Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ) is a an annual video game speedrunning charity marathon that raises money for Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders in English. MSF is a truly lifesaving organization that strives to do exactly what it sounds like: put life saving care where it’s needed most, regardless of political or geographical borders. They are a global organization that responds to tragedies and emergencies all over the world without prejudice. SGDQ has raised millions of dollars every year and you can help!

  • SaraTonin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    15·
    3 days ago

    I never fail to be amazed how much money these events raise. I think they’re awesome, but I really wouldn’t have thought that speedrunning of all things was popular enough to raise millions a year for charity

    • iamthetot@piefed.caOPEnglish
      14·
      3 days ago

      Speedrunning is undeniably still the bread-and-butter, but if you haven’t checked it out in a while I’d give it another look. They do more and more not-quite-speed-run things. Randomizers, showcases, rhythm games, in 2025 they even had a gaming themed concert!

      • SaraTonin@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        I mostly watch YouTube videos after the fact when I’ve got a bit of time to dedicate. ShouJo doing something Kaizo is always my highlight

    • audaxdreik@pawb.socialEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      I kind of unironically believe that speedrunning is a core pillar of the internet and maybe also even kind of humaity as a whole, going forward? Stick with me here.

      Speedrunning is a self-organizing, self-policing culture built off the back of competitive/cooperative play. Despite centering around somewhat corporate products like videogames and having big events like GDQ, it’s not really centralized in any meaningful way. It’s driven by fan enthusiasm to draw in new people and push limits further. That also incentivizes identifying people who would cheat the system.

      Extrapolating on that, as we move into a post-scarcity society with various exigent AI threats, there’s going to be a lot of concern with how we choose to spend our time and brainpower. Using play to collectively push our limits, tear apart code, and identify flaws is gonna be a big thing.

      Sorry if that was poorly worded, I’m working on some big ideas here and I don’t know how to convey them well. I know that all sounds kind of silly, and it surely is to some extent, but I do think there’s more there than meets the eye if you just initially handwave it away as “playing videogames really fast for fun”.