Kevin Sullivan invites you to watch him play with himself for 48 hours.

And if you’re interested, you can join him.

Beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the KURE studios, 1199 Friley Hall, Sullivan, regular contributor to the video game Web site www.the-lowdown.net [TLN], will attempt to continuously play video games for two days, stopping only when nature calls and for a one-hour break after the first 24 hours.

“It’s basically a stunt for the Web site,” said Sullivan, former KURE employee and ISU alumnus. “There are so many [gaming] sites out there, you try anything to set yours apart from others, but most of it’s just a crazy stunt we’re doing to have fun.”

Sullivan says he’s really been grateful to KURE for allowing him to use the studio’s facilities and is looking forward to the added exposure.

“We’ll be doing frequent updates on Kevin’s progress,” said Victoria Rosin, KURE public relations director.

Rosin says she wishes Sullivan luck that he can complete the marathon.

“It’s an exciting event for the station and [TLN] – he’ll get plenty of air-time,” Rosin said. “I’m lucky though, I’ll have him on my show when he’s fresh and awake on the first day.”

Sullivan’s editor-in-chief at TLN, Stephen Webster, says the marathon has the potential to benefit both Sullivan and the Web site.

“With his 48 Hours of Gaming piece, Kevin will be playing video games of all sorts, on systems such as Sony’s PlayStation 2, Sega’s Dreamcast, and Nintendo’s Super NES. However, the specific titles he`ll be playing are still unknown,” Webster said. “We are hoping to have industry developers sponsor the event by featuring their games, but overall, I believe that the event will be a big success, helping draw more traffic to our Web site.”

“I’d say that since he joined TLN after leaving the well-respected myvideogames.com several months ago, Kevin has brought very valuable insights on the gaming industry to our readers,” Sullivan said. “He’s also one of our most frequent contributors.”

And it’s these types of insights and contributions that will help Sullivan complete his quest of craziness, but not without a little planning and strategy too.

“I think the key to staying up for 48 hours is health food,” Sullivan said. “Most people go the junk food route, but after your body uses up all that sugar for quick energy, you run the risk of crashing.”

Sullivan said he doesn’t have his menu planned for the two days, but says his fianc‚e is in charge of meals and has even planned for a little cheating.

“I’m sure a pizza will make its way into the two days somewhere,” Sullivan said. “You just can’t take that out of gaming – they just go together like malt and liquor.”

As far as a set plan of attack for the event, Sullivan said he plans on playing a number of role-playing and strategy games.

“They take up the most time – they’re so in-depth and involving, you lose track of time and can burn up hours with one game,” He said.

Sullivan said he will also rely on the separate Java chatroom that TLN will set up for the marathon so anyone can talk to Sullivan while he’s playing the games. People can even stop by the studio to play with him to help stave off the exhaustion.

So individuals who enjoy the nostalgia of the Super Nintendo, its successor the N64 or the Sony Play Station 2 can swing by the studio to help out with the cause.

Sullivan says even Sega Dreamcast owners will be able to get in on the action with out having to leave their homes.

“I’ll be playing Phantasy Star Online for the first time, so anyone can jump online with me and play,” he said.

Webster says the idea for the gaming marathon was all Sullivan’s brainchild.

“The radio show and subsequent web-broadcast Kevin is doing is actually our first major publicity stunt,” Webster explains. “The idea was his, and he’s coordinated the whole ordeal.”

Informally named the first-ever “Video Game Marathon,” TLN will broadcast the event over the Internet by Web cam, incorporating at least four gaming systems, a variety of games and mass amounts of caffeine – all for the sake of publicity, Sullivan said.

Webster said TLN was formed in November of 2000.

Initially starting as a video game and anime review and editorial site, the project evolved to focus mainly on console gaming and fan artists.

Webster said he joined the TLN staff in January of 2001 as a contributor and columnist and has since ascended to the rank of editor-in-chief.

“I’ve previously worked with the Dallas Morning News as a special contributor to its Science and Technology section and Voice of the Gamer, an editorials site that no longer exists,” Webster said.

Webster is also co-owner of the site with Trent Durai – with Webster based in Brenham, Texas and Durai in New York City.

“All of the site’s staff has been gaming since their early years, and continues to do so as a hobby and, hopefully, a profession,” Webster said.

“That’s what TLN is all about – games and the people who love them. We are a launching pad for talented writers, and I think our content reflects that and we currently have eight contributors.”

But with all of the PR hype left behind, Webster sums up the drive and dedication his staff has with just one statement: “More or less, we do it for the love of video games.”

Even Sullivan says he can trace his love of video games back to his childhood.

“My first gaming system was the Atari 2600. I loved it, but my mother never liked video games much – until Pac-Man came out for the Atari,” Sullivan said.

“She loved it. After that I could always sit down with her and hang out playing Pac-Man in the den,” he said.