1 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 1: Get in text with technology with text Uff from dot com. 2 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: Hey there everyone, and welcome to text Uff. I'm Jonathan 3 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: Strickland and today I've got a special treat for you guys. 4 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: There's a great charity called Extra Lights that has a 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: near and dear placed to my heart and I've been 6 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: really lucky. Uh. Michael Kinney, the manager over an Extra Life, 7 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: and Jeremy Adams, the founder of Extra Life, have kindly 8 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 1: agreed to appear on the show. Hi guys, Hey, how's 9 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: it going. It's great, it's great. Thank you so much 10 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: for joining us. Our listeners are going to absolutely love this. 11 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,959 Speaker 1: I know they might not even be aware of this 12 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: charity and it's an awesome, awesome thing. So the first 13 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: question we have to jump into is what exactly is 14 00:00:55,880 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: Extra Life. Extra Life is um basically just like a run, walk, 15 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: or bike ride type fundraising event, except we sort of 16 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: don't put so much emphasis on moving around. It's it's 17 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: about video games. So whereas one person might sign up 18 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: and to run a long distance or to bike along distance, 19 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: we ask gamers to send up and do what they 20 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: love to do, and that is to game for a 21 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: pretty significant period of time. It's a twenty four hour 22 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: marathon at its core UM and you get friends and 23 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: family to sponsor you, just like you would any other 24 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: type of fundraising event. Now, UH, this has been something 25 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: that I had heard about for a couple of years. 26 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: I actually participated last year and I'll I'll talk more 27 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 1: about my experience towards the end of the show. And UH, 28 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 1: I know that there are a lot of people who 29 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: are getting involved in this and the the money that's 30 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: raised benefits the Children's Miracle Network. Can you speak a 31 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: little bit about what exactly that is uh. Semen Hospitals 32 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: is basically one D and seventy children's hospitals in North America, 33 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: in the US and Canada. UM. We serve every child 34 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: that comes through the door of our hospitals, regardless of 35 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: their family's ability to pay an Extra Life is a 36 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: program of Salmon Hospitals UM. And so in two thousand 37 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: and eight I found it Extra Life in my living room, 38 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: along with help from some friends of mine and my 39 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: wife UM and it quickly grew to where benefiting just 40 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: one hospital was really no longer an option, and so 41 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: two thousand ten I donated the intellectual property of Extra 42 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: Life to Children's Veerticle Network Hospitals, and we had an 43 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: agreement that they would help us to grow this and 44 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: to reach more kids, and now we're able to benefit 45 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: a hundred and seventy children's hospitals. Um. There, it's basically, 46 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: if you live in North America, there's one near you, 47 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: and everything you raise as an Extra Life participant goes 48 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: directly to that hospital to help kids. Now that's phenomenal, 49 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: and so it's it's really for anyone in North America 50 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: who can participate. It's not something that's uh, that's regionalized 51 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: at all in that case right now. That's but we 52 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: do have some localized stuff that I can tell you 53 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: about in our Guild program, which is a new initiative 54 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: this year. Oh wow, yeah, I haven't heard anything about 55 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 1: the Guild program. Yeah. Absolutely. Um. So just to touch 56 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:12,839 Speaker 1: based real quick on that, we actually have people from 57 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: around the world participating in Extra Life. It's not just 58 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: people in North America. UM. I mean, there's there's ways 59 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,239 Speaker 1: for them to play for some of our hospitals who 60 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: really do have a strong presence abroad as well. Um. 61 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: But going back to the localness of the program here, 62 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: we started something called the Extra Life Guild program, which 63 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: is basically just a physical movement of the Extra Life 64 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: program um taking place in local cities that already kind 65 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: of had that strong presence with Extra Life there. Um. 66 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: So it's really just better and Extra lifers who who 67 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: love what it's all about, who love gaming, whether it's 68 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: video games, board games, yard games, whatever, um, they're on 69 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: board with Extra Life and they and they want to 70 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: help us spread the word. So they get together monthly 71 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: and and just talk about local conventions or festivals or 72 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: concert or movie releases that are coming up that they 73 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: could go and and have a presence at and represent 74 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: their local Children's Miracle Network Hospital desolite cool. Yeah, We're 75 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: We're in twenty five cities here in the United States 76 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: and three up in Canada. And as Extra Life continues 77 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: to grow, so will that program and will be launching 78 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: more guilds and in a city near almost everybody. Now 79 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: the a lot of a lot of Extra Life is 80 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 1: centered around uh, the uh the idea of National Game Day. 81 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: Although of course the people who are participating in this, 82 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 1: you don't you don't have to tie yourself down to 83 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: any given