is chosen that the participants must perform. While the Super Mario Super Show dance was included on the wheel, other events such as Blindfold Mode were included.Zoe, known as Couch Dog, is the unofficial mascot of the Mario Marathon. In Mario Marathon 2, the participants set up a camera that focused on Zoe. This became so popular that they used this camera to drive donations.
In 2010, the Couch Pig was brought upon the stream. This large ceramic piggy bank became a fixture of the later stages of the marathon. Certain donation amounts would allow the Couch Pig to be place on the couch, while other donations would revoke those privileges. In 2011, Love Seat Pig, a smaller replica Couch Pig was raffled off for donations.
Bowser Rules
To keep the stream civil and child-safe, the Mario Marathon team conforms to a list of rules:1. No swearing or offensive language
2. No stereotyping based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
3. No religious or political conversations
4. If you need to answer your phone, go outside
5. Clean up after yourself and take out the trash!
6. Shower once per 24 hours
7. FAIL 5 times = FAIL hat
8. FAIL 10 times = EPIC FAIL hat
Remember, it's for the children
Marathon List
| Marathon | Date | Length | Money Raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Marathon 2008 | June 27-29, 2008 | 47 hours, 42 minutes | $11,767.00 |
| Zelda Marathon 2008 | July 31- Aug. 2, 2008 | 58 hours, 30 minutes | $2,477.00 |
| Mario Marathon 2009 | June 26-29, 2009 | 96 hours, 30 minutes | $29,082.76 |
| Mario Marathon 2010 | June 25-29, 2010 | 109 hours, 8 minutes | $82,382.70 |
| Mario Marathon 2011 | June 24-28, 2011 | 110 hours | $112,668.62 |