WELCOME TO
DESERT BUS
X
It marks the spot; it’s the MVP of the alphabet when it comes to algebra; it’s an Ed Sheeran album? And most importantly it’s in the title of the this year’s event! What are we talking about? Why X of course!
The atmosphere here at Lunar Module Mark 3 is electric as we prepare for our TENTH instalment of DESERT BUS FOR HOPE. As if the whole enterprise wasn’t insane enough, this year we roll over into DOUBLE DIGITS as we hurtle through a virtual Sonoran Desert in a busted virtual charter bus… FOR THE CHILDREN!
Mike here, proud as a peacock that I get to blog you through the first shift of DBX! I and the rest of the blog team will be updating this space LIVE and in real time as we undertake this week of loving insanity! We will be doing our best to keep you up to date with any ongoing events, contests, auctions, special guests, and anything else you’ll need to know!
So on behalf of the whole DBX #squad, welcome aboard! We look forward to having you along for the ride!
James Turner
Driving: Saturday, Nov 12 10am – 10pm
Points: 25(!)
Crashes: 9Born in the fires of Mt. Tolmie and raised on a diet of jello, James was born for one reason and one reason only. To be Captain The Sensible One.
It’s Desert Bus’ 10th year:
His first memory of Desert Bus:
Turning on the camera for the very first Desert Bus and astonished people actually showed up to watch.
Favourite DB gif:
Desert Bus for Hope
Pinny Arcade Pin
Introducing the most air freshener-filled, road-centric, desert-focussed Pinny Arcade pin ever! This rare pin is an official part of the Pinny Arcade collection, commemorating an entire decade of driving tiredly through virtual desert landscapes in the service of aiding sick children.
These pins went unbelievably fast! We can’t thank you enough for all of your purchases that went right to Child’s Play Charity.
A pin will also be included in each and every Desert Bus 10 prize, whether silent auction, live auction, or giveaway.
Many thanks to Penny Arcade for giving Desert Bus this exciting opportunity to join the Pinny Arcade family!
Portal Lot
Donated by Valve
At Aperture Science, we value history. In fact, we value it so much that we dedicated an entire sub-basement broom closet to hanging on to it. But, once in a while, we need to move things around to fit in an extra gallon of bleach. That’s where you come in: we need someone to take a few bits of priceless Aperture history off our hands, including a framed 80s-style Portal 2 poster signed by Tristan Reidford (that’s the artist), and a copy of the Portal board game signed by Valve. We’ll even toss in a Valve Friends & Family Steam key for your trouble, good for all Valve games current and future. So do us, Child’s Play, and our janitor a favor and take home some Aperture history!
The lot includes:
- Framed 80s-Style Portal 2 poster signed by Tristan Reidford
- Portal: The Board Game signed by Valve
- Valve Friends & Family Steam Key
About the Sponsor:
This lot has been lovingly donated by the folks at Valve Software. Desert Bus is delighted to once again have the support of this awesome game maker, who is excited to share said awesome games with all of you!
A Sneak Peek: Lunar Module Mk. 3
We are pleased to announce that once again we have avoided cramming our sweaty, smelly human bodies and the ridiculousness that is the prize mines into a too-tiny-for-DB space (read: any of the Moonbases). That’s a backwards way of saying that we have a new venue for DBX, and we’re super excited about it!
The front door. We have an alcove to protect us from the Victoria rain. How posh is that?
With the assistance of Gail Reaney at Colliers International (thank you, Gail!) we were able to secure a super convenient space in downtown Victoria. We were only able to snap some quick pics on our tour, but we’re hoping you can see the potential.
It boasts plenty of space for our on camera shenanigans, kitchen facilities, ample storage for prizes and we have the entire floor to ourselves.
Check out the Lunar Module Mk.3!
The Broadcast Space. That’s some quality brick work.
It may look a little too “normal” now, but we promise the space will be in full DB form once we’re done with it.
The prize mines. The only time you will ever be able to see the walls.
This might actually be the most space our shippers have ever had to work. They won’t know what to do once they no longer have to crawl over each other to get to a prize. They will probably crawl over each other anyways. I think they find it fun. They don’t get a lot of social interaction. Or sunlight.
A kitchen. For sustenance.
A break room. For breaks. Or woodworking. It’s yet to be decided.
Desert Bus Cross Stitch Sampler
Created & Donated by Sarah Overall
Commemorate ten whole years of Desert Bus madness with this hand-made, cross stitched sampler. Featuring a popular meme from each year of the fundraiser (plus a few extras), now you can be nostalgic for past Desert Buses all year round rather than just in November. The piece also doubles as a handy reference guide: Did Paul really shave his beard all the way back in DB2? What year did the doge overlay happen? How much money did DB4 raise? Now you won’t have to guess anymore!
