Gaming Industry Rallies Around Japan Relief Efforts, Puts Together Multiple Charities
After the recent magnitude 9 earthquake/tsunami tragedy that struck Japan, the country needs every bit of help it can get. Fortunately, the gaming industry's doing its best to chip in and aid the relief effort. Absolutely key, however, is this fact: you – right this very moment – can help.
If you're a gamer looking to give the relief effort a boost, you actually have quite a few options. First up, Eve Online is taking donations of its in-game “PLEX” currency, converting them into real money, and passing every last cent off to the Red Cross.
In addition, Zynga's planted a veritable money tree in its franchises' incredibly fertile soils, and any profits it reaps from select microtransactions will go to Save the Children and its relief operations. Not so evil now, huh, Jonathan Blow?
Meanwhile, Game Informer's Meagan Marie is auctioning off her precious fire red Nintendo DS, which has been autographed by gaming industry legends like Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, composer Koji Kondo, Zelda director Eiji Aonuma, Mario voice actor Charles Martinet, and more. All proceeds will – somewhat fittingly – go to the Red Cross.
And, of course, you can always cut out the middleman and donate to the Red Cross directly.
If you come across any gaming-oriented charities that we've missed, post them in the comments and we'll be happy to report them.
Comments
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jemiila
September 04, 2011 at 9:40am
Microsoft's held back Xbox Live-related products as well as announcing a delay to the Japanese release of Dragon Age: Origins expansion Awakening. It's also cancelled a national tour for Kinect. Sony will keep PlayStation Network open in Japan, but insists that connectivity to the service will be difficult to access in some cases. The report also says that some content updates will most likely be delayed. Thanks
Orchid Center
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naxself
March 15, 2011 at 9:28am
If you're going to help out, help out without restrictions (i.e., don't say it HAS to be spent in Japan). Japan is a rich country with a competent government and an excellent insurance indutry and may not need all the money that is donated. Ensure that your donations can help out other areas (i.e., the Red Cross will use the money for Japan, and then any left over will help out other disasters in the Pacific Rim).
Hopefully Japan recovers soon. :-)
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Morete
March 15, 2011 at 5:55am
Dear Nexon Community,
All of us at Nexon would like to express our deepest sympathy to those affected by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last week. As a global company, many friends, family members, and fans of Nexon have undoubtedly been affected by these tragic events. It seems that every day, the scale of the disaster is growing, and we’re very concerned about the health and well-being of those that have gone days without food, water, and other basic supplies. To do our part in the global relief effort, Nexon will donate 100 million Yen (approximately $1.2 million) to aid relief agencies that are helping those affected by these devastating events.
We would also encourage you to help those in need in Japan by donating directly to the following aid agencies:
The Red Cross
International Medical Corps
The Salvation Army
Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres
You can also help from within your Nexon gameplay experience. In addition to Nexon’s donation, from March 14 through March 20, Nexon America will be donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of many of our in-game items to the Red Cross for the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami disaster relief efforts.For more details on the items that will help support these relief efforts in Japan, go to:
MapleStory
Combat Arms
Mabinogi
Dungeon Fighter Online
Vindictus
PopTag!
These donations merely scratch the surface of what is needed to support the overall relief and rebuilding efforts. However, we hope that in some small way, our efforts combined with the rest of the world will help ease the suffering of those affected by these tragic events and remind the people of Japan that people all over the world are thinking of them.We thank you for your support and for joining us to help those in desperate need.
Daniel Kim
CEO, Nexon America, Inc
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JoBlo
March 15, 2011 at 12:28am
Hate to be a stickler here, but it was a 8.9 magnitude quake, not a 9.
If you take the time to read the "definition" part of this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_magnitude_scale
you can see that there is a significant difference between 8.9 (the actual rating of the recent quake in Japan) and 9.
Not trying to deflate the situation in Japan, simply displaying that the details are important here.
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Blaze589
March 15, 2011 at 1:07am
I am following this story closely on CNN Live (translated news from Japan). It seems that it was upgraded to a 9 by Japanese scientists. It's a common mistake as I don't even think CNN says it's a magnitude 9.
http://www.livescience.com/13232-japan-earthquake-upgrade-magnitude-9.html
As for the relief effort by the gaming industry; good for them. Japan is in such bad shape and it's wonderful that everyone is rushing to help out. There literally isn't a moment that I haven't glued my eyes on the news for a glimmer of respite, alas it only gets worse. God be with them.
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JoBlo
March 15, 2011 at 1:56am
You are right Blaze, it seems that they have upgraded the quake to a 9.
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