World's most boring video game inspires marathon charity fundraiser

It began with what is considered by video gamers to be the most boring video game ever invented. The goal of Desert Bus is to drive a bus from Tucson to Las Vegas in real time. It takes eight hours and literally nothing happens.

The Desert Bus for Hope is almost certainly the most boring fundraiser ever invented, too. A bunch of drivers are shown playing Desert Bus in front of a live webcam, and will keep playing for as long as people continue to donate money in support of a children's charity.

So far they have been driving the bus in shifts since last Friday and have earned over $500,000.

"I personally have been driving for over 12 hours," says fundraiser Graham Stark to As It Happens host Carol Off. "The group has been driving, at last count, for 143 hours and 44 minutes solid." Ouch.

Notoriously, Desert Bus's gameplay enforces its dullness on the player.

"If you try to pause by hitting start you just honk the horn," Stark explains. "If you go off the road, then the bus overheats and stalls -- and then you get towed all the back in real time as well... to the beginning."

The bus also constantly, slightly lists to the right, requiring the player to control the bus at all times.

Here is the view players see during most of the game:

If you'd like to experience the full eight-hour Desert Bus trip from Tuscon to Las Vegas, you can experience the monotony for yourself here: