Quantcast


How to help Haiti if you're a gamer photo

If you turned off the videogames for a second over the past week you've probably heard of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti, destroying most of the structures in the country, killing thousands and leaving even more homeless and starving. You've probably also (hopefully) wanted to help, but weren't sure how to best do it. Well, here's a list of gaming related ways to get money and aid to Haiti:

  • Bungie is selling "Be A Hero" t-shirts (above) with all the proceeds going to aiding Haiti. Also if you play Halo at some point next Wednesday or Thursday they will be donating up $77,000 dollars to Haitian relief efforts. Full details. [Thanks, Dani V.]
  • PopCap will be donating every penny it earns today (Jan. 16) to help recovery efforts in Haiti. If you buy a PopCap game then you'll most likely save a life. Full details. [Thanks, Sean R.]
  • Gamer Levi Buchanan is auctioning off 180 videogames for varying systems and a GameCube and PSP. All the money from the winning bid will go to the American Red Cross. Full details.
  • Gaia Online will be matching the donations of its members up to $10,000. Full details
  • Zynga Games held an auction this past Thursday, but you can still donate to the World Food Program through them. Full details.
  • Gamingangels is having an auction today and tomorrow. Highest bidder will be getting a giant bag of goodies (more goodies the higher the bid) with proceeds going to the charity of the winner's choice. Full details.
  • Gamers Gaming for Good is holding a marathon to raise money until the end of today, or possibly longer. Full details.
  • EverQuest II players can can buy certain items and SOE will donate $10 per item. Full details. [Thanks, Victor Stillwater]

I am sure there are many more, and if you know of them please post them below. I'll try to update this as often as possible. If all this seems like too much of a hassle then you can simply take your lazy ass and text the word Haiti to 90999. That will make a $10 donation to the red cross.








More gaming stories around the web. Got news? Submit yours to tips@destructoid.com

Matthew Razak is Destructoid's Associate editor and co-founder of film site Flixist. He began as community member "cowzilla" and was since sequestered to write brainy features material. He lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife. Likes Games! Movies! Hats! Meet the rest of the team



Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

38 comments | showing # 1 to 38
prev next

ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 09:43
ArrestedDeveloper
Maybe I'll buy Plants vs. Zombies again.
ChaosTeaCup's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 09:44
ChaosTeaCup
How to help Haiti: Ignore Rush Limbaugh
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 09:53
Jon B
A bit annoying that the Steam versions aren't in the offer for PopCap's, but I guess it's a plus having a copy to play on the ole' laptop.
As such, bought a couple.
Tarvu's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 10:20
Tarvu
I didn't know there was an Earthquake until 4 days after I became aware of the whole "Help Haiti" thing. I honestly just thought suddenly helping Haiti was the cool thing to be doing. That is what happens when the only sources of news you have are Destructoid and occasionally checking twitter.
Healed1337's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 10:33
Healed1337
I actually know some people that are there right now. They were originally there to build a food warehouse. Safe to say their focus has changed.
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 10:34
WarZombie
I might check out that Bungie shirt, and some of those games. Glad to see our industry cares so much about these issues.
Rosseh's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 10:36
Rosseh
Only $2 to heal my conscience for a while?! SOLD!
Danzflor's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 10:47
Danzflor
Time to buy Planst vs Zombies :3
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 10:50
Chronic Logic
Hah! And people said that playing video games was a waste of time.
superporkeater3d's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 11:00
superporkeater3d
Buying a game under those conditions can sure help, since a meal in a haitian marketplace (a very crappy one, but still a meal) coasts something around 25 cents, and a lot of people there still cant buy them.
L G Jargon's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 11:20
L G Jargon
@ChaosTeaCup: And Pat Robertson. The f**kers.

I'd do the "Text Haiti to 90999" if Premium Messaging wasn't taken off my family plan. As for the other choices, they all seem like great options. I might buy one of those Bungie t-shirts.
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 11:34
pedrovay2003
Hey, don't call me lazy. I did the text message yesterday, so I'm already on top of things. :P
Victor Stillwater's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 11:56
Victor Stillwater
On January 12th, 2010, a massive earthquake devastated the island nation of Haiti. In an effort to show support and lend aid, SOE will be offering items priced at 500SC on the Station Marketplace through EverQuest, EverQuest II, and Free Realms.

From January 15th to January 18th at 11:59pm PST, redeem 500 station cash towards the purchase of one of these items and SOE will contribute $10 (up to $25,000) to aid in the relief efforts being sent to Haiti.

On the Everquest 2 main page, but probably goes across most of the Sonly Online games. http://www.everquest2.com/news/read/current/3410
H4RDC0RP5's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 12:01
H4RDC0RP5
"VIDEOGAMES ARE EVIL. THEY DEGRADE SOCIETY AND MAKE PEOPLE HEARTLESS DESENSITIZED MONSTERS."

Really? Name one other industry that could bring its communities together for such a unified move towards a greater good.

Yeah, gamers are heartless bastards QF-fucking-T.

Also, I'm glad this kind of thing usually doesn't feel like a PR move by companies. Sure, that might be a contributing motivation, but it usually feels like these guys actually care and want to help. Good on 'em.

Buying a Bungie shirt.
L G Jargon's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 12:01
L G Jargon
@Victor Stillwater: That's a quote from another site, right? Because if it is, it just seems like you're spamming the comments section. No offense to you if you're not (or not trying to)! Just...make sure to utilize BBcode next time...You know, put it in quotations and italicize it, that's all...