date, but when is National Game Day? In 84 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: two thousand fourteen, perfect questions. So our official game day 85 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: for this year is gonna be October Saturday. Um, we're 86 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: gonna be starting at eight am Central Time and going 87 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 1: tell eight am on Sunday morning. You don't have to 88 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: if you're I mean a lot of people, especially that's 89 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: football season two. We understand m A lot of folks 90 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: have issues that have worked day something comes up. Extra 91 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: Life is really sort of an open source movement, meaning 92 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: you can do it the way you want to. Once 93 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: you sign up, you can customize your fundraising and page 94 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: and say, look, actually I'm doing it on on you know, 95 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: the next Saturday, or I'm I'm gonna have I'm gonna 96 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: do a different kind of spin on extra Life. There 97 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: are a lot of people that are doing extra Life 98 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: in ways that we never even imagined. Um, everything from 99 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: bake sales to all kinds of other things. Uh So 100 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: it's it's really about making it your own. The core 101 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: mechanic is, yeah, you signed up and on October you're 102 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: part of like this this quietness in the streets that 103 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: occurs as everyone stays in and plays their games. Um, 104 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: but but really you can do it when you want to. Yeah, 105 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: it's uh, it's it's fun because I remember last year, 106 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: I think it fell on the end of daylight saving time, 107 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: so it ended up being twenty five hours. Let me 108 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: tell you this year, but they we got a lot 109 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: of pushback because that this year it's the day after 110 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: Halloween and everyone was afraid they would not be able 111 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 1: to participate after Halloween. I don't know. I love the 112 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: idea of a bunch of gamers on Twitch wearing wearing 113 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: costumes and subsisting mainly on candy as they're trying to 114 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: play through. So, Jeremy, you you alluded to this a 115 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: little bit about the beginning of Extra Life. Can you 116 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: go into more detail about about how this all got started. 117 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: It's a really emotional story. Uh yeah, I mean yeah, 118 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: it's the story of Extra Life. Really kind of starts 119 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: before a couple of years before Extra Life was even 120 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 1: a concept, and that that was when I met a 121 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 1: little girl in my radio career named Victoria Edmund and 122 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: we were doing a radio fon for Texas Children's Hospital 123 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: at the time, and each year around Christmas time, we 124 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 1: would do this radio thon where we'd go in the 125 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: air and and we'd share these stories. And my job 126 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: at the radio station was an audio production, and so 127 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: I was responsible for recording these stories with these families 128 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: and getting into the kids and helping us get all 129 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: the materials we needed for the radio thon. And my 130 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 1: first interview was with Victoria and Men and her family. 131 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: Her name everybody calls her Tori, and Tori came bouncing 132 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: into our studio at eleven years old or are actually 133 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: at the time, I think maybe ten ten years old 134 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: and just comes be bopping in. She's considered a survivor 135 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: of leukemia and life was good, and we had a 136 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: great interview with them about all the things that the 137 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: hospital did for them, and they went on their way 138 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: and had our radio thund that Christmas time. And then 139 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: the next year, my I was getting ready to to 140 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: do the radio THUUGHNT interviews and I saw her name 141 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: come back up on my list and I noticed that 142 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: I recognized her name, and I turned to the person 143 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: from the hospital and said, this little girl, we actually 144 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: talked to her last year. We already have an interview 145 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: with her, and my friend at the hospital said, well, 146 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: this is a follow up story. And instead of bebopping 147 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: into the studio, we were actually doing the interviews at 148 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: the hospital this time. She came in in the hospital, 149 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: gown in a wheelchair with no hair and very thin, 150 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: hooked to a million machines, and uh, and I was 151 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: floored the difference in the little girl that I saw 152 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: just a year before, and and the little girl that 153 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: came rolling in was incredible and heartbreaking, frankly. And she 154 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: hopped up out of her chair though, and and kind 155 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: of shuffled over to me and gave me this big 156 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: hog and said hi, and remember my name. I went 157 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: by Doc on the radio, and that name still follows 158 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: me a little bit to this day. And I just 159 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: kind of decided that point that that that little girl 160 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: was had just a special place in my heart. It 161 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:33,719 Speaker 1: was supposed to be in my life. And so UM 162 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: got to know her and her family over the course 163 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: of their fight with leukemia, where she beat it again 164 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: through a bone marrow transplant, and then it's very sadly 165 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: got a call the following summer from her mom, who 166 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: they had just gotten the news from a scan that 167 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 1: the cancer in her blood had returned. And at this 168 