Indian Gamer Plays GTA IV for 40 Hours Straight; Sets World Record

21 Comments Posted October 20, 2009 - By Stephen Johnson

Grand Theft Auto 4

Indian video game fan Chirantan Patnaik recently set the Guinness World Record for playing Grand Theft Auto IV for over 40 hours straight.

"I think staying away from coffee and eating dates during my game helped me to stay alert and fit," Patnaik said. I guess he was talking about "dates" the fruit, because a marathon video game player couldn't possibly be talking about the company of women.

Why am I telling you about a marginally difficult record in an older game during a play-session that took place in a faraway land? Because kids today are wimps, even in Mumbai.

Guinness rules stated that Patanik got a 10 minute break every hour, and he managed to go for 40 hours and change. Compare that achievement to the records set by marathon dancers of the 1920s. When the "walkathon" craze was at its peak in the 1920s and 30s, dancers remained on their feet, continuously moving, for thousands of hours... and they only got a ten minute break every hour. In 1930, Mike Ritof and Edith Boudreaux danced for 5,152 hours straight at a ballroom in Chicago. That's six months of continuous movement. At the end of it, they won $2,000. Ritof and Boudreaux would laugh at 40 hours sitting in a chair, playing a video game.

So, Chirantan Patnaik, call me back when you've played a video game for half a year straight, and then I'll be impressed. I think I could easily play a game for 40 hours. I've played games for 12 hours in a row without thinking about it. What about you? What's your longest gaming-time?

Source

Tags: Grand Theft Auto IV, Videogames, Xbox 360

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BONERJAM

I didnt read the article but is the world record for being the worlds biggest loser?

Posted: October 20, 2009 10:11 AM | Reply | Report

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Carnage_Asada

Lame! I went longer than that guy and I wasent even setting records. I could do that EASILY! 40 hours? A mere weekend. Its not that hard to do guys! You just sit on ass and play.

Posted: October 20, 2009 10:15 AM | Reply | Report

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Arguello

I went into a Blockbuster a while back, and they had Starfox assault in the Gamecube, and some how managed to stay in there and beat the entire game in one sitting. Yeah, I know need friends.

Posted: October 20, 2009 10:22 AM | Reply | Report

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moose_

I could never do anything for 40hrs straight.

Posted: October 20, 2009 10:32 AM | Reply | Report

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TEAMGiant

I play 40 hours for breakfast.

Posted: October 20, 2009 10:56 AM | Reply | Report

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scorcher117

I would kill for enough time to play for 40 hours straight...

Posted: October 20, 2009 11:08 AM | Reply | Report

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SmarterThanYou

Doing anything for 40 hours straight would in fact melt your brain. But 10 minute breaks every hour? What a cop-out. I want to see continuous play for 40 hours WITHOUT breaks. Hook up that beer helmet and a catheter then you're set!

Posted: October 20, 2009 11:08 AM | Reply | Report

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xegster

I hit 40 hours nearly every weekend, matchmaking halo 3 alone!

Posted: October 20, 2009 11:09 AM | Reply | Report

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darkhadden

Pfft. Man, I WORK for 40 hours every SINGLE week and they only give me TWO DAYS break. This guy had BREAKS? I once played WoW for 40ish hours, I started Sunday after my g/f (long distance relationship, now wife) left my apt. My roommate and I called into work 'sick' Monday and Tuesday and probably only went to the bathroom ONCE every ten hours. Fueled by Mountain Dew, fresh brewed constant coffee, Doritos, Halloween candy. This guy's a punk. When Final Fantasy 1 came out for NES I remember staying up all night with my friend from down the block and being 'sick' for school and playing until 4am the next day. Sure, it was only about 34ish hours, but this has been done I am sure by hardercore than I. Just never anyone garishly self-involved enough to get Guinness on the line about it. Bravo Steve-o, this dude's a punk.

Posted: October 20, 2009 11:13 AM | Reply | Report

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darkhadden

SECONDED Scorcher117 - that g/f from my post is the wife now, I'm lucky if I get 4 hours. She was throwing up Sunday (yay, rest day, can't make me do sh t) and I FINALLY opened and played Demon's Souls. Maybe 5 hours? And I am still getting lectured about that. "YOU played videogames all day Sunday, why do you have to play more this week?" UM, all day is 12-14 hours, I played from about 1230-5pm. BITE ME. I mutter. Silently. In my head. Inconsolably...

Posted: October 20, 2009 11:17 AM | Reply | Report

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gamegodtre

only fourty hours. i really need to learn how to contact guiness then learn to get a life due to me playing that game on a straight shot took about 50 hrs and that was with me trying to find all the extra stuff

Posted: October 20, 2009 12:00 PM | Reply | Report

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BertSaxby

I once played Dungeons and Dragons for 72 hours straight.
I also remember walking to school and back...uphill BOTH ways. LOL.

Posted: October 20, 2009 12:17 PM | Reply | Report

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pingerdinger

wow Guiness World records aren't like they used to be. Next will be how long u can hold a controller in ur hand

Posted: October 20, 2009 12:24 PM | Reply | Report

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ashkpa

I believe the previous record was only 24 hours.

Posted: October 20, 2009 1:55 PM | Reply | Report

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Jimi0088

NO LIFE

Posted: October 20, 2009 6:24 PM | Reply | Report

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Okiwan

lol ^5, put that on your resume, I'm sure it will land you.....NOTHING...get a life.

Posted: October 20, 2009 6:59 PM | Reply | Report

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Fre_Quen_C

My personal record for playing an individual game would probably be upwards to 32 hours straight... But, if we count with friends it's above 40 hours :/ When you have a bunch of 13 year olds in the same house with not to much to do, lots of caffeine, snacks, and a few games, you'll wind up with something like that. But I can't believe they actually gave him credit for something such as this. I have to agree with Stephen about how they'd laugh :/ That's just ridiculous.

Posted: October 20, 2009 7:03 PM | Reply | Report

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nowhere2hide139

i would grow bored playing that long unless i was locked in a basement. I don't think ive played longer than 5 hours at a time. that will be broken when i do endless setlist 2 on rock band

Posted: October 21, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply | Report

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MrMafia2015

I played GTA 4 without xbl last year for around 54 hours this guys lame.

Posted: October 23, 2009 12:50 PM | Reply | Report

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Team209

haha are you kidding me? when gta vice city came out on ps2 i played that for 4 days straight no lie the only time i set down my controller was when i was eating next to to my game console and going to the basthroom if that counts and no im not a loser i was on summer vacation or some kind of vacation from skewl..

Posted: October 23, 2009 2:33 PM | Reply | Report

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