Gaming greats unite for Japan relief fundraiser

Japan has always been a driving force behind the video game industry and technology in general. The country had given the gaming world its foundation, so it is time the gaming industry gave back. That's the thought behind "Gamers Heart Japan," a TV special sponsored by a plethora of game developers and journalists aimed at providing relief for Japan's victims of earthquakes and tsunamis.


      

The fundraiser will air April 3 and the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross. During the 60-minute special, developers such as Jade Raymond (Ubisoft Toronto), Peter Molyneux (Lionhead), and Tim Schafer (Double Fine), along with video game journalists that hail from everywhere from Kotaku.com to USAToday.com, will discuss Japan's undeniable impact on video games and what makes it so influential.


"Gamers Heart Japan" will aslo be broadcast online so that gamers all over the world can watch. According to the official Facebook page, "the special will be a positive and uplifting tribute to a country that is so vital to videogame fans the world over."


This is not the first game-related Japan relief effort to arise. Little more than a week ago, "Play For Japan" surfaced and began auctioning rare and/or signed gaming merchandise to benefit various disaster relief organizations. So far, "Play For Japan" has raised $10,500 and plans to keep it up.


Gamers have always had a deep-seated interest in Japan's welfare, and now we have a chance to unite for the common good while raising awareness of the country's plight.