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LEVEL UP – “Gamers Give Back” – Child’s Play Auction, Blizzard Collector’s Editions

[ 1 ] December 16, 2011

Child's Play Charity Logo

*NOTE* if you’d like to go straight to the Collector’s Edition Auctions, here are the links:

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm:

http://bit.ly/v1r5tb

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty:

http://bit.ly/uOG7qY

They’re both listed on Ebay through MissionFish for $150 with a $250 buy it now option. Auction ends 12/21. All $$ goes to Child’s Play. If you have any questions you can find me through my Lady Sylvanas Fan Page.

Let me start off by saying, Happy Holidays! I’m so glad to be back home.

As many of you know, I just got out of the hospital, and I’m now one rib short of a full rack. I tried to keep it as a trophy to bronze and hang on my mantle, but apparently it was considered a “biohazard”. Whatever.

Being hospitalized was no fun…. however, it made me realize how lucky I am. My surgery was serious, but I was surrounded by people who were far worse off. Hospitals are scary places; I felt guilty being in pain. The older generations were stumbling around the halls with breathing tubes and wheelchairs – fighting off cancer, debilitations, and permanent disabilities.

And then there are the younger generations…. really sick kids. Many of them are battling for their lives – ones they’ve barely experienced. Some of them have serious diseases, are undergoing chemotherapy, or recovering from major surgeries. Can you imagine being 10 years old, stuck in a hospital? Can’t go outside? It’s the holiday season and you can’t throw snowballs at your friends and passing cars? What’s being a kid if you can’t play?

James Flannery, Physiotherapist, writes, “There are large numbers of studies that show positive results from the use of interactive gaming consoles in treatment, but perhaps the most important aspect of it’s use is that it makes these otherwise dull tasks enjoyable, and therefore increases the effectiveness of treatment, most notably in younger patients.”

If you’re a Gamer, you’re probably aware of Child’s Play. If you’re not familiar, it’s a charity that gives video games to hospitalized kids. How awesome is that?! When I first heard about this charity I was blown away. It was born out of “a response to the often negative portrayal of video gamers in the media” – and I couldn’t agree more.

From the Child’s Play Official Website:

Since 2003, we’ve set up and organized Child’s Play, a game industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in our network of over 70 hospitals worldwide. Over the years, you as a community have answered the call and come together to raise millions of dollars.

Child’s Play works in two ways. With the help of hospital staff, we set up gift wish lists full of video games, toys, books, and other fun stuff for kids. By clicking on a hospital location on our map, you can view that hospital’s wish list and send a gift.

Child’s Play also receives cash donations throughout the year. With those cash donations, we purchase new consoles, peripherals, games, and more for hospitals and therapy facilities. These donations allow for children to enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, interact with their peers, friends, and family, and can provide vital distraction from an otherwise generally unpleasant experience.

Penny Arcade Official Logo

The charity was founded by the authors of Penny Arcade, Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins… more commonly known as their wildly popular webcomic alter egos, “Gabe” & “Tycho”.

Mike Krahulik & Jerry Holkins of Penny Arcade

Oddly, even though I was aware of Penny Arcade and Child’s Play for a couple years – I didn’t know who the creators were. Turns out, I went to high school with Mike and Jerry. I even remember Mike from junior high… I remember him drawing a lot.

Clearly, that got him no where.

I ran into these dudes at the 2011 San Diego Comicon. We laughed a lot about our hometown, Spokane, and how ridiculous high school often was. I watched fans slowly approach their booth wanting autographs, which the guys generously gave with zero pretension.

Michele with Jerry & Mike at Comicon 2011

And now for my Child’s Play Auction:

I just got the coolest early Holiday gift ever: A tour of Blizzard Entertainment.

Mark Gibbons aka “Red Knuckle”, the 7th Son in “Sons of the Storm” (the Blizzard Artist “Club” that includes Samwise, Metzen, René of Twincruiser, Thammer, Raneman, Drawgoon, Red Knuckle and Glowei) massively hooked me up with tons of shiny Blizzard Autographs.

Between the two Collector’s Editions, approximately 100 Developers, Designers, Artists and Animators, autographed World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty. I’m auctioning them off through Ebay’s MissionFish program and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Child’s Play.

I started the bidding off in a 7-day auction with a very reasonable starting price at $150 with a “Buy it Now” of $250. The auction ends 12/21.

So… buy them for the WoW / Starcraft lover in your life! Or by them for yourself! And know that your purchase will go toward helping sick kids get through tough times in the hospital. As Child’s Play puts it: “Gamer’s Give Back” – and that would be you!

If you have any questions you can always find me on my Facebook Fan Page for Lady Sylvanas.

See photos below for my Autographed CE’s, or follow the links to Ebay provided above and below. I’ve also included a few of my favorite Penny Arcade Blizzard-inspired strips for your enjoyment.

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EBAY LINKS:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTOGRAPHED-World-Warcraft-Cataclysm-Collectors-Edition-PC-MAC-/250954981666?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item3a6e152122#ht_500wt_1224