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: point the only thing they could do was one more 169 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,839 Speaker 1: bone marrow transplant, which had about a five percent chance 170 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: of working. In Tori decided she wanted to fight, and 171 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: they all decided they'd fight with her, so she went 172 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: into the hospital. Ended up being in the hospital UM 173 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: for almost I think seven months. I think she got 174 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: to go home a couple of times here and there, 175 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: but always something flared up or something went wrong when 176 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: she had to go home again. And during that period 177 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: of time, I spent a lot of time hanging out 178 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,839 Speaker 1: with Tori in the hospital. We would play games together, 179 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: we would watch TV together. I'd give her mom a 180 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: break since her mom was living practically at the hospital 181 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: with her UM, so I would, you know, let mom 182 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: go out and run errands and just get some coffee 183 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: and decompressed a little bit and really got to know 184 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: Tori and UM. I was running a video game website 185 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,199 Speaker 1: called Sarcastic Gamer at the time, and I put the 186 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 1: word out to those gamers that I have this friend 187 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: of mine. She's super cool. She's played every game that 188 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 1: they have in their PS two's here in the hospital. UM, 189 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: does anybody have anything they're not using? And order games 190 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: are done with and they wouldn't mind sending them over 191 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: What was supposed to be, you know, a trickle of 192 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: a couple of things to keep her occupied and up 193 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: being an avalanche for this like outpouring of love from 194 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: the gaming community. We received things from all over the 195 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: world and uh so much so Tori was actually having 196 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: to offload the games to other kids because it was 197 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: just too much bos just ridiculous how much stuff came in. 198 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: And that was the sort of the first glints into 199 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: the generous nature of gamers who I was one of. 200 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I still kind of had 201 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: that stereotypical you know, like you judge gamers by some 202 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: of the comments you read under articles, and you don't 203 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: get the best picture and so um. Later that year, 204 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: tor Uh developed a fungal infection in her lungs as 205 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: a result of her suppressed immune system. That was you know, 206 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: the effort to get her ready for a bone marew transplant, 207 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,439 Speaker 1: and um, she was still in the hospital. At the 208 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: radio thon in December, I got got her on the 209 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: on the radio and and did an interview with her 210 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: and talked to her a little bit afterwards and asked 211 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: her what she wanted for Christmas, and she said she 212 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 1: just really wanted to go outside and see um Christmas lights, 213 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: and I didn't and think about being able to accomplish 214 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 1: that for her, because you know, she was so sick 215 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: and frail. But a nurse overheard us talking and actually 216 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: just showed up with a huge pile of blankets, a 217 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: really special wheelchair that had all the pump hook ups 218 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: for her. Um got her parents permission, doctor signed off, 219 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: and we rolled out into the Houston Medical Center at 220 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,199 Speaker 1: about ten o'clock nine and nine at night. And uh, 221 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: we got a chance to look at Christmas lights together 222 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 1: and just me and her walking around looking at lights, 223 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: and rolled it back upstairs, took it to a room. 224 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: We stopped on the way up. We stopped back by 225 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: the radio Thon area where there was this big Christmas tree, 226 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 1: got our picture made there. And I'm actually sitting here 227 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: with that picture right now. I know your listeners can't 228 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: see it, but I have turned my camera on the 229 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: skype here so you can see it. Um, but um, 230 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: this is uh, this is Tory, you know, if you 231 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 1: can see it very well. We had that picture made 232 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: right there, and that picture is uh, it's always here 233 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,719 Speaker 1: with me. Michael old Tests, I've actually brought it with 234 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: me who are broadcast last year for Extra Life And 235 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: and he sat in the front seat of my car 236 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: with a seatbelt on it. Um and uh, and it's 237 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: it's special to be for a lot of reasons. Not 238 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: only is it has Tory had an immense impact in 239 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 1: my life, but that specific picture is important because that 240 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:17,959 Speaker 1: was the last time that I ever got to see her. 241 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: So Tori died right after the New Year. And UM, 242 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: grief does some things, and sometimes it renders you, you know, 243 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: unable to move or finger talk, and then sometimes it 244 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: just pisces you off and you just want to do 245 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 1: something about what's happening you children who are sick, and 246 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: kids like Tory and and and parents like Joel and 247 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: her mom who have to be harry a thirteen year 248 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: old kid, the fifteen year old child in the Tori's case, 249 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: but I mean children and their parents who are going 250 00:12:53,920 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: through just horrible things. It's uh. It made me angry, 251 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,439 Speaker 1: and UM, I wanted to do something in Tori's memory. 