Sorry, being a grammar Nazi.
NostalGeek's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 12:43
NostalGeek
you can also go on the Red Cross website and donate money. simple, quick and you know the Red Cross is trust worthy.
Dreggsao's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 12:45
Dreggsao
yeah PopCap is scammig us... sure
megamonki's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 13:01
megamonki
looks like I got a halo marathon coming up....
Riegel88's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 13:12
Riegel88
@L G Jargon, if you are on anyone except AT&T they don't charge for the text at all. AT&T still does though, bastards.
Haizeus's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 13:46
Haizeus
What do they need help for? This is just a blessing in disguise. Right guys? Right?
seanileus's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 13:55
seanileus
lol
arbsnotdead's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 13:59
arbsnotdead
wow, to the people so negative about these charities, your as moronic as rush limbaugh
Haizeus's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 14:26
Haizeus
"your as moronic as rush limbaugh"


You're
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 14:37
Qraze
i'll be donating to the samaritins purse on monday.
ViciousBoston's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 15:20
ViciousBoston
Yeah. About that...

I know this isn't an all U.S. website but myself being a US citizen this is my opinion on how my country should handle these things...

Let them help themselves. Being an American we're always out helping every other country but our own. Every nation aside European ones (and even then *cough* france). I am a firm believer in helping our own citizens first before we can help the rest of the world. Guess what? We have many Americans in hard times.

I want them to pull out of it, I don't wish this fate on the country of Haiti but i'm sick of seeing my country rush out to help others while we're in so much debt and can't help ourselves.
JJ Rage's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 15:30
JJ Rage
I bought the Bungie shirt, in addition to the text donation I made last night.

Does anyone know if that PopCap deal include their iPhone games?
GEKKO-Fox's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 16:25
GEKKO-Fox
@ChaosTeaCup: Also Pat Robertson. He's a fucking joke.

@Matthew Razak: I've found another way to help with the relief effort. Cory "Mr. Safety" will donate $300 dollars for every 100k views he gets for this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URBdbxZjXlA

The ad revenue generated from the video will help in part with the donations.

Good job, Matt. You inspire us all to make a difference. Thanks.
Corey Buchillon's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 20:36
Corey Buchillon
The states as well as countless other countries give money to these poor countries every year. And you know what they do? The corrupt governments pocket the money instead of using it to strengthen their infrastructure.

It's sort of sick seeing these poor people on tv goin "OH LAWDY OBAMA SAVE US!" When their govts sit by going hurrrr what?
JT Murphy's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 20:47
JT Murphy
@ViciousBoston-
I can see your point, but this is an extraordinary circumstance. This could turn out to be one of the most devastating disasters in recent history once the numbers are compiled. In the face of that, we, as a nation of relatively privileged individuals, should be counted on to give something. Our debt, though staggering, is nowhere near as horrible or immediate as the suffering Haiti is going through right now.
Victor Stillwater's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 21:41
Victor Stillwater
@ LG Jargon.

Sorry about that. Was half asleep when I was doing the comment, so I didn't think to put in quotes. :)
Ace829's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 22:45
Ace829
@Loophole Jumper
So what do you suggest us "naive little douches" do to help then, O great enlightened one?
Mttioceme's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2010 22:55
Mttioceme
@ViciousBoston

Yessir, ya'll sure are helping out every country - that is, the one's you aren't bombing and pillaging. But you're right, Haiti can definitely help itself; after all, their schools and hospitals have crumbled, they have no food or water, and thousands upon thousands of people are dead. They'll be fine.
Pengbros's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/17/2010 00:00
Pengbros
Ehh, I've brewed a shitstorm and almost gotten fired for saying this at work but honestly, people die, life isn't that precious, some places pretty much need to get eradicated for the wasted efforts sent to help them.

I used to go to Haiti on relief trips to build plumbing, housing, whatever they needed, three years in a row, three of the two follow-up trips, I was met with a venue where we had just enacted slightly better living conditions be torn down because of in-fighting and the people stealing from each other.

The people have nothing, their food stores would be long gone without relief efforts and any form of peacekeeping would have added to the death toll. We're just treating a sick dog, let it die, sure, most would consider millions of deaths a sad tale but... honestly, we're not relieving anything, they're just destroying themselves and their leaders aren't doing anything either. We're all just meat and bone and defined by our actual contributions to... well anything. Haiti, like a lot of other places, literally have nothing to contribute, but take plenty. Also, don't feel good about helping these people because you're not changing shit. I've been there, I've seen how much they take and depend on our "relief" and everything gets wiped away like it was nothing. Go ahead and try pitying them and thinking all humans are equal and deserve equal treatment, the sad truth is, we're not.

Burn, Burn, Let The Motherfucker Burn.

(Also, before anyone gets pissed off for me acting like a "typical selfish American" stereotype that the world seems to hold against the US, I'll say now that I'm not American. Also, in a month, none of you will give a shit about Haiti again, just like you didn't give a shit about Haiti before the disaster so stop the fucking hypocrisy)
nekobun's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/17/2010 04:21
nekobun
@Pengbros: How long ago did you go to Haiti? They've been on a better track since Aristide got outed, with or without his bs offer to come back and help out following the quake. A lot of projects they were working on themselves got set back by this whole ordeal.
medium's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/19/2010 10:41
medium
This is how i helped Haiti
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/130/haiti.jpg
socialnorms's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/19/2010 14:42
socialnorms
@Pengbros: By declaring that all humans are not equal, you open the doorway for stronger crazies like me to come into your house, take your shit, and murder your small, internet-trollish ass. Be careful what philosophy you espouse, and be glad for the morals that protect you and everyone else.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!