The minigame "Desert Bus" was created in response to a controversy over violent content in video games. Penn Jillette intended it to be most inoffensive game ever; its gameplay consisted of driving from Tucson, Arizona to Las Vegas, Nevada in real time at a maximum speed of 45 MPH, and the player is unable to pause the game, requiring 8 hours continuous play to complete, which earns the player 1 point. The maximum number of points that can be earned playing the game is 99, requiring over 33 days to complete in real time.
The comedy group LoadingReadyRun holds a marathon gaming session called Desert Bus for Hope to raise money for the charity Child's Play, an organization founded by the authors of the popular computer and video games-based webcomic "Penny Arcade" that organizes worldwide toy drives to children's hospitals. LoadingReadyRun took turns playing the game continuously and more hours were added as donations came in. Penn & Teller themselves were among the donors. These gaming sessions have raised over $1 million.
This game was never officially released. By the time it was completed, developer Imagineering and publisher Absolute Entertainment went out of business. Though rights to the game went to Skyworks Interactive, Absolute had owed money to Penn & Teller when they went out of business, and the dissolve of the company meant that any rights pertaining to Penn & Teller's intellectual property, likenesses and performance within the title were revoked.
Penn & Teller planned to give away a prize to players who received the highest score playing the minigame "Desert Bus" included in Penn & Teller's Smoke and Mirrors. Winners would have received a vacation to Las Vegas accompanied by showgirls and a live band in "the most partying bus ever," with a prepaid stay at the Rio hotel and casino. Although the game was never released, the prize was referenced in its promotional material.
Fans have created their own ports of "Desert Bus" for iOS and Android, and a remake called "Desert Bus 2600" was produced for the Atari 2600.