252 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: I wanted to keep her alive in some way, And 253 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: so UM got together with my buddies and Sarcastic Gamer again. 254 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 1: We put the word out and in two thousand eight 255 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: we launched Extra Life. In October and October fifteenth, two 256 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: thousand eight, we raised a hundred twenty thousand dollars for 257 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 1: the hospital that Tory was being treated at, a Texas 258 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: Children's The next year we raised a hundred seventy thousand, 259 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,839 Speaker 1: and that sort of brings us up to where I 260 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: was sharing with you about how um it's now see 261 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: him in Hospitals program. We made the donation to see 262 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:34,679 Speaker 1: him in hospitals and they have been UM incredible. We 263 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: we this has just been a fantastic program that's doubled 264 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: every year since then. So we went from uh four 265 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,839 Speaker 1: and fifty thousand and ten to a million dollars and 266 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: eleven to two million and twelve to four million last year. 267 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: UM all all because gamers are who they are. They're 268 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: the most social people on the planet. They're just like 269 00:13:56,440 --> 00:14:00,439 Speaker 1: everyone else. Mom's, dad's, aunts, uncle's, brothers and sisters, um, 270 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: and almost everyone has been touched by a children's hospital 271 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: at some point. And and so we just find that 272 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: it's a perfect fit between the people who are the 273 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 1: big biggest kids at heart and the kids that we're 274 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: here to. Sir, that's just such an incredible story and 275 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: I think an amazing tribute to someone who sounds like 276 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: she was an amazing person. UM and I'm very pleased 277 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: to have played a very tiny role in that, so 278 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: thank you for sharing that with us. And if someone 279 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: wants to get involved, there are lots of different options. 280 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: So can we talk a little bit about some of 281 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: the ways people can support Extra Life, whether they are 282 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: supporting it as pledging for someone else or actually participating 283 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: as a gamer. What are the different options? All right, 284 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: I'll take that one. UM. So when you get involved 285 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: with extra Life, you you can sign up and participate yourself, 286 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: um as an individual, or you can even start your 287 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: own team and get your buddies or co workers or 288 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: family and friends involved. UM. And you can all kind 289 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: of participate an Extra Life under your team umbrella. UM. 290 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: You know, if if maybe gaming isn't your thing, or 291 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: or you want to do something else and and still 292 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: contribute to somebody's Extra Life campaign. It's super easy to 293 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: donate as well. You can just go to the website 294 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: and search for a random player or somebody that you know, 295 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: UM and just make a donation. There's also a way 296 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: to just donate straight to that hospital as well. UM. 297 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: So I mean, it's participating, it's spreading the word, it's 298 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: making that donation, it's making me ask. Um. There's just 299 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: tons of different ways that you can you can help 300 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: kids in your neighborhood, right. I. When I was creating it, 301 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: I remember that you could make a you make an 302 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:48,239 Speaker 1: essentially a web page for your h for your participation, 303 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: and that keeps you informed as well as other people 304 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: if they want to visit your web page to see 305 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: how well you are doing. Uh. And that was really 306 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: helpful for me because I participated in a team, so 307 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 1: I could see how I was doing compared to the 308 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: rest of my team. And the team I joined was 309 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: the largest of all the teams. It was the one 310 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: that ended up raising the most money last year. It 311 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 1: was the Rooster Teeth team. Uh. I'm a big fan 312 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: of the Rooster Teeth guys. I've had Bernie Burns on 313 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: the show before, Fantastic guy. Uh. And so I participated 314 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: with them, and uh I came in number fifteen, so 315 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: not bad. Yeah, I was pretty pleased with myself. That's awesome. Well, no, 316 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: that was fifteen out of the Rooster Teeth, not out 317 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: of everybody, I should say that, because the Rooster Teeth 318 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: raised about three thousand something like that. Yeah, total, So 319 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: I was Um, I don't remember exactly how much. I 320 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: just remember my rank was fifteen. I was so proud. 321 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: Uh for a while I was beating Jack Potillo, who 322 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: was the captain of the team, and that then I 323 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: was Then Jack surpassed me and I had he just 324 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: passed you because he did the truffle shuffle. That's true, 325 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: Uh so he The neat thing is, of course, like 326 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: you were saying, gamers are very social, and so if 327 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: you are a gamer out there and you have a 328 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: gaming group that you like to play with, like people, 329 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,959 Speaker 1: maybe you have, you know, your old buddies from your 330 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: old Halo to guild, then this is a great way 331 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: to represent and join together and do something as a 332 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: group and give back to a community in a really 333 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: meaningful way. It's one of those things that I thought 334 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 1: it was a great way of leveraging that sense of community, 335 