Extra Life is this weekend, October 20th. If you’re taking part, you’ve probably already decided when you’re going to be starting, how you’re going to be playing, and more importantly, what game you’ll be playing. I know I sure have. But what you may not have considered, is what you may need to do to prepare to play games for 24 hours. For some, it may seem like your usual Saturday, but for most of us, staying awake and coherent for 24 hours could be a shock to the system. So here are a few tips for making sure your Extra Life marathon is both enjoyable that won’t leave you suffering too much afterwards.
Definitely time to go to bed!
Get Some Sleep!
The first thing you’ll want to do before starting your Extra Life marathon, is get a good night’s sleep the night before. In fact, going to bed a little earlier than you usually would is a good idea. It can be tempting to spend the night before doing whatever you would normally: late gaming sessions, drinking out, going the the cinema or whatever nighttime proclivities float your particular boat. But, believe me, if you’re not fully rested ahead of playing games for 24 hours, you’re going to be struggling in the later part of your marathon, and powering through it will likely mean having to catch up on sleep for days afterwards. So get some sleep, and an early night, or I’ll send the Creepers round!
Stay Hydrated
Now, by this, I don’t mean to go and chug a 6 pack of energy drinks every hour – I’ll get onto why that’d be a bad idea anyway in just a bit – rather, drink plenty of water while you’re playing. Have a large bottle of that life essential liquid near you at all times. Drinking coffee regularly can also help, as it’s a much better way to give caffeine to your system at a steady pace. The short term effects of coffee is all in the mind, but the long term result of drinking coffee over a few hours could help you out in the early hours. Just make sure you stop drinking the stuff a few hours before the end of your 24 hours.
No matter how good it looks, it’s not worth it.
Smart Nutrition
As I said earlier, energy drinks are going to make you crash if you try to use them for long term endurance, so will other sugary foods and drinks. So instead of piling up the junk food for throughout the day, eat smart for your main meals with substantial foods like fruit, veg, pasta, grains, potato. It might be a shock to you, but eating junk food isn’t going to keep you full or give you a constant stream of energy to keep you going. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t have any, just keep it in moderation.
Take Five
Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You’re not going to finish your 24 hours any quicker by playing flat out the whole time. Take regular breaks, even for just a few minutes per hour, to give yourself a chance to recharge. Move your whole body and whenever possible, get a little fresh air. A 5 minute walk outside can do wonders for you, so don’t neglect that while you’re gaming.
No Rage Quitting
You’re not going to want to continue if you’re getting frustrated at the game you’re playing. Either take a break in general, change the game mode or switch to another game entirely. If you’ve set a goal and are having trouble achieving it, step back and do something that will take your mind of it for a while. This is good practice when gaming in general of course.
“I bet you smell terrible on the inside.”
Thermoregulation
Sounds fancy right? But the advice here is really simple, keep yourself comfortable in the area you’re playing. If you’re too cold or hot, you’re going to suffer and those 24 hours will feel much longer. Open the windows, turn on a fan, add a layer of clothing – anything that can keep the temperature at an acceptable level will help you carry on.
Know Your Limit
Easily the hardest thing to remember if you’re dedicated to the cause, is knowing when to accept that you and your body have had enough. This is all for charity, so no one will get the hump if you fall a little short of your 24 hours. If you really can’t go on any longer, admit defeat, and finish your 24 hours later – there’ll doubtless be a few members of the BRB community doing catch-up sessions over the following weeks.
Donations
It’s all about those precious donations for Extra Life, so remember to keep asking constantly throughout your 24 hours. If you’re streaming, then use the viewers you’ve got to your advantage, get them to spread the word to help you out, or offer them little incentives if they donate just a little. “I’m playing Bioshock 2 and found the first little Sister. For $2, I’ll let you decide if I harvest or save here.” Sounds cheap, but it makes for a better stream and gives the viewers a reason to keep sticking around and see how their choices affect you.
So there’s a common sense bomb for you all as you prepare to play for charity this year for Extra Life. Keep watching the various BRB staff and community members who will be playing this weekend, you can find our team page here. We have the Gran Turismo 5 Challenge with JoyPadAndMe and Playstation Nation, as well as the Halo 4 Marathon on November 10th.
Tags: Extra Life
424 Posts in Total
