Busy Gamer News

Rock Band, my nemesis, we will meet again!

As long-time readers know, GrrlGotGame and I look forward to the Penny Arcade guys' Child's Play Charity Auction all year long. Each year (2004, 2005, 2006), it attracts more high rollers and we end up winning fewer gamer goodies. But we always make it up with donations to our favorite Children's Hospitals via the Child's Play online toy drive.

This year, the event moved to the Seattle Convention Center, where PAX was held. It was a beautiful location with a view of the city and a brilliant dining space. I arrived with a goal: walk away with a copy of Rock Band for the 360, my nemesis this holiday season as I've continually struck out in my efforts to secure a copy despite near constant vigilance. I finally saw one up close in the silent auction and, despite my vow, I watched in horror as it was bid up well beyond my price threshold to at least $550. (Another copy in the live auction, which included a trip to Boston to visit Harmonix, went for $2600 - just over its listed value).

The Heroes signed comics and script that got away

GrrlGotGame had her heart set on a Heroes comic and script collection that included a Vote Petrelli pin, but quickly rose nearly as high.

I love Peggle!

Despite many bids on many items (which did help drive up the evening's total, at least!), our sole win was the Peggle Gift Basket from PopCap, which included an iPod, the Orange Box for PC (with Peggle Extreme!) and a credit to buy Peggle from the iTunes Store when it's released there soon. I had my heart set on this since I couldn't justify buying The Orange Box twice (Santa is bringing the Xbox 360 version) but I really wanted Peggle Extreme, and it's only available online. (I did chat up a PopCap employee, trying to convince him that Peggle Extreme was a natural fit for Xbox Live Arcade.) In the end, I paid much more than the $50 required to get the 10-level game spin-off along with a bunch of other goodies including a nifty PopCap card holder. Since my goal for 2008 is to steer my consulting business back into game community work, this seemed too cool not to win. With some vigilance to ensure no one outbid me in the end, I took it for $340.

PA's Jerry and Mike conducting the live auction

Which is just as well, since the live auction quickly went insane. The least expensive item was a framed print of the Penny Arcade card battle game that sold for $600. A big military duffle full of Halo goodies shot to $5100, a mystery box full of stuff too weird or inappropriate for kids in a hospital went for $5000 to a PopCapper, who then refused to open it on stage until someone bid $1300 to force the issue. A surprise Valve bundle that included a lifetime Steam subscription, a tour and the chance to answer Gabe Newell's e-mails cost someone $2500. The annual appearance in a Penny Arcade strip jumped to $13,000, and then a bid for the "respect of the room" (a straight donation for no prize) ended with a $15,000 pledge. All in all, the event raised more than $225,000.

We had a great time, but would suggest that next year they offer more duplicate and low-value items in the silent auction so that everyone who attends gets a fair chance to contribute amd take home a memento of the evening. Also, get Tim Kring to sign more scripts - next time, they are ours!

-=Gamewatcher