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: and it gives gamers a feeling that the skill that 336 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: they have, uh is meaningful. It's beyond being entertaining yourself 337 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 1: for you know, schooling a nube. It's all about it's 338 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: also about doing something that actually has a visible positive 339 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: impact on the community at large. So I've immediately uh 340 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 1: latched onto this idea. I thought it was fantastic. So 341 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: let's say we've got some folks out there in tech 342 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: stuff land who want to end up joining in, they 343 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: want to participate. Do you have any tips for people 344 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 1: who want to try to go out and raise pledges, 345 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: any best practices. We've seen a lot of really cool 346 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 1: stuff happened. I think I mentioned a lady who did 347 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 1: the bake sales. So she ran up on a hard 348 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: time doing the online ask and she just didn't feel 349 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: comfortable asking for money. And while we do have some 350 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: tips for that on on our website. UM, the what 351 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: she did is she put out basically brownies that she 352 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 1: made with a jar next where she worked, and you 353 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: just kept it stocked with brownies all the time and 354 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 1: just said, hey, put a donation in here for my 355 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 1: extra life page, and uh, it's going to sit kids 356 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 1: here in our area and take a brownie. And she 357 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: raised a significant amount of money that way. UM, And 358 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: there are folks out there that, um, we'll do some 359 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: fun things that have nothing to do with the actual 360 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: gaming in order to get the donations. I personally, UH 361 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 1: do a thing on my page where if you make 362 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: a donation of a certain amount, then it I will 363 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 1: sing a portion of a song for you on Facebook, 364 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: I you know, streaming video and posted on your Facebook page. So, 365 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 1: I mean there's a lot of different creative ways that 366 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: people do this, but it's uh, it's really um, it's 367 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: really kind of up to the creativity of the game. 368 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: I know Mike's seen a few things too. Yeah, I mean, 369 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: especially with this guilt program, I gotta work with some 370 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: of the most passionate extra lifers out there. Um And heck, 371 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: I just saw somebody from Alabama reach out to their 372 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 1: local daytime news and score an interview on there. And 373 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: so he was able to tell the news lady about 374 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: everything that Extra Life is. You know, how he how 375 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,239 Speaker 1: he heard about it, how he got involved, you know, 376 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: the bigger story of how it affects Children's Miracle Network 377 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,440 Speaker 1: hospitals across North America, and then at the very end 378 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: plugged his own fundraising page. I mean, it was gold. 379 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,399 Speaker 1: It was It's a great way to rise up in 380 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 1: the rankings. What's also cool is that Extra Life takes 381 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 1: not just you know, it doesn't just help tap into 382 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 1: that game or culture. It feeds back into it. There 383 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: are a lot of things about Extra Life, uh, that 384 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: that are very closely tied to what it is to 385 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: be a gamer today. For example, the website has achievements, 386 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 1: so that really does tapp into that gamer psyche, those 387 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: of us who desperately want to get every single achievement possible. 388 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: And uh, I love that that is a part of 389 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: something that can pop up on profiles. There's also if 390 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 1: you participate, there's that you have the swag section as well, 391 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: so there's kind of almost like a crowdfunding approach. Um. 392 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: So it's taking some of the great ideas I've seen 393 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 1: used in other areas and really honing it for this experience, 394 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: to make it enjoyable and fun for the people who 395 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: are participating while still being meaningful. And that's one of 396 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: the best. That's one of my favorite things about the 397 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: approach you guys have taken. Thank you. Yeah, I mean 398 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 1: those those achievement badges you're talking about, those are those 399 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: are brand new this year. We had heard that feedback 400 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: from the community and those ideas coming. We're like, you 401 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,679 Speaker 1: know what, that's awesome, let's do it. Um, So we 402 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: were able to add those achievements this year and and 403 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: that swagon incentives page you're you're talking about, Um, that's 404 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: something that's constantly changing. We're constantly bringing on new community 405 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: partners who are offering kind of those community wide incentives 406 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: for those fundraising power ups right there. Um, So yeah, 407 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: I mean we're very excited to see that grow and 408 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: the impact that our partners are able to do just 409 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: by saying, hey, we're gonna give you a three month 410 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 1: trial if you raise fifty bucks for your local children's 411 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: maric Labor Hospital. Um, it's just some really exciting stuff 412 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 1: going on. Yeah, this was something that as soon as 413 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:38,919 Speaker 1: I saw it, I thought, well, you know, you're you're 414 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: you've got taking advantage of that huge achievement culture that 415 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: you see on both the Xbox platform and the Steam platform. 