The van is packed to the gills with freebies and my head is POUNDING, so that will be fun, but hopefully once I'm there and things are set up for the Funde Razor this headache will flee and I'll be able to drink in peace.

If you live in the area please try to make it out, if only for the charity.

See you there. Full swag list here.

Funde Razor

While we had some very generous donations from the likes of Microsoft, Sony, Chumby, etc, etc, etc, the bulk of the stuff I'll be giving away is the results of being a gaming journalist. Sure, some of the stuff you see in the picture is from last year or the year before, but the bulk of what you see is what a game journalist gets sent to him from developers and publishers in one year. Frightening isn't it?

Check back tomorrow and Wednesday for break down of some of the cooler stuff found in those boxes and make sure to swing by The Mercury Cafe Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. if you're in Denver. It only costs a $10 minimum donation to get in (proceeds to Child's Play), and we'll have Rock Band 2 set up on the stage as well as this inordinate amount of stuff to giveaway.

Special thanks to The Mercury Cafe for donating the space and to Death of the Arcade which is providing all of the equipment and doing the set up for the event absolutely free.

Make sure to check out the official Funde Razor site if you're looking for details on the events in San Francisco and Manhattan.

Bald Bull, plus 8-bit brick mosaics of Sonic and Mega Man, will be among the oodles of door prizes partygoers — maybe you! — will win at the Denver Funde Razor, now in its second year. Other locations include Manhattan and San Francisco. Here's the full info plus a list of your celebrity hosts. If you're in the area, come on over and get down for a good cause.

Don't forget that Funde Razor is next Wednesday. There are three locations for folks across the US: Brooklyn with Boing Boing Gadget's Joel, San Francisco with Gizmodo's Blam and Denver with our very own Brian Crecente. Special guest appearance by Brian Crecente's hair.

Funde Razor is all for a good cause (Child's Play), read more about it right here.

Round-up-wise, Wired's Chris Kohler is putting a smorgasbord of retro consoles and games up on the auction block with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Child's Play. CheapyD at CheapAssGamer is also doing his part to raise money for Child's Play — check his site for more information.

In non-Child's Play news, Kotaku commenter Witzbold informs us that he's got a Prinny auction (how fitting!) running with all the proceeds going to 5h3 Game Donation Drive for Troops in Iraq.

Stuff like this warms the heart, no?

As with last year's, this year's will feature a bevy of beautiful door prizes made up of the schwag sent my way from companies over the year. Also we've got a number of pretty amazing donations that we'll be handing out to lucky winners.

Among the list? A still-in-the-box retail Xbox 360, a Gears of War Zune and these, these magnificent LEGO creations. These amazing LEGO designs come from Cliff and company over at NetDevil who, between bouts of designing LEGO Universe, managed to find time to create 8-bit art for charity.

Bald Bull and Sonic on the jump. I'll be posting a mega picture of all of the giveaway goodies early next week, so stay tuned.

If you plan on coming to any of the events, hit the details up here.

Here in Denver, the Kotaku-backed Funde Razor will be at The Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. For a $10 minimum donation you get to hang out and play Rock Band 2 on stage. You also get a chance to win door prizes, an absurdly large amount of door prizes. You have to be 18 or older to attend.

If you live in New York City or San Francisco, hit up the jump to read about the events, hosted by BoingBoing, Offworld and RockGamer. Com and Gizmodo.

The New York City event will be at The Village Pourhouse, 64 Third Avenue & 11th Street, from 7 p.m. to midnight. 21 and older only, and no cover. Hosted by Joel Johnson of Boing Boing and Offworld, Miguel "Smeeguel" Molinari and Jennifer Boere of RockGamer.com.

The San Francisco event will be at Shine, 1337 Mission Street, from 7 p.m. to midnight. 21 and older only, and no cover. Hosted by Brian Lam and Jason Chen of Gizmodo.

I'll be posting some pics of the give aways we've got this year, but it's looking pretty impressive. Besides all the schwag I've been gathering for the year, a bunch of companies are pitching in some goodies including Microsoft, Harmonix, NetDevil, Idol Minds, Sony Online, etc, etc. I'll be posting the full list and plenty of pictures of the giveaways as the December 10 approaches.

Funde Razor

The event will be held at The Mercury Cafe downtown on Dec. 10 from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. The cover will be a $10 minimum donation and that will get you a ticket for a chance to win some of the awesome schwag I'll be bringing down with me.

