Gamers don’t need to be told about the healing power of play – we’ve all felt it. Calming, cozy games like Stardew Valley transport us to a simpler world, epic stories like God of War immerse us in grand adventures, and MMOs like Final Fantasy XIV give us lifelong friendships. When the world gets too much, games provide an escape like no other, capable of calming the mind, and exciting the senses.
In 2003, two founding members of Penny Arcade decided that no one deserves to enjoy this escape more than children suffering from serious illnesses. Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins set up a charity to provide children and teens in hospitals with a means of gaining access to gaming, and in doing so, change the negative perception of gaming in the media. Thus, Child’s Play was born.
About Child’s Play
Child’s Play’s first campaign saw them crowdsource funds from fans to provide Seattle Children’s Hospital with gaming equipment. In less than a month, they raised over $250,000, proving that this cause was near and dear to the hearts of many. Since then, the charity has expanded to support over 190 hospitals around the globe, providing hospitals with contributions that reach beyond just games and technology.
In 2015, the organization debuted the therapeutic videogame guide. This 16-page document included recommendations for games that will help alleviate various symptoms that affect children staying in hospitals. These included games that help distract players from physical pain, alleviate boredom, relieve anxiety and hyperactivity, improve mood, and provide comfort for medicated or cognitively inhibited patients.
In 2017, Child’s Play funded the first Pediatric Gaming and Technology Specialists, a new career field that allows specialists to provide expert help to patients. Using the unique power of videogames, these dedicated staff were able to improve the pediatric patient experience. To date, 47 positions have been funded in children’s hospitals around the world, reaching as far as Kenya and Australia.
Over the course of the charity’s history, it has raised an incredible $59 million to better the lives of children and teens around the world. Take one look at their testimonials page, and you’ll find it tough not to be moved by the impact that Child’s Play’s work has had on patients around the world.
Just one testimonial we’ll share here comes from Alex, a volunteer at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minneapolis. He describes developing a friendship with a child who spoke no English and was therefore not able to communicate with him verbally.
“I’ve seen a lot of sick children, and I have heard them laugh, I’ve gotten hugs, and I’ve had some pictures drawn for me,” he writes. “But I have to say that the most telling sign of joy was remembering this boy’s smile as we played and achieved together. It was probably the high point of my summer.”
IGN Live x Humble Bundle
Child’s Play teamed up with IGN to get involved with IGN Live, a three-day event that was held in Los Angeles, highlighting news and announcements during the Summer of Gaming. 5% of all ticket sales were donated to the charity and patients were able to experience the event through an Ohmni Bot, an interactive robot that can accompany children in their hospital room.
In conjunction with this event, Humble Bundle has released a new package of games, with proceeds going to Child’s Play. The bundle is available until June 28, and includes the following products:
- High on Life
- Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration
- Revival: Recolonization
- MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries
- Soulslinger: Envoy of Death
- Bread & Fred
- Grindstone
- 25% OFF High on Knife DLC coupon
The bundle includes some brilliant games, including the hilarious first-person shooter High on Life. Atari 50 is a compilation created for the retro brand’s 50th anniversary and includes over 100 classic games, as well as six new titles from award-winning developer Digital Eclipse.
Wargamers can get stuck into turn-based strategy game Revival: Recolonization. Like all the best 4X games, Revival: Recolonization is a deep and immersive experience, with hundreds of options for defeating your foes on a post-apocalyptic Earth.
There’s plenty to enjoy for action fans too. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is a BattleTech mecha game set in the far-flung future, where mercenaries use hulking robotic weapons to wage war. Build your own unique mech and fight in thrilling combat as you make your way through an intriguing storyline. Then there’s Soulslinger: Envoy of Death, a roguelike FPS that will push your gaming skills to their limits in intense combat encounters.
If all that action has got your head spinning, why not unwind with Bread & Fred? This adorable co-op platformer sees two penguins attempting to reach the top of a snowy summit. Or, puzzle your way through over 250 brain-teasing levels in monster-matching title Grindstone. There’s truly something for everyone in this robust bundle.
If you want to help the charity while enjoying some brilliant games, you can pick up the Child’s Play Humble Bundle here. If you wish to learn more about Child’s Play or make a donation, head over to their official site here.
Source: Wargamer
