01 July 2019
Australia’s longest continuous speedrun marathon is set to take off at MOD. this week and it promises to be a fast and furious ride for the 45 video-game enthusiasts who are travelling to Adelaide from around the country to take part.
The 2019 Australian Speedrun Marathon from July 2 – 4 will see competitors take on 60 hours of non-stop gaming with some of the classic games of our times in play, including Pokemon, Super Mario, Metal Gear Solid and many more.
Their mission is to get through the games – all the levels – as fast as possible but at the same time they’ll be raising money for beyondblue, one of Australia’s leading charities focussed on supporting people with mental illness, including depression and anxiety.
And if you want to be in on the action, you can watch the event online or in person. Visitors to UniSA’s future-focussed museum of discovery, MOD. on North Terrace will see all the thrills and spills up close and can take in the current free exhibition, Hedonism, at the same time.
Event organiser Ethan Levy says the collaboration to host the event at MOD. is fantastic.
“We’re delighted to be working together with UniSA again in 2019 to put on the fastest gaming event in the country, something people from all over Australia and even overseas come down to take part in,” Levy says.
“The fact that we get to run the event in the very cool space that is MOD., while raising money for a great charity like beyondblue, is icing on the cake.”
UniSA Head: School of Creative Industries, Associate Professor Paula Geldens says UniSA is pleased to be involved with the event again this year.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences to support the Australian Speedrun Marathon,” Assoc Prof Geldens says.
“As in the past, we will see serious gaming competitors come together, this time at MOD., to challenge themselves and each other, all the while showcasing the creativity and genius of good gaming design.
“Our Bachelor of Creative Industries, which includes a major in Games Design and Production, has its first intake next year so supporting this event is a no-brainer.
“We are also immensely proud to be associated with an event that supports beyondblue.
“I encourage anyone with an interest in the Creative Industries, and in games in particular, to get along to the event.”
In 2018, the Australian Speedrun Marathon hosted at UniSA’s Magill campus, attracted more than 100,000 unique visitors to the livestream, and raised over $5,000 for beyondblue.
You can catch this year’s gaming action at MOD. North Terrace westside of the Morphett Street Bridge or tune in to twitch.tv/ausspeedruns on July 2-4.
Anyone interested in pursuing careers in game design, UniSA offers programs in Media Arts, Games and Entertainment Design, Compositing and Tracking, Dynamic Effects and Lighting.
There is also a new UniSA Creative Industries degree with majors in Animation and VFX, and Games Design. The University’s extensive range of industry partners includes Mighty Kingdom and Rising Sun Pictures, and students have the opportunity to work on exciting projects and placements as part of their study program.
UniSA media contact: Michèle Nardelli phone: +61 418 823 673 or +61 882960854 email: michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