This awesome new venue can hold 300 or so people includes a full bar, some tables and even the ability to order food if you want it. Better still, this year round due to popular demand the age limit will be 18 and older. To buy drinks you'll just have show your ID at the bar.

So if you want to show up to play some Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero World Tour (maybe even Rock Revolution) for a good cause mark December 10th in your calendar. Look for a blow-out picture of all of the goodies we'll be giving away, directions, parking, and all that good stuff. Also a number of people have offered up some pretty interesting items for a charity auction which we plan to run in conjunction with the Funde Razor. Stay tuned!

Donations are taken at the door and many coveted things will be given away to lucky raffle ticket holders. For more details on the event that puts the fun back into fund raiser, hit up the official site. Keep in mind, it's limited to those 21 and over. This may be your only chance to see Brian Crecente in a bird shirt or Joel Johnson in frilly scarf in person.

Funde Razor

The Brooklyn competition will take place at Barcade (home of the World Famous Kotaku Party 2007) and in Denver, rockers will attend at the glamorous and exciting Walnut Room. In both locations, a donation of ten dollars (either at the door or through raffle tickets depending on the location) could net you a host of currently unannounced fabulous door prizes. All proceeds from bothe events will go to benefit Penny Arcade's Child's Play Charity. Last year's Brooklyn event raised over $4,200. This year, let's totally kick the shit outta that total and raise moar.

Joel, who heads up Boing Boing Gadgets, will be handling the Brooklyn bash, while Crecente will be heading up the Denver one. Likewise, Crecente's hair will help with the Denver event. (That, and drink too much beer.) Read more about all this in the link below and help a good cause rock out. Because, really, a cause good enough for Crecente's hair is indeed a good cause.
Funde Razor [Official Site]

The Brooklyn competition will take place at Barcade (home of the World Famous Kotaku Party 2007) and in Denver, rockers will attend at the glamorous and exciting Walnut Room. In both locations, a donation of ten dollars (either at the door or through raffle tickets depending on the location) could net you a host of currently unannounced fabulous door prizes. All proceeds from bothe events will go to benefit Penny Arcade's Child's Play Charity. Last year's Brooklyn event raised over $4,200. This year, let's totally kick the shit outta that total and raise moar.

Joel, who heads up Boing Boing Gadgets, will be handling the Brooklyn bash, while Crecente will be heading up the Denver one. Likewise, Crecente's hair will help with the Denver event. (That, and drink too much beer.) Read more about all this in the link below and help a good cause rock out.
Funde Razor '07 [Official Site]

The Brooklyn competition will take place at Barcade (home of the World Famous Kotaku Party 2007) and in Denver, rockers will attend at the glamorous and exciting Walnut Room. In both locations, a donation of ten dollars (either at the door or through raffle tickets depending on the location) could net you a host of currently unannounced fabulous door prizes. All proceeds from bothe events will go to benefit Penny Arcade's Child's Play Charity. Last year's event raised over $4,200 so let's all get out there and double, nay TRIPLE that number this year.

The charming Joel Johnson will be on hand to host the NY event so Crecente doesn't have to go through the troublesome process of growing a clone in a jar. for all the details, check out the FÜNDE RAZOR website.

The event, held at Barcade in Brooklyn, is an official fund-raiser for Child's Play. Don't forget, if you've got some cash and a big heart, there's still time to donate to the charity. Brian Crecente

Funde Razor II Grand Total: $4, 216 [Funde Razor]

That sweet custom crafted Guitar Hero controller that Joel Johnsn was selling on eBay for his Child's Play Funde Razor wrapped up recently, bringing in another $1,026 to the charity. That pushes the charity drive to more than three times what it made last year. Brian Crecente

The proceeds for the guitar, made by Joel Miller ID, will be given directly to Child's Play.

The guitar being auctioned is the red-and-black model with flames. (The other two guitars were raffled off at the event.) It has been tested to work with both Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II and includes a wireless dongle. It uses batteries which can be replaced by removing a screw-off panel on the back. The headstock features a custom F nde Razor II logo, making this a unique change to own a part of F nde Razor II history. (Okay, that doesn't mean much, but still...)

Winners will receive the guitar, dongle, a strap, a soft case, and a guitar stand. They will also receive the warm feeling of knowing that they're getting a totally radical guitar and helping to buy toys and games for the children treated at the Montefiore Children's Hospital in the Bronx.

