Poll: Another Gamer Charity...

[Technocrat]

As part of a combined effort with the AGS community, I recently made a game for the AGS Bake Sale [http://www.agsbakesale.com/], involving producing 14 games, and selling them all together. (Only a little bit of advertising here, I'll get back to my point). Anyhow, after a bit of faffing around, it was decided that rather than going towards new server equipment that the money would go to charity, and it being games-related Child's Play seemed like a natural choice.

Something I've noticed is that this decision has roused a bit of inexplicable bile from people ("WHY IS IT ALWAYS CHILD'S PLAY RARGH RARGH I HATE KIDS IN HOSPITALS RARGH") on websites. This led me to think - what if there were other gamer-focused charities? So, my question is essentially this: what kind of charity would you, as gamers,

a) agree to support
b) feel is sufficiently in line with your position as a gamer?

so, here are a few ideas.

i) Political advocacy - a lobbying organisation aimed at putting the voices and opinions of gamers into the ears of politicians around the world (SOPA, age rating systems, etc). Or, providing legal advocacy and assistance to people in trouble over games/internet related matters (people brought up on bogus piracy charges, opposing whoever the new Jack Thompson turns out to be, etc). Maybe even issues like freedom of information/communication, goodness knows that's topical right now!

ii) War Relief - For a group with so many activities revolving around casual destruction, from a direct or a strategic perspective, we know that war is a ghastly affliction upon society. So, the aim of this charity would be the general relief of symptoms, working with other groups like the UN, Red Cross, Refugee organisations and such to show that gamers understand the impact these things have on the real world.

iii) Developing CountriesMany parts of the developing world, from South America to Asia to Africa, are unable to sustain themselves currently, and have problems with even finding basics like water and power. These development groups work toward constructing infrastructure like pumps and generators, enabling poor rural communities to reach a better standard of living.

iv) There are many people with the ideas and skills to make the next big things in independent gaming, but unable to without starving to death in the short terms, or need funding grants for their education in game development. A grants charity would provide funding to those who can demonstrate that they have something worthwhile to pursue, and would lead to an increased quality of independent games being produced.

v) Animals. Everyone loves animals, whether it's Dogmeat, or ponies. This concept would strive for various animal-related goals, such as vetinary assistance, care, prevention of cruelty and rehoming.

vi) Got a better idea for a gamer charity? TELL US NOW

 

[Spy_Guy]

I throw my vote for the animals... because unlike most humans animals are cute and likable.

...or funding for independent games. Some of it is good.

Still, my vote stands.

 

[GonvilleBromhead]

Just giving my views one by one

Political advocacy - too polarising, in my opinion. Plus, I've never liked giving to charities that don't actually do anything (with one exception that'll become apparent in a moment!), and instead use the money to lobby to get someone else to do something. Most of the aims of gamers will overlap with other, pre-existing campaign groups. I can imagine silicon valley, etc., lobbyists were piling on as much pressure against SOPA as the internet community. And on censorship issues, whilst they're not exactly flavour of the month, MPAA, ESA, etc. have as much stake as we do; and, as we have seen, they have clout (I don't see it as "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", more "Why wouldn't I can get my enemy to spend a metric poo tonne of money to defeat an enemy I also wanted to see defeated")

War Relief. Could be a good one, and one that could show gamers in a good light as well as doing some genuine good. There are some caveats I would add, but these are the same as with Developing Nations charities.

Developing Nations charities. A cause I strongly support, but one needs to be very careful with what charity one chooses. The real problem is corruption, and (despite many people's claims to the contrary) government to government aid is the best way of avoiding this, as a government can put caveats on the use of money. These countries have been playing the corruption game for years, and know every ploy to get money out of charities hands as possible. "Are those US dollars? Sorry, the law is that you must change them to Kafiristani Boggarowls. At the official government exchange rate.". "Is that a hospital your building? I see you do not have planning permission. I have to fine you two million Boogarowls". As such, I'd seriously advise giving to a charity with international recognition and a legal designation under international law. Basically, UN or Red Cross/Crescent charities.

Funding grants. An interesting idea, but would need to be looked at very closely to ensure that it doesn't get misused. Plus, the money raised from non-gamers would be significantly lower.

Animals. Urm...as the inventor of Anti-Quorn, I'm not the best person to comment about such. If you go for animals, please for one that actually looks after animals, and not one that merely lobbies the government


Other: have you considered the "Get Gonville Bromhead a nifty new hat"?