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Play For Japan: The Album helps rebuild Japan, available now
Announced last May and originally slated for a June release, Play For Japan: The Album is finally available for your listening pleasure. The album features original tracks by 18 of gaming history's greatest composers, including Silent Hill's Akira Yamaoka, Metal Gear Solid 4's Nobuko Toda, and if you buy the album from iTunes, Super Mario Bros.'s Koji Kondo. The album is already available via iTunes in the US, Canada, and UK, and will be available everywhere else (from iTunes and Amazon) starting July 15. It costs $9.99 USD, one hundred percent of which benefits the Japanese Red Cross' efforts in rebuilding Japan's infrastructure. It also benefits your eardrums. The full track listing is after the jump.
Game music superstars contribute new music to 'Play for Japan' album
The name of the "Play for Japan" charity initiative typically refers to playing games, but a group of well-known video game composers, led by Silent Hill's Akira Yamaoka, has decided to play some music to raise money for earthquake relief. The album features new songs by composers such as Bear McCreary, Nobuo Uematsu, Tommy Tallarico, Super Mario Bros. musician Koji Kondo, and Creatures Inc. president Hip Tanaka, who has branched out in recent years from his work as a Nintendo composer (Metroid, Dr. Mario) into the role of a chiptunes DJ. The album will be released in early June on iTunes, with all proceeds going to the Japanese Red Cross. Check out the unexpectedly creepy cover art by Yoshitaka Amano above, and a significantly less creepy statement from Yamaoka after the break.
Silent Hill composer's guitar auctioned for Japan relief
What's scarier, being absolutely broke or regretting never taking a chance to have a piece of video game history? An auction for Akira Yamaoka's guitar and FX amps, which were used to create the audio atmosphere for a little franchise called Silent Hill, is currently underway on eBay (and will last for five days). The auction is part of Play for Japan, a coordinated effort to present consumers and gamers with means to help the relief effort in Japan. If you partake, you'll not only feel good about donating money to Japan, but you'll possibly give this guitar a new home and outlook on life, one filled with joy, sunshine and family -- not giant death bunnies and other unspeakable horrors.
Media Molecule auctioning original LittleBigPlanet art for Japan relief
Media Molecule is doing its part for the Play for Japan campaign, auctioning off a few rare pieces of original concept art for LittleBigPlanet, along with signed copies of its sequel. There are four sketches up for grabs on the auction block, each of which show the evolution and development of the franchise's floppy, stitched protagonist, Sackboy. Each piece comes with a copy of LBP2 with an extremely limited edition cover slip signed by the entire Media Molecule team. Bidders can also try to grab a super rare, in-game crown costume piece for their Sackperson -- a prize usually only distributed as prizes for Media Molecule contests. If you'd like to get involved and grab a piece of LittleBigPlanet history in the process, check out Media Molecule's eBay page.
Buy signed Metal Gear Solid games to help Japan
With one simple act, you can help the American Red Cross' efforts in Japan, help your game collection become more amazing, and help Otacon reconcile with his sister. All you need to do is purchasing the Hideo Kojima-autographed copy of Metal Gear Solid 2 that Play for Japan is auctioning off for Red Cross funds. It was donated by Sam Kennedy of 1UP. Would you prefer a different signed Metal Gear Solid game as a reward for your generous donation? Alex Fraioli is auctioning a Japanese copy of Metal Gear Solid Integral signed by the designer. Andrew Vestal provided a copy of MGS3 signed by Kojima and art director Yoji Shinkawa, bundled with a bunch of press-only bonus items handed out at a Japanese event in 2004. These are just a few of the items on Play for Japan's auction list. Go bid on stuff! When these charity drives end, bidding on rare game stuff on eBay will once again become a selfish act.
Japan relief roundup: League of Legends and a special Final Fantasy Tactics
Companies, organizations and individuals connected to the games industry continue to come forward with offers of support for the ongoing rescue and relief operations in Japan. We'll be collecting the latest opportunities to lend a hand in end-of-day roundups like this one as they're announced. Head past the break for details on the today's happenings. If you'd prefer to donate to the efforts directly, you can always do so through the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org).
