Two Solitaire Blitz™ Players Will Attempt Guinness World Records® Marathon in London and NY; Nearly $90,000 in Donations Already Pledged, More Expected
PopCap Games, a division of EA and maker of some of the world's most popular video games, will stage a two-city marathon which kicked off yesterday at 2 p.m. GMT expected to generate at least $90,000 for the leading water non-profit organization, charity: water. The transatlantic event will establish a new Guinness World Records® mark for Longest Videogames Marathon Playing a Card Game, if one or both participants succeed in playing 24 or more consecutive hours of PopCap's latest hit social game, Solitaire Blitz™.
Laura Rich, (31) from Cardiff attempting to break the Guinness World Record™ for Longest Videogames Marathon Playing a Card Game. Supported by Pearl from PopCap's New Game, Solitaire Blitz ™, proceeds from the attempt will go to Water, a charity bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. (Photo: Business Wire)
Solitaire Blitz players Laura Rich and Kathleen Henkel from Cardiff, Wales and Oakland, New Jersey, respectively, have utilized a unique pledge mechanism created for the occasion to garner tens of thousands of dollars in pledged charitable contributions from more than 1,400 people around the world. Combined with PopCap's own pledges of $5,000 per player, Ms. Rich and Ms. Henkel stand to raise over $90,000.
"The Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition is packed full of gamers doing amazing things, so we're happy to hear of Laura and Kathleen taking on the challenge to play for over 30 hours," said Gaz Deaves, Gaming Editor for Guinness World Records. "A gaming marathon is a great test of personal stamina and it will be an incredible achievement if they make it to the end."
Ms. Rich will conduct her attempt at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium on the River Thames, while Ms. Henkel will be playing Solitaire Blitz in a storefront operated by the Roger Smith Hotel in mid-town Manhattan featuring floor-to-ceiling windows on both Lexington Avenue and 47th Street. Supporters are invited to stop by either location and cheer the players on, make an on-site contribution to charity: water, and possibly receive one or more free items being given out at the event by PopCap® representatives. Viewers will also be able to watch Kathleen and Laura as they take on the challenge, with the action being broadcast live through the official Solitaire Blitz Live Event page on Facebook.
About charity: water
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. We raise awareness about the one billion people living without life's most basic need and invite others to join our mission. Then, we use 100% of public donations to fund clean water solutions in areas of greatest need.
About PopCap
PopCap Games is the leading global developer, publisher and operator of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to all ages across PC, mobile, social and other platforms. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000, was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2011, and has a worldwide staff of more than 600 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. PopCap's games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship franchise, Bejeweled, has sold more than 50 million units.
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Bejeweled, Zuma, Solitaire Blitz and PopCap are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50324728&lang=en
Contacts:
PopCap
Ember Wardrop
ewardrop@popcap.com
+353-1-6468164