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Reminder: Last day to purchase St. Jude-benefitting MMO calendar
Today is the last day (following a two day extension) to purchase MMOPortal.com's second-annual MMO Calendar benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Just like last year, all proceeds will go directly to helping children, and even our jaded and bitter blogger hearts have nothing mean to say about that.The calendar is $12.95 and features 13 different MMOs and prizes available for those who purchase (list found after the break). But it's not about the prizes, right? It's about helping the kids, right?! Think of it as gaining rep and becoming exalted with the Humanity faction.
Calendars for charity
If you're looking to cross a few names off of your gift-giving list this season, then consider an MMO-themed calendar published by MMO Portal. It's the perfect gift for any gamer, young and old; and hey, we can scribble our raid schedules on it!MMO Calendar is a non-profit annual fund-raiser, with 100% of the proceeds going to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The calendar was put together in collaboration with game developers, and includes original artwork from some great MMOs, including World of Warcraft. If a spiffy calendar and support for a wonderful charity weren't enough, each purchaser will be entered to win one of ten prizes for each MMO, totaling 130 possible prizes. In addition to potentially snagging one month of free WoW, you could also win free playtime for some other MMOs, a copy of Guild Wars: Platinum, or one of three beta keys. Unfortunately, the calendars will only be on sale through November 25th 27th, which doesn't leave much time. Domestic and international orders are welcome. We will all need new calendars for the new year anyway; why not support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital this holiday season!
Selfless crazies play Desert Bus for charity
The guys behind LoadingReadyRun have a very unique way of contributing to this year's Child's Play charity: they're playing one of the worst games of all time.Desert Bus is one of several mini-games included in the never-officially-released Sega CD game Penn and Teller's Smoke and Mirrors. The Desert Bus mini-game challenges players to drive Penn and Teller's tour bus from Tuscon, Arizona to Las Vegas, Nevada... in real time... and at a maximum speed of 45 mph.It's a task that takes 8 hours to complete, and earns players one point in the game. The task can be completed back and forth as many times as the players can stomach, each time earning one point. The LoadingReadyRun team has pledged that the more money they receive, the longer they will sit and endure this painful, painful game. Over $1,000 USD have already been donated, which guarantees the masochists at least 64 hours of play-time. To see just how crazy they are, check out the gameplay footage after the break.[Thanks, Graham]
MMOportal selling art calendar for children's hospital
Just can't get enough MMOs? Here's a way to enjoy your hobby while helping out some kids in need. According to Keen and Graev, MMOportal.com is now selling their second annual MMO art calendar. All proceeds from the $12.95 calendar go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The calendars feature original artwork from thirteen popular MMOs, including WoW, LoTRO, DAoC, Guild Wars, and the highly anticipated Warhammer Online and Pirates of the Burning Sea. As if owning a cool calendar wasn't enough, MMOportal will enter the names of all calendar buyers in drawings for tons of cool swag. Highlights include beta keys for Warhammer Online, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Stargate Worlds, and Age of Conan; free game time for DAoC, D&D Online, Eve Online, EQ, EQII, LoTRO, Star Wars: Galaxies, and WoW. The non-fee MMO Guild Wars is even donating a copy of their platinum edition! So if you're staring forlornly at a blank wall, hop on over to MMOportal and check out the calendars.
ESA and Microsoft collaborate, offer mediocre games for charity
Microsoft has teamed up with the Entertainment Software Association to offer a special three-pack of Xbox 360 games this holiday season. The pack, which retails for $29.99 USD, is comprised of Cars, Open Season, and Fuzion Frenzy 2 -- three E-rated games which are notable for tepid reviews across the board.It's definitely for a good cause, so we really shouldn't be complaining. All retail fees for the three-pack have been waived, meaning that the entirety of each $29.99 purchase goes directly to the ESA Foundation, which raises money to support groups like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Penny Arcade's Child's Play event, and HopeLab, the developers behind the serious game Re/Mission. The charity three-pack is currently available in retail stores, as well as on online sites such as Amazon.
Non-profit group buying games for soldiers
From what we've heard, the biggest headache for soldiers serving in Iraq (besides, you know, the constant threat of bodily harm) is the boredom. One soldier's wife, unwilling to let her husband go without entertainment, has mounted an effort to get games to those like her husband. That, friends, is real love. The group is called "Fun For Our Troops," and it's trying to raise cash to purchase games for soldiers abroad.It's a great effort, and one we'd encourage everyone to participate in if they're so inclined. We'll be interested though to see what games they'll be purchasing. Will they go with first-person shooters? Or titles that feature rapping about terrorism? Or will they find the terrifying place where the two intersect? Even so, it would still be better than their last care package.[Via GamePolitics]
Satiate intercontinental voracity with online vocabulary game
Ever feel you're wasting your time with games? Feel like you should be doing something to better yourself or the world around you instead of staring at a screen? Well, with Poverty.com's Free Rