If you are like me, every time you see an article like this one, where the author claims that video games are training our nations youth to kill you get angry. The media seems intent on perpetuating the myth that gamers are ticking time bombs just waiting to go off. I know for a fact that gamers are good people. I have had the opportunity on multiple occasions to meet hundreds of you at conventions all over the country. We are just regular people who happen to love video games.
With that in mind we have put together a little something we like to call “Child’s Play”. Penny Arcade is working with the Seattle Children’s Hospital and Amazon.com to make this Christmas really special for a lot of very sick kids. With the help of the Children’s Hospital we have created an Amazon Wish List for the kids. It’s full of video games, movies and toys. Some of these kids are in pretty bad shape and just having a Game Boy would really raise their spirits.
Please take some time to browse the Wish List. Maybe all you can afford is a package of batteries or maybe you want to go in with your entire office and get the kids a GameCube. Every single contribution will help out the Children’s Hospital and the 190,000 kids they treat each year.
All the toys and games will be delivered to us and we will in turn deliver them to the Children’s Hospital. As soon as the toys start arriving I’ll set up a web site and post as many pictures as I can. We will be making a trip over to one of the hospitals next week and we’ll bring you back stories from some of the kids along with more pictures.
Penny Arcade has a readership of something like 150,000 gamers across the world. We are arguably the largest community of gamers on the internet. The important word there being community. This isn’t IGN, this isn’t Gamespy, we are not a faceless corporation, you are not just a number tracked by a database and then relayed to hungry advertisers. You guys have proven yourselves to be a powerful force when stirred into action. Here is your opportunity to use that power to do some real good.
Let’s give these kids the Christmas that they deserve and let’s give the news papers a different kind of story to write about gamers.
-Gabe out
***UPDATE***
A few of you have asked some good questions so I wanted to make an update.
-The hospital has asked that the items not be wrapped. It just generates a lot of waste that costs money to get rid of.
-Don’t worry about this news post slipping off the front page tomorrow. This is probably the most important thing we’ve ever done and we plan on keeping it on the front page through Christmas.
-We will be adjusting the numbers on many of the items and as things get purchased we will be adding more.
-Some of you have asked if you can simply donate money towards the purchase of toys for the kids. Since we no longer have a Club PA Tycho and I have decided to use that PayPal account for Child’s Play. If you would like to make a donation you can now do so right here.
-If you would rather purchase the games or toys someplace else you are welcome to do so. Simply send them to the address listed below.
ATTN: Brad Walker
18303 Bothell Everett Hwy
Suite 140
Mill Creek, Wa 98012
-We cannot actually accept used games or toys for this particular event. However, we appreciate so many of you offering your used systems and whatnot. We’d ask that you please hang onto those for right now. This is just the first tiny baby step for Child’s Play. We may very well be calling on you again in the future and at that point used games might be just what we need.
-Please be mindful of the shipping dates when you’re purchasing items from the wishlist in order to make sure that they get to the kids on time. We’d like to receive everything by December 20th.
-Some people have mentioned that when trying to purchase an item from the wish list, Amazon occasionally loses the shipping address and defaults to your own address. If this happens, please just use the address posted above.
-Gabe out
