Videogame relief for Japan

A game industry relief program for Japan has been set up. Let's all find a way to contribute! http://playforjapan.org/ & follow @Play For JPN

Call me a bastard if my money went to food and building repair instead.

I'd focus more on the radiation from the nuclear power plant first...

I think it is for food and basic needs, but through videogame actions. I recall Siliconera had a raffle of a Cecil figurine, where 5 bucks bought a ticket, and the money went to Red Cross (I think)

edited 16th Mar '11 10:14:41 AM by Barrylocke

Yeah, it's not donation for the game industry, it's the game industry chipping in.

Oh my mistake, maybe I overreacted because twitter page wouldn't let me back page.

Wow, overreaction much?

Gamers are not that stupid. We're not like Scientologists, who set up "psychic healing" near distater areas.

This kind of relief makes me lose faith in the human race. You have to buy something for your money to actually help these poor people and even though a lot of them are doing this non-profit, it's a sad example of the human condition when we can't give without receiving. You shouldn't have to be rewarded for helping someone, you should help someone because they're your fellow man and it's the right thing to do. The simple fact that you helped rehabilitate a disaster victim should be reward enough.

Donate to a serious charity, not this gaming crap. http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/

A donation is a donation. If the money is going towards helping people that need it and is raised through legal and moral channels, does it really matter that the donors get something for it in return?

Well it matters how it's donated. Why go through a middle man when you can donate directly?

Man, this just disgusts me. Fuck video games, I'm done with this shit.

I said that too before, but it's like crack. You'll be back.

Overreaction much?

This is essentially the same thing as holding a big elaborate parade to donate money to whatever cause, or running a few laps(Terry Fox Run) just to donate a quarter to cancer research, or holding a big dinner party complete with perfomances or holding a concert for charity to help third world country...

If you have no problem with those methods of "donation", then it would be hypocritical to condemn this method.

edited 16th Mar '11 2:38:39 PM by Signed

I've actually never seen the point of those either. I usually just donate money through Paypal. I'm in it for the cause, not the dog and pony show. I can get that from Zootube365.

^x5 I think your reaction is just a little extreme, seeing that this is in the same ballpark as a charity auction for funds to research cures for various types of cancer, albeit more than a little more immediate. Also, considering how underwhelming the initial sums that charaties were getting for Japanese Relief Aid ($12m in 3 days for a disaster that could potentially have a 5-figure death toll), I'm pretty sure that the publicity that these events drum up is ultimately beneficial.

edited 16th Mar '11 2:55:20 PM by TheGinkei

Seriously. If the money is all going to the same place, then what's the problem? And why is this form of charity somehow worse than not donating at all?

Problem is, empathy is rare. Yeah, people should be willing to help their fellow man in times of need, but that's not realistic, otherwise we wouldn't need these "dog-and-pony" shows in order to compel people to donate in the first place. If a person doesn't have any ties towards the people that need help, then they're less inclined to help said people out. Again, if it helps with gaining money for relief in the first place, then it's ultimately helping.

Personally, I wish I was stationed over there, because I'm sure the other military bases are sending in personnel to help out with the relief effort.

No, I agree. How dare people donate money to a worthy cause in a medium that some people might consider juvenile. Those selfish bastards.

On that note, why publicize donation efforts at all? I'm sure without the rallying properties of a collective event or popular medium donation efforts can skyrocket regardless. Gaining valid support for causes through mediums I personally don't like is just morally sick and is just plain detrimental despite evidence to the contrary, and should be stopped. Now.

edited 16th Mar '11 4:58:17 PM by KnownUnknown

To this collective thread, and to those who take umbrage towards this concept in general:

U MAD?

More seriously, a relief effort is a relief effort. Like others have said, this is no different than a marathon or a dinner.

Well, to be fair to the collective thread, most of us don't take offense to it.

edited 16th Mar '11 4:59:21 PM by KnownUnknown

Here's the thing, why go through a middleman to donate and trust your money with!?

You have to go through a middleman either way. It's not like the charity organizations themselves are necessarily completely trustworthy. Unless you're personally buying blankets and food and flying them over the Japan yourself to hand out, some of the money is going to get eaten along the way.

edited 16th Mar '11 5:10:49 PM by Clarste

^^Sounds risky, sure, but there's got to be a reason why they have a middleman.

^Okay, yeah, that explains it.

edited 16th Mar '11 5:07:04 PM by RocketDude

Wow. That was rude. Thumped.

Wow. That was rude. Thumped.