There are parts of the gaming community that unless you are part of the culture itself will leave people baffled and confused. Conventions, tournaments, watching other people playing games on things like twitch are just a few examples of things that non gamers don’t understand. Gamers even have their own language with phrases and words like: gratz, leveling and grinding for xp. Of course the same can be said about any subculture. However there is a part of gaming culture that everyone, even those who have never picked up a gaming controller in their life can get behind, charity.
Most people who aren’t gamers tend to think of the stereotypical gamer as an unemployed, overweight single man who has no social skills because he never steps foot out of his basement. However, the majority of gamers don’t fit that mold at all. Instead we (because yes I am a gamer) are people just like everyone else. We have jobs, families and a passion for something we love. We are also a group of people that love to give back.
This is done in a variety of ways and on many different levels. Two examples of this is a nationl organization called “Extra Life” and another is a Utah StarCraft 2 group.
“Extra Life” started in 2008 in honor a young lady named Victoria Enmon. Her battle with cancer inspired the Sarcastic Gamer Community to send in video games and gifts to keep her spirits up during her hospital stays. Sadly Tori lost her battle with the disease but through that something amazing happened. The idea of “Extra Life”, a 24-hour video game marathon to raise money for a hospital was born. In 2008 and 2009 over $300,000 was raised and 100% of it went to the hospital where Enmon was treated. This year “Extra Life” has raised over $233,600. The 24-hour event will take place on on Octber 25, 2014. If you want to join your local team or give to the cause click here.
Along the same line a group of over 600 StarCraft 2 players have band together to help one of their own, Kyle Miller Treu, who was in a serious car accident on July 1, 2014 on the I-15 freeway in Utah. His car was hit by a dump truck and he had to be cut free from the wreck and resuscitated on the scene.
Treu’s fellow teammates have organized a tournament in his name to try and raise money to help his family during this difficult time. According to the donation page they have raised almost $5,000 dollars in just 7 days bringing them to the halfway mark on a goal of $10,000. The tournament will be today July 10, 2014 at 2pm EST.
It is amazing to see the support and love that gamers have not just for the people of their own community but others as well. I am always proud to be a gamer but it’s groups like this that make me extra proud to be part of this amazing culture.
Here are the donation links again.
Take a moment and give a little back to someone who needs it more than you. Every little bit helps and happy gaming.