Discover five fantastic companies and people that are doing excellent things to support the Child's Play childrens' charity.
Here at Atomic, we really dig on the Child's Play charity. It's aim to is to provide toys and games to kids in hospital, and it's an initiative for and on behalf of the games industry, so it's doulby close to our geeky hearts.
Even better (well, almost better), are some of the ingenious and downright cool ways individuals and companies are supporting this excellent cause. We've started to see truly unique and generous efforts spreading out from video gaming, and ever more clever ways to get gamers of all stripes to part with a bit of cash to help those less fortunate than them. These are just a handful of them...
Coffee Break Hero In the best tradition of Crowded House and the Flight of the Conchords, we're claiming this is a 'local feel good story', even though it's actually the work of New Zealand game developer Big Block Games. Big Block put Coffee Break Hero together in just 14 days to raise money for Child's Playm, and the end result is hella fun. Sure, it's a touch on the repetitive side (but hey, it's a browser game made in just 14 days!), but it's also hilariously written. More importantly, it shows off a wonderful can-do attitude.
Half Life 2's Gravity Gun While there were many, many things that made Half Life 2 epic fun, possibly the most interesting toy was the Gravity Gun, which let you engage in one of the most basic activities known to humanity - picking up random stuff and throwing it an alien-enslaved Combine Soldiers. And now, you too can own an exact replica of this techno-arcane device, and support charity at the same time!
Volpin Props - the same guys who brought you the Portal Gun - have built a lovingly exact Gravity Gun, and are offering via auction. It's a blind proxy auction taking place at the annual Penny Arcade Gala Dinner (itself supporting Child's Play), and... well, it might already be sold, as the dinner is taking place now-ish, but at least you can still drool over the pictures.
Legend D20 it's not video gaming, but it certainly is gaming, and it very certainly is quite cool - LEGEND.
This set of D20 (that's a pen and paper RPG ruleset, for those not keeping up) rules was written with one thing in mind: creating larger than life characters that are awesome at any level, and that always have cool stuff to do. We've got the rules, and they pretty much do what it says on the tin. But the reason we're talking them up here is that Rule of Cool, the guys who wrote the game, are offering it in a pay-what-you-want model, with ALL proceeds going to Child's Play. Even better, as new milestones are passed in terms of money raised, they'll release more content for free, and even extend the pay-what-you-want period of the game's release. DnD is undergoing bit of a resurgence on our own forums, so if you're at all curious about classic gaming, this is a great way to get a neat new ruleset, and spread a bit of love at the same time. The offer ends in a couple of days, so hurry!
RIFT in-game fundraiser We had been hoping this was a real in-game, in-character event, with Trion offering a buck per goblin killed or something, but sadly it's just a buck per digital upgrade baought over this weekend.
Which, frankly, is still pretty damn awesome. If you get any digital upgrade from RIFTgame.com over the next three days, you'll be getting some sweet MMO action, and making kids happy - what's not to like? One thing this does do is show off just how simple it can be for a company to get behind Child's Play. Imagine if RIFT competitor World of Warcraft got in on the action...
Humble Indie/Introversion Bundle It goes without saying - but hey, we're saying it anyway - that the Humble Bundles are pretty damn cool. A mess of great indie games, under the pay-what-you-want model, and proceeds go to charities of your choice, including Child's Play.
The latest 'introversion' bundle has some great games, including Defcon, Darwinia and Uplink. And if you pay a little bit more - and by more, we mean all of $4.09, you get even more cool stuff. If you've already given to Child's Play (we have, have you?), you can even donate to the Electronic Frontiers Foundation.
So, if you find yourself with a few spare dollars this Xmas, give a little, and you just might get a little in return.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012