Desert Bus

[JackSlack]

Yeah, that puts everything thoroughly out of my price range. Oh well.

How much do challenges go for?

Challenges go for how much they go for. You say how much you're willing to offer, and they'll either do it, say no, or say "Yes, but you need to offer more."

[Fezzul]

Challenges go for anything from $5-$Whatever

Just make sure that the donation is roughly of equal value to the challenge.

E.g. Asking Ashton and Kroze to perform fan-written slash-fic would cost at least $30 (Kroze will probably FTFM in a moment...). Whereas asking Paul to sing a sea-shanty would cost about $5-$10. It all depends on what you can afford to spend and the nature of the challenge. Just be reasonable.

Edit: I would just like to make it clear that I think Paul's sea shanties are lovely and are worth more than $5, but being the modest man he is, he would probably do it for $5 - $10. Somewhere in that area

[Metcarfre]

I paid $50 for Graham to drive the bus as Snake (from Metal Gear Solid) for, I don't know, half an hour? And then someone paid for him to read Dr. Seuss in character. And then he crashed the bus.

So, you know, base all your financial decisions around that.

FWIW, some of the earlier, smaller, silent auctions can go for fairly reasonable $50-$100 range. But towards the end of the weekend and later, when more viewers show up, it gets a little gong-showy.

[King Kool]

I paid $75 for Graham and Alex to sing "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. I specified that Alex sing for Aladdin and Graham sing for Jasmine in his own voice. I also worked on a custom karaoke file for them to sing from.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtmKu_7eRQw

I think the more specific you want it, the more they hope to get from it. I was being VERY specific, so I knew it had to be pretty substantial.

[JackSlack]

By contrast, the lowest I ever bid (it was rejected but they did it anyway) was offer a buck to say, "Hello to all the British people!"

(B... because it was morning in Britain and they were all beginning to come online, you see.)

I also offered I think fifteen or so bucks for a performance of Creepy Doll by JoCo, with the Creepy Dolls used as puppets. Which they did with gusto.

It doesn't always have to be a lot.

[JenSev]

I like the three MTG give-aways at the bottom, but why in Russian and Japanese?

That's like saying; I've made your all time favourite dinner, everything is made to perfection, except for the texture, which is leather.

[Ahlir]

I only have $40 to last me the rest of the fortnight... Sigh... No cool things for me. Sniff

[phlip]

I like the three MTG give-aways at the bottom, but why in Russian and Japanese?

If everything made sense, it wouldn't be Desert Bus.

[Fezzul]

I have a little money I put to one side after I moved. So I can probably afford a couple of small challenges.

[Deedles]

Thanks, now I'm gonna be singing A Whole New World for a week. >_<

[theDreamer]

Actually, many japanese cards have more value than their english counter parts.

And why not russian?

[Graham]

I like the three MTG give-aways at the bottom, but why in Russian and Japanese?

Because that's what Wizards sent us.

Also, foreign languages are more exclusive and cool!

[Psyclone]

I want that kitteh-thulu so baaaaaad. That's a ways in, do you think the auctions will have picked up by then?

[guidance]

So when bidding on auction items, or just donating in general is paypal the only way to go?

[Fugiman]

You do not need a paypal account, but all payments will go through paypal, as the Child's Play account is on paypal.

[Drunk On Mystery]

This might be a stupid question:

Do the Silent Auctions run all the way through Desert Bus, or does each one have a time limit?

[Fugiman]

Each one lasts roughly 12 hours.

[JackSlack]

So, party people.

Tell me of your Desert Bus viewing setups. Headphones? Laptop? Desktop? Streamed to a TV? TELL ME.

Me, I'm going with a Macbook Pro 17" running the buscam and IRC, and a HDMI cable to a wide screen television with the drivercam running. I'm not sure how much bandwidth running it at high def will bring though, so it may instead be a smaller window and have both the drivercam and buscam on the TV.

[ecocd]

I tune out during live auctions now. They raise a ton of money so they should have the prominent role they do, but from an entertainment standpoint, the live auctions are about as entertaining as ... well ... playing Desert Bus.

Maybe if I had $2500 it would be different, but I don't.

[JackSlack]

Seriously? Man, I love the auctions. It's just crazy watching the numbers pile up. They're one of my favourite parts.

[Avistew]

Because that's what Wizards sent us.

Also, foreign languages are more exclusive and cool!

They are?
...
Anyone want French Innistrad cards? I can ship them from the US.

[Geoff_B]

So, party people.

Tell me of your Desert Bus viewing setups. Headphones? Laptop? Desktop? Streamed to a TV? TELL ME.

Me, I'm going with a Macbook Pro 17" running the buscam and IRC, and a HDMI cable to a wide screen television with the drivercam running. I'm not sure how much bandwidth running it at high def will bring though, so it may instead be a smaller window and have both the drivercam and buscam on the TV.

I'm streaming to my trusty HP Touchpad. I've got a WiFi repeater in my room so I'm set

[Ahlir]

So, party people.

Tell me of your Desert Bus viewing setups. Headphones? Laptop? Desktop? Streamed to a TV? TELL ME.

Me, I'm going with a Macbook Pro 17" running the buscam and IRC, and a HDMI cable to a wide screen television with the drivercam running. I'm not sure how much bandwidth running it at high def will bring though, so it may instead be a smaller window and have both the drivercam and buscam on the TV.

I'll have my laptop running driver cam and chat plus my desk top to play games on during the slow time.

[Fugiman]

I'm not sure how much bandwidth running it at high def will bring though, so it may instead be a smaller window and have both the drivercam and buscam on the TV.

The bandwidth isn't determined by window size - all that does is stretch out the picture. You can have both db_high and db_med the same size window and med will still take less bandwidth, but look worse.

It is slightly unfortunate that they are not taking advantage of Justin.TV's ability for the user to select the quality of the stream, but I guess it is better for Desert Bus in the long run.

[Digital Dolphin]

I tune out during live auctions now. They raise a ton of money so they should have the prominent role they do, but from an entertainment standpoint, the live auctions are about as entertaining as ... well ... playing Desert Bus.

That's pretty much how I feel about them playing MTG, or even D&D on the live stream. It's just slow and dull for the people not immediately involved.

The live auctions however I generally enjoy.