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Child's Play Goes Live For 2006 41

Posted by Zonk from the go-make-some-kids-happy dept.
GiovanniZero writes "Child's Play, the Penny-Arcade based charity just kicked off their 2006 season. Stop by, donate and bring some cheer to sick kids all over the world. 'Since 2003, gamers have banded together through registered Seattle-based charity, Child's Play. Over a million dollars in donations of toys, games, books and cash for sick kids in children's hospitals across North America and the world have been collected since our inception ... Last year's drive raised over $605,000 for sick children, and we're hoping to smash that record total this winter. Check out the wish lists, read up on the local events and let's show the world what the gaming community is all about!'"
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Child's Play Goes Live For 2006 More

Child's Play Goes Live For 2006

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  • I understand the reasons, but I do wish that we could donate used games/systems. All the same, it's a very worthy cause and plan to donate again this year.

    • Re:One small issue (Score:4, Insightful)

      by TekReggard ( 552826 ) on Monday November 06, 2006 @03:15PM (#16739027)
      The response to your comment is also a good idea, but at the core of this arguement is the fact its a hospital. They can't accept used games/systems for health reasons. I was kind of shocked when I found out they can't even accept things like teddy bears. Why? Because apparently they become germ ridden with time. I do agree though, you could always sell your stuff on ebay and use the funds to purchase stuff for the hospitals. I think part of the reason why you wouldn't be able to sell it though one central account just has to do with honesty. There would be very little accountability for someone who was using it with mal-intent.
      • The way you handle teddy bears in a children's hospitals is you give one to the kid and he or she takes it home. It's the model we use here in some of the NGO hospitals where I've worked. The downside of this is that when you have a toy company wanting to make a donation, you have to tell them that unless the toy can be easily sterilized, they should be prepared to donate a LOT.

        And I'm also glad that Penny Arcade was finally convinced to alter the red cross they were using as a part of their symbol. Alth
    • You can donate videogame systems directly by mailing them to Child's Play address listed on their site. Thats what they've done in years past anyway. For more information about the best way to do this contact klindsay at penny-arcade.com (email)
      • Yes, but you still can't give used systems and games. However, like someone else has pointed out by now, I'm sure, is that you can do this at Get-Well Gamers (http://www.get-well-gamers.org)
    • Hi, I help run Child's Play for PA. The hospitals don't want us to send them used items--too many germ issues. We do have a solution: sell your stuff on eBay. We're all set up with eBay's "Missionfish" program, which lets any user selling anything to donate a portion of the proceeds to Child's Play. When listing your item just select that you want to donate. You'll be taken to a popup with a list of charities and a search box. Just search for "Childs Play" and click on the result. Done. The process sounds
  • Okay I adore the idea and I'll be supporting it, but I have to ask WTF is with some of the gifts. Theres a lot of cool stuff requested but maybe it's just me but is animal crossing and RPGs (Pokemon mysterious dungeon and mario and luigi) really the best idea? These kids arn't going to have very long with the toys let a lone enough time to really understand an RPG (and even so with mysterious dungeon one person could majorly screw your entire game up in 1 swift move change). Is it really the best idea to be

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      by Talisein ( 65839 )
      As I understand it the hospitals help make these lists. Second, a lot of these kids live at the hospital--their immune system is destroyed from chemotherapy and they are totally isolated; while they probably do have exams and tests and procedures at regular intervals, they undoubtedly have a lot of time to kill.
      • yea but DSes tend to not be given to kids, they tend to be in the playroom where kids get to spend a couple of hours a week. I spent a lot of time in hospital as a kid and I was never give anything to play with, just allowed in the playroom once in a while. I don't think it's changed since then, so these DSes will be ways for kids to escape for an hour or two, not keep them happy while other shits going on.

        Either way wouldn't mario kart still be better than mysterious dungeon with just 1 save file?
        • Turn-X Alphonse, maybe it's different from hospital to hospital, but from what I've heard/seen, many hospitals (esp Child's Play partners) are putting more effort into making things more "comfortable" for the kids. A lot of hospitals now have carts that can be parked in a kid's room that contain a gamecube/ps2/xbox and many games, for example. Also, with the increased risk many of these kids have to communicable diseases, I think the common "play area" mentality is in decline somewhat. That is one of the
          • I still don't see them having them long enough to finish a good RPG. But you do have a point. :)
            • I finish most of my good RPGs in about a week (or less). I'm the type of gamer that will spend hours at a time playing a game.

              Considering many these kids are stuck in a bed all day, I think they'll have more than enough time to go through just about any RPG in a week or two.
              • again I'm assuming the kids are newbies and don't have their own games.. :)

                • Re: (Score:2)

                  by jandrese ( 485 )
                  Yeah, but one thing they do tend to have is a boatload of free time. A game that takes 80 hours to finish will take me several weeks to complete, but a kid that has to stay cooped up in a hospital room all day with not much to do or anyone to talk to for big streches of time will probably go through it a lot faster.
    • I agree with the first response above. I can understand your line of thinking, Turn-X Alphonse, but a lot of these kids DO have a lot of time. Maybe not from our perspective, but 2 weeks in hospital can seem like 2 years to a child. I think they would be more absorbed by a good RPG than a standard 'action' game.

      It seems like you're thinking like these kids will be playing the game while in a waiting room for an hour or two. Think more along the lines of being in the waiting room for a few weeks (months,

      • Ah but you see I'm looking at this in the "they will go in a playroom" sense, not given to a kid for a week or two.
        • The other thing that you're forgetting is that a lot of these gifts are, in fact, GIFTS. These are not things that are just there for the kids to use. In fact, I think that the GBA's/DS's were like that last year, which is why there was such a high number requested at each hospital. Or at least that's what the plan was.
    • Maybe I am wrong, but I don't see an age range. When I was 10 years old I started playing RPGs, so I think an RPG is definately OK for a 10-12 year old. Children's Hospitals still have children up into teen years (up to 18 I think).
      • I started playing RPGs at 5. I have fond memories of coming home from my half day at kindergarten, and playing Dragon Warrior.
        • Good for you and your ego. Well, I was born in 79 and played Dragon Warrior when it came out in the US, but I wasnt sure what year. So maybe earlier than 10, but not as young as you, my elite friend.
          • Yes, I thought you would likely be older than me (6 years as it turns out). My goal was to further your point that age range is not an issue. I did not want to say my elite gaming skills were more impressive than yours.

            I looked it up, and Dragon Warrior was released in 1989, so your 10 year guess seems accurate. I'm certain I was 5 because my brothers got their turn before me, so it took me longer to get my hands on it.

            I will attempt to be more tactful in my future posts.
        • I started playing RPGs at a young age, too. However, my parties in the original FF inevitably consisted of FART, POOP>/b>, and some other, more unmentionable, 4-letter names.

          Needless to say, I didn't experience the game as it was intended until some time later. But I have been hooked ever since.

    • some kids like RPGs?

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Brigade ( 974884 )
      Have you ever been to a kid's cancer ward? My fiance's daughter had a tumor (successfuly removed, she's fully recovered) when she was 4, and we visited all the time. True, there are a lot of kids that won't be in there for long (day, few days, etc.) but when you're undergoing treatment, a lot of kids can kill a good 4-8 hours a day (at least) not sleeping, bored to tears watching TV or doing schoolwork via tutoring. Now apply that logic to cancer kids undergoing long-term in-patient treatment .. they liv
  • They have a page with banner graphics. Donating is great, but if your site/blog whatever can have a banner, place one of the Child's Play banners for a while. Already did that with my own site. It's great if you can donate money, but really spread the word, so more people can donate. I plan to put up a few flyers as well at school.
  • I realize that Penny Arcade is a gaming comic and all, but Child's Play is something that all nerds can get behind! This should be on the front page!
  • If everyone is talking about how these kids have 8 - 20 hours a day to do nothing but play games, isn't there some way we can put them to good use? Why not get them PC's and WoW accounts and let them spend all that time power-leveling? Then the hospital can keep a cut of the profit they make when they sell their characters. Heck, maybe if people in WoW knew they could donate their gold to a good cause, people could help them that way. I can't believe we're missing out on such an opportunity!

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