This piece has been custom framed in conservation masterpiece acrylic, which is lightweight and shatterproof. It has UV protection, reduces reflections, and doesn’t attract dust. From left to right, top to bottom (roughly), the memes are:
DB1: Is it safe?
DB2: Paul shaves his beard after the DB1 donation total is passed
DB3: Caramelldansen! So much dansen.
DB4: The tradition of “taking people to the store” begins
DB5: Play Minecraft, watch Top Gear, get pig
DB6: Whale plaid!
DB7: The overlay is taken over by doge-speak
DB8: Matt makes a splash in the Bus King Pageant
DB9: Frank the puppet stands in for Bill when he’s unable to attend
This project is a result of roughly 180 hours of work and an enormous amount of love. Special thanks to the Video Strike Team, Andrew Ferguson, and the people who run the Desert Bus wiki for their fantastic documentation and archives, and to Featherweight for designing Bus King Matt and for his feedback.
About the Artist:
Sarah has been a crafter since her early teens and a geek since she learned how to read, so it was only a matter of time till she found a way to combine the two. She mostly works with embroidery, but has also learned crochet (inspired by other people’s amazing Desert Bus donations) and likes to dabble in other crafts. Sarah also works as an editor, where she gets to be a geek about the English language. This is her seventh year contributing to the craft-along and her ninth watching Desert Bus.
You Are Now Earthbound Backpack
Donated by Fangamer
From Fangamer’s You Are Now Earthbound Kickstarter, we have a special pack of awesome Earthbound goodies! This backpack and its handy adventuring contents were exclusively available through a high-level support tier for the Kickstarter. This is a special sneak peak at what’s inside these packs…
The set centers around a cheerful yellow backpack, which is filled with ephemera from an Eagleland vacation (hotel slippers, postcard, trading cards…). Of especially beautiful and critical world-saving note is the blue Sound Stone! Take this backpack with you on your own Eagleland adventures and continue filling it with mementos.
The backpack, originally exclusive to Kickstarter backers, will be available at Fangamer.com in the future – they are still working on some further items to be added to the final product. In the meantime though, if you missed out on the Kickstarter this is your one place to get a backpack and start filling it with your own Eagleland treasures, so don’t hesitate to try and get your hands on it!
About the Sponsor:
Fangamer offers wonderful geeky clothing, art, and household goods of high quality and beautiful design. They are longtime supporters of Desert Bus for Hope, and are the skillful creative force behind the annual Desert Bus t-shirts and the Desert Bus Documentary Kickstarter shirts.
Driver Schedule for Desert Bus 10
This year we’ve moved back to 12 hour shifts for extended discomfort and fatigue and we’ve got some shared shifts – but don’t be fooled! They’re not easier. Both drivers will be on camera the entire time, even if they’re not driving. All times listed in Pacific Standard Time.
Click on each driver’s name to learn a little more about them or see all profiles on our drivers page.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.
| Saturday, November 12 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10am – 10pm: |  |
James | ||
| 10pm – 10am: |  |
Jeremy | ||
| Sunday, November 13 | ||||
| 10am – 10pm: |  |
Matt |  |
Tally |
| 10pm – 10am: |  |
Cameron | ||
| Monday, November 14 | ||||
| 10am – 10pm: |  |
Ash |  |
Ashley |
| 10pm – 10am: |  |
Ashton |  |
Jamie |
| Tuesday, November 15 | ||||
| 10am – 10pm: |  |
Kara |  |
Kate Watt |
| 10pm – 10am: |  |
Ian |  |
Alex |
| Wednesday, November 16 | ||||
| 10am – 10pm: |  |
Graham | ||
| 10pm – 10am: |  |
Liz |  |
Tara |
| Thursday, November 17 | ||||
| 10am – 10pm: |  |
Kathleen | ||
| 10pm – 10am: |  |
Beej |  |
Johnny |
| Friday, November 18 | ||||
| 10am – 10pm: |  |
Paul | ||
Mega Man Replica Helmet
Donated by Joe Worm
Made by Capcom and worn by the coolest of Mega Man fans, this helmet is the thing you longed for as a child, when you cut out one side of a cardboard box, coloured it blue and ran around the house in search of Energy Tanks. You did do that, right? That… that wasn’t just us?
The helmet comes with soft padding so you can adjust it to better fit your head. The crest of the helmet opens to take batteries that light up the side panels. Yes, it lights up! The lawyerly instructions included with the helmet make clear that it is neither a safety item nor a toy, but we all know that’s categorically untrue. It will keep you safe from ever being as un-awesome as those who do not own such a helmet, and it is very clearly something for play and fun and imagination – ie: a toy. So let that inner child out and make it giddily, crazily happy with this fantastic Mega Man helmet!
Materials:
- Highly polished ABS plastic
- (2) AA batteries for LED lights
- Interior helmet soft padding
Measurements:
- 14″ tall x 11″ wide
- Weight: 3 lbs
