News

February 7, 2010

Video game record try at an end

Student Aaron Nikles helps the Cancer Society by raising money.

JANINE UNGVARSKY Times Leader Correspondent

A record-breaking attempt came up short Saturday when Wilkes University’s own “Guitar Hero” fell victim to fatigue.

Aaron Nikles, a 20-year-old sophomore from Bath, started playing the video game Friday at 3:38 p.m. with a goal of entering the Guinness Book of Records by beating the old mark of 24 hours, 2 minutes. According to roommate Garrett Schrader, Nikles made it to about the 18-hour mark before shutting down the attempt just after 7 a.m. Saturday.

“He was doing well but he bogged down,” said Schrader. “He closed his eyes for five minutes during a break and said he felt invigorated, but then he got really tired and couldn’t finish. He wasn’t too beat up about it. He was disappointed, but he made it 18 hours, which was longer than he had ever done and more than a lot of people have done.”

Nikles was recovering from his attempt and couldn’t be reached for comment.

And while the record still stands, Nikles did achieve his other goal of raising money for the American Cancer Society. Schrader said donations from people who wanted to play along on the record-breaking attempt raised well over $100.

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