416 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: It's a it's a proven working model, and it's another 417 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 1: cool way for the gamers to interact with one another 418 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:56,479 Speaker 1: and and have fun with this and uh and I 419 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 1: really also enjoy how the groups kind of have this 420 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: friendly competition. Sometimes sometimes there's a little more smack talking 421 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: between each other, but that that just ends up fueling 422 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: even more support for the end goal. So it's one 423 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 1: of those times where the smack talk actually is something 424 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: I really recommend people participate in in a constructive way 425 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: because because I see the results and they're great. Um. Now, 426 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: do you guys have any other like cool stories from 427 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:31,160 Speaker 1: past extra life events, things that stood out in your 428 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: mind as really need examples of what people have done 429 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: to really make this event their own. There's a lot 430 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 1: of different sort of I guess deployments of extra life 431 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: out there. Um. Like you said, I mean the folks 432 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: at Rooster Teeth last year who did their their marathon 433 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: broadcasts were just incredible. And you've got you know, other 434 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: partners like like game Spot who are planning I think 435 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: a one hundred hour livestream this year, um, which is 436 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: just unbelievable. Then you also and I we celebrate those 437 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 1: things because obviously you know, those are loud voices that 438 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 1: have a big impact. But I celebrate personally just as 439 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: much the one guy who's got two guys watching him 440 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: on Twitch, who's streaming his heart out and raising a 441 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: ton of money, you know, by relative to how many 442 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: folks he's got watching. Um, I I like to see 443 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: the difference in in there might be a difference in execution, 444 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: and there might be a difference in sort of the 445 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 1: impact based on you know, size and how many people 446 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 1: listen to you or your friends with but it's so common, 447 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:42,959 Speaker 1: the passion is common. Their hearts are all just as 448 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: convicted about doing something that's going to help kids in 449 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 1: their neighborhood. Um So, I mean there's a lot of 450 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: different ways out there, but like we said, like I 451 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: said before, the the end of the day, here, it's 452 00:23:56,320 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: people doing really wonderful things while having a last uh. 453 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: And there's so many different definitions of having a blast 454 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: that are out there that we can be here all 455 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: day long. Don't forget. Also, x let is not just 456 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: about video games. I mean, board games and tabletop gamers 457 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,400 Speaker 1: have have embraced us like crazy over the last couple 458 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,919 Speaker 1: of years and they've come in like like a boss 459 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 1: um and and raise a ton of money. And some 460 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 1: of our our new partners, Wizards of the Coast and 461 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 1: uh Looney Labs have have stepped up on that front 462 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 1: in a very big way to be extra life partners 463 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,359 Speaker 1: as well. You know, that's fantastic. I love that. Uh 464 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: that that shows like Tabletop on the Geek and Sundry 465 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: Network have really brought that element of gaming. And again 466 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: they they stress how gaming is a communal event and 467 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 1: brings people together, whether you're competing against one another, or 468 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: cooperating with each other to attain a specific goal. And uh, 469 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,160 Speaker 1: and and you're absolutely right. That's you know. I don't 470 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 1: mean to be to narrowly defined it as video games, 471 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: because any games really do work. As as for my 472 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: own personal sperience, I thought I would I would entertain 473 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 1: our listeners by explaining what I did. Now. When I 474 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 1: did mine, I didn't do it as Jonathan Strickland, host 475 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 1: of tech Stuff. I did my own little thing because 476 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 1: I wasn't sure how to frame it in the context 477 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 1: of the podcast I do. I was just kind of 478 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: joining in with the rooster Teeth folks. So my idea was, 479 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: since it was a twenty five hour marathon, I was 480 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 1: going to throw myself in the deep end and I 481 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:33,120 Speaker 1: was going to play Minecraft on PC for twenty five hours. 482 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: And for those those people who pledged to me, if 483 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:40,359 Speaker 1: you pledged at twenty five dollars, I would build you 484 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: a tribute within the game. And if you pledge more 485 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: than that, I would build you a tribute that was 486 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:49,679 Speaker 1: fitting compared to the pledge level that you made. And 487 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: when I started, when I started getting pledges of two 488 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: hundred dollars, I knew I was in trouble because it 489 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:59,639 Speaker 1: had to be eight times more exciting than the level. 490 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: So for the first twenty two hours of Minecraft, which 491 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: I did stream on Twitch and I had, I had 492 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: people watching, like maybe two or three people the entire time, 493 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: So I'm one of those guys that Jeremy was talking about. There. 