I entered the first $50 bid only to find that the auction hadn't yet met the minimum. Damn you Joel, damn you to hell! Brian Crecente

Custom Crafted Guitar Hero Controller in Real Guitar [eBay]

Don't forget that Funde Razor is 8 p.m. tonight at Brooklyn's fabulous Barcade.

Where else are you going to have a chance to drink, play classic arcade games, rock out with Guitar Hero on a big screen and raise money for sick children?

So get on over there, Kotaku needs a presence. I want to hear about all of the rowdiness and Kotaku chanting that went on from Joel when I talk to him tomorrow. Brian Crecente

Funde Razor

Recently, I posted a pic of that sweet Guitar Hero controller being raffled off at tonight's Funde Razor in Brooklyn and there were a lot of questions.

Fortunately, one of the two guys who created the controller wrote to answer them and to send us a link to a How-To which includes more than 110 photos.

First his answers to our many questions:

Having built the controller in the picture (along with Sean), I can answer a couple of questions:

diablodevil2: Yep, the tilt sensor's inside.

DirtyDebutant: It's wireless, so no cable needed!

D.Lo: I play the bass, so I don't care to learn to play the guitar. I make booty move, not get drunk and pass out on the stage. (kidding) GH is cool 'cause it teaches rhythm even if players never touch a real guitar. And who doesn't want to rock out?

namae: Gibson = $300 - $1000, Squire Bullet = $99. (And we couldn't find something cooler at the pawn shop — and didn't have time to paint it anyway — so it's brand new.)

protozoider: Send some money to Child's Play directly, then check out the exhaustive how-to we posted on Toolmonger and build your own. http://toolmonger.com/2006/12/05/how-to-build-your-own-custom-full-sized-wireless-guitar-hero-controller/

NYLatenite: They've got a couple of others, too, and I think at least one of them will end up on eBay for the charity as well. Check out the link in the post for more info, or contact Joel.

Steveisaduche: alienhead_69 is right. I felt bad until we pulled it apart — then I felt fine. It's a Bullet. You have to *step up* to a Squire. It's made of freakin' plywood, it has *no* RF shielding, etc. You can see it in the how-to. Believe you me, if you're a guitar player, you wouldn't feel bad.

Enjoy, and be sure to check out the event tonight.

You can also hit up the website for the full 7-page instructions for how to do this on your own. Brian Crecente

How to Build Your Own Custom Full-Sized Wireless Guitar Hero Controller [Tool Monger]

If you are 21 or older, are in the vicinity of Brooklyn this Wednesday and, for some reason, weren't going to go to Joel's Funde Razor, this shit better change your mind.

What you are looking at is one of three full-sized, handmade Guitar Hero 2 controllers which you can win at the annual fund raiser for Child's Play.

Where are the fret buttons, you might ask? Why up on the top of the neck painted black. This controller kicks so much ass it has to stop and take a breather about half way through. Now go forth my children and get drunk and donate lots of cash for sick kids. Brian Crecente

Funde Razor

I just finished going through my swag pile to rustle up some goodies to ship to Joel in Brooklyn to give away at the annual Funde Razor. I'm going to be mailing him a bunch of t-shirts, including ones for Elite Beat Agents, Bully, Penny-Arcade and even an I Scored with Samus shirt. I'll also be sending him some cool swag like a Bully kickball and that sweet white Member's Only jacket Rockstar sent me for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. Brian Crecente

Funde Razor

Former Gawkerite and hellofaniceguy Joel Johnson is hosting the second, we can now say it, annual Funde Razor at Brooklyn's Barcade next Wednesday.

The event, officially-sanctioned by Penny Arcade's Child's Play Charity, will be raising money specifically for The Children's Hospital of Montefiore in the Bronx.

While giving cash to sick kids is a wonderful excuse to go out and get drunk at a bar packed with arcade games, you also will be able to play Guitar Hero on a giant screen and sign up for a chance to win dozens of ROFL RAFL prizes including several custom Guitar Hero guitars, a DS and, if I can get off my lazy ass and send it to Joel, a bunch of swag I've collected over the year.

Last year the event raised $1,600, this year Joel is hoping to double that. So get out there, give cash, get drunk and be rowdy. I expect to hear at least one story of people shouting Joel down with chants of Kotaku. Brian Crecente

Funde Razor