Many Ways You Can Donate to Japan's Victims By Gaming
by Jeanine Celestin, posted on 17 March 2011 / 1,384 Views
As the tragedy in Japan worsens with a nuclear threat looming near, more and more individuals and companies are getting involved to think up unique ways for others to help the victims of the recent disasters. As I mentioned earlier in the week, businesses are trying to give ways for gamers to help out by donating yet still getting something back, which will hopefully result in even higher donations.
The gamer (and geek) population has always been deeply connected to Japan. Thus it has urged some to create donation opportunities that would interest others like them to help. This article will cover the various ways that you can help, and maybe get a little something back for yourself too.
1. Autographed Nintendo DS- If you've been thinking about finally getting a Nintendo DS or know a big gaming fan, then check out the cherry red one Game Informer's Meagan Marie has put up for auction. What makes this one so special is that it has been signed by illustrious celebrities of the gaming industry like famed game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, legendary composer Koji Kondo who composed classic Mario and Zelda tunes, Charles Martinet who is the voice of Mario, Zelda director Eiji Aonuma, and video games pianist Martin Leung who tours and performs with Video Games Live. The auction is still on-going if you want to get in on it, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross.
2. MMO EVE Online- is allowing players to make donations in the form of in-game currency whereupon the company will donate real money that will go to support the victims.
3. IGN Fundraiser- Gaming site IGN is planning an all-day fundraiser tomorrow where they will play 24 Japanese games in 24 hours, working their way from 1987 through to 2010 as they chat with readers over Facebook and Twitter. They will give prizes to readers that donate to those affected by the disaster. Be sure to check the link for the exact time and day it begins due to time differences.
4. Street Fighter 4 on iOS- Have an Apple device? Like Street Fighter? Capcom recently reduced the price of Street Fighter 4 on Apple's App store to 99 cents and announced they would donate all of those proceeds to charity from March 15-March 22.
5. gamrConnect Thread- If you can't donate right now and/or would like to keep a tab on new ways that pop up to donate, one of the easiest ways to keep track is to bookmark gamrConnect Member Xen's Japanese Relief effort thread. He will be constantly updating the thread with news and will keep adding reliable ways to donate.
6. Again, you can donate with Zynga's social games as previously listed here.
In addition to individuals, Japanese gaming corporations are making large donations. Nintendo, Sony, Konami, SEGA and Namco-Bandai are all giving more than 100 million yen (about $1.28 million dollars).
Additionally, the Square Enix Group has just announced they will donate 100 million yen, nearly matching the donation from the aforementioned corporations. Square Enix will also collect contributions from its employees worldwide for the disaster relief fund.
Additional Ways to Donate:
Square Enix will also host a donation program using Square Enix Crysta, the billing system service provided in all of Square Enix's online services.
Square Enix subsidiary Taito will collect donations from the customers at the amusement facilities that Taito operates across Japan. They will also collect donations by placing special charity items in its social games for mobile phones, and all sales of the item will be donated.
The virtual life community Nicotto Town operated by Square Enix subsidiary Smile Lab will collect donations by placing a special charity item in its service, and all sales of the item will be donated.
The details of all Square Enix programs will be announced through their respective websites at a later date. (If you would like to keep track of the special auctions and ways to donate through the aforementioned websites, but cannot read Japanese, I suggest Google Translate)
Header Image: REUTERS