494 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 1: For the first twenty two hours or so, people watched 495 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 1: me just gathering all the different resources I needed, and 496 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: then for the next two hours it was me building 497 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 1: all the different tributes using the materials that would be 498 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: appropriate for each one. There was one guy who he 499 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:34,920 Speaker 1: ran a group of gamers who are known for griefing 500 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: people on Minecraft, but he donated to me, and he 501 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: said what his tribute needed to be was a house 502 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: that I would then burn down and then put his 503 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: gamer group name in Obsidian over the remains of the house, 504 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: which I did, and uh yeah, so I mean I 505 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 1: went all out. I built. I built. It was nicer 506 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 1: than the house I had made for myself. My house 507 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: was a hole in the ground with a door. But 508 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 1: I made a wooden house for these guys, built the 509 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: name over it, and then set it on fire. And 510 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 1: by that time I was pretty loopy. I think I 511 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: was actually humming yakety Sacks from the old Benny Hill 512 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: Show at that point, and then for the final hour, 513 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 1: I just ran around the world that I had created 514 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: because I had finished all the tributes and I had 515 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 1: gone crazy, but it was I just want to point 516 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 1: out to you the Minecraft has this thing called creative Mode. 517 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 1: You don't have to go mine material. That's true, that's true. 518 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 1: But I was doing this in the spirit of really 519 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 1: and I had never played the PC version of Minecraft. 520 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: I was doing it specifically because I wanted it to 521 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: be an effort. I want to go, You're having to 522 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:43,400 Speaker 1: like figure out the recipe. Yes, yes, god, I had 523 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:47,200 Speaker 1: no idea. Yeah, I was asking twitch. I was saying, 524 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 1: all right, seriously, just tell me what a shovel is, 525 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: because because the the only time I had ever played 526 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: was on the Xbox, which is Minecraft with training wheels. 527 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: You know, that's they You don't need to know how 528 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:03,159 Speaker 1: to how to put the things in the right dimensions 529 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:07,159 Speaker 1: in order to make a a anything in Minecraft. On 530 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 1: the Xbox, you just have to have the raw materials 531 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: and it does it itself. But on the PC you 532 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:14,160 Speaker 1: have to put them in the right configuration in order 533 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,159 Speaker 1: to make whatever it is you're making. And also I 534 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:21,880 Speaker 1: was making, I was anguished by decisions, thinking things like, well, 535 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 1: I really need this diamond for the tribute, but I 536 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 1: also have to mind obsidian, so I'm gonna have to 537 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 1: make a diamond pick axe. But but that was what 538 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,400 Speaker 1: was entertaining to the people who are watching me, and uh, 539 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: and it also I thought really demonstrated that I was 540 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: I was really dedicated to seeing this out and I did. 541 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 1: I played the full twenty five hours, and um, it 542 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 1: was an incredible experience. And I felt really like a 543 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:51,080 Speaker 1: great sense of reward from that, not just from raising 544 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: the money, but from my participation and dedication to it. 545 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: And I think that's another thing that you know, you 546 00:28:56,560 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: really can't you can't dismiss that. That's something that is 547 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: a great feeling when you are participating in something larger 548 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 1: than yourself and contributing to it. I really see that 549 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: as a fulfilling activity, and so I highly recommend any 550 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: of my tech stuff listeners out there to look into 551 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: Extra Life see if you can participate, either by pledging 552 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 1: for someone else or participating as a game of yourself 553 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: and raising pledges. It is an amazing experience and you 554 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: can be part of the larger group. You can do 555 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 1: things on your own, you can stream it live, whatever 556 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: you want to do however you want to define it. 557 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 1: But it's an amazing way to contribute and have a 558 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 1: good time while doing it. That's awesome. Hats off to 559 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: you for that. I'm you know, we were loopy and 560 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 1: we had a very varietal extra life experience get doing 561 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 1: our stream. We don't actually get to play a lot 562 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: of games ourselves during that period of time. We're constantly 563 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 1: updating the community. Plus we had those DIDOS attacks last 564 00:29:56,120 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: year occupied a lot of our mental and emotional energy. Um. 565 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 1: But to play one game for twenty especially like Minecraft, 566 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: that that is epic. That you did, that is amazing, 567 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: So hats off to you. And you've given me some 568 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: ideas for some pre extra life fundraising that I may do. 569 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 1: If it's all right for me to borrow your tactic. 570 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 1: It is absolutely all right, I I think you know 571 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: it was again, I was kind of taking that idea 572 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:29,760 Speaker 1: from the crowdfunding world of if I hit this level, 573 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: this is the reward you get for supporting me, and 574 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 1: so all of my rewards were within the realm of 575 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 1: the game I was playing, and Minecraft just made it 576 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 1: easy because it's it's something where you can build stuff 577 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 1: within that game. There are other games that you could 578 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 1: do that. And obviously I asked my listeners what game 579 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 1: I should play this year if I decided to do 580 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 1: just a single game. And it looks like it looks 581 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 1: like I'm gonna be leveling a character from level one 582 00:30:57,440 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: too as high as I can get in Destiny. That's 583 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: what it looks like. Yeah, I think that's that's that's 584 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 1: a that's a strong thing, strong thing to go after 585 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: for for that, and I think Destiny is gonna be 586 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: a little more maybe energy infusing than Minecraft wasn't it 587 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: might be. Yeah, but now that now that you can 588 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 1: no longer go to the Treasure Cave and just fire 589 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 1: into a hole for two hours. Now they fixed that 590 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 1: so we don't have to worry about that anymore. We 591 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 1: just got a p S four this weekend this past 592 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:31,960 Speaker 1: weekend and Uh, I've played about eight minutes of Destiny 593 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 1: and my son, uh and my other kids have been 594 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 1: on the PS four the entire time. So I'm looking 595 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 1: forward to getting a chance at it myself soon. Yeah, 596 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:43,479 Speaker 1: it's a it's a really incredible experience if you can 597 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: get a couple of other people joined up with you 598 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 1: and really kind of tackle it the way it was 599 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: meant to be played. It's one of those games where 600 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 1: you really do need to kind of play it the 601 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 1: way they intended it to. When you try and step 602 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 1: outside of it, I think it's a little less rewarding. 603 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 1: But you know that's that's ends to be how I 604 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 1: play most games anyway. Once in a while I'll step 605 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 1: outside and just say what what happens? But uh, that 606 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:10,560 Speaker 1: doesn't always end well for me. Well, guys, thank you 607 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:14,240 Speaker 1: so much. This has been a great conversation, and again 608 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 1: I highly recommend to my listeners check this out, look 609 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: into it, learn more about it. There's tons of information 610 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 1: on the website and uh, including all of the swag 611 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:28,840 Speaker 1: and incentives that we've talked about, their suggestions on how 612 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: to get things like corporate matching. It may be possible 613 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 1: for you to participate that in this and your company 614 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: or the people you work for might be able to 615 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: match whatever you raise, which is another great idea, uh, 616 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 1: something I highly recommend looking into. A lot of companies 617 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:46,920 Speaker 1: are happy to do that and are looking for opportunities 618 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 1: to do that, so I recommend that as well. Is 619 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 1: there anything else you guys would like to say before 620 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 1: we sign on? Yeah, I mean I would just I 621 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 1: would encourage your listeners to make Extra Life their own. Um. Just, 622 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:00,160 Speaker 1: I was thinking about that question you asked us a 623 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 1: little bit while back about you know, creative ways. We've 624 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: seen people kind of take Extra Life and run with it, 625 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,360 Speaker 1: and um, one that I wanted to share is people 626 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:11,760 Speaker 1: are turning Extra Life into kind of like a neighborhood 627 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 1: block party where they are, you know, inviting their friends 628 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:17,760 Speaker 1: their neighbors over to their house and they're saying, hey, 629 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: you know, come on over, here's my here's my laptop, 630 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,200 Speaker 1: make a donation to my page, and they just grill 631 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 1: out and they play games all the all day long. Um. 632 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: I mean it's it's not necessarily they're all playing for 633 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 1: the twenty four hours, but they'll do it and shifts 634 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 1: so there's always somebody in the house playing a game. Um. 635 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:35,960 Speaker 1: Just you know, it's a it's a community activity like 636 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:37,960 Speaker 1: you were talking about, So so make it your own 637 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:41,479 Speaker 1: and run with it. That's fantastic, guys, Thank you again. 638 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 1: I can't thank you enough for jumping in and uh, 639 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:47,600 Speaker 1: I really look forward to seeing how much is raised 640 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:50,400 Speaker 1: this year, and keep in mind, listeners, again, this is 641 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:53,080 Speaker 1: one of those things where if you can't participate on 642 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 1: the national Game Day, that's fine. You can totally do 643 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: it on a different day. And keep in mind you 644 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 1: don't have to push yourself to the breaking point either. 645 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:05,440 Speaker 1: Everyone understands that this is an event that's held for charity, 646 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 1: and sure you you might need to put in some time, 647 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 1: but you can put that in. You can break that up. 648 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 1: You don't have to do it all in twenty four 649 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:14,839 Speaker 1: hours if that's just not possible. The important thing here 650 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:18,800 Speaker 1: is that we are gamers who are grouped together supporting 651 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 1: something larger than ourselves. And as long as we remember that, 652 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:25,359 Speaker 1: I think you know we take home the important lesson here. 653 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 1: So thank you again, guys. If you ever have any 654 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:33,400 Speaker 1: suggestions out there for any episodes of tech Stuff, you 655 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:35,120 Speaker 1: know how to get in touch with me, Email me 656 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 1: tech Stuff at how stuff works dot com, drop me 657 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:40,880 Speaker 1: a line on Twitter, Facebook or Tumbler. My handle at 658 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 1: all three is tech Stuff hs W and I'll talk 659 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:49,440 Speaker 1: to you guys again really soon for more on this 660 00:34:49,640 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 1: and bathands of other topics. Because it Works dot Com