I recently wrote about the upcoming CCP and EVE “Plex for good” community fundraiser. It was a live telethon, streamed through twitch, lasting over 8 hours. A total of USD$190.890 was raised, wow!
There were many things to watch, EVE developers pledged unique donations as fundraising milestones were hit. Some were developer boxing matches, male and female head-shaving, getting a full-arm tattoo, sparring versus a Tae Kwon Do champion and even getting shot with one paintball for every US$2,000 donated (One of my favourites!). Other programming included a guest appearance and “training session” by mixed martial arts phenom Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson, a developer cooking competition, Q&A sessions and a live sampling of the most exotic tastes of Icelandic cuisine.
Every milestone was reached and well surpassed. “We often talk about how EVE is ‘real’, a simulation of humanity where there are few rules and all the economic, political and social forces of human nature push the boundaries of morality in all directions,” said Hilmar Veigar Petursson, CEO of CCP, “We’ve seen the passionate side of our players over the past decade, but truly nothing could prepare us for this level of generosity from them. It is humbling. It is beautiful. It is what EVE is really about.”
Coupled with the other PLEX for GOOD efforts, EVE Fanfest silent auctions and other associated charity drives, the EVE community has been able to raise a total of over US$340,000 for charitable causes since EVE was released on May 6, 2003. If you ask me, that’s pretty good. Just imagine what we can do together as a community of gamers.
[youtube id=”OX1jB9XRD4M” width=”600″ height=”350″]
You can see the full playlist of videos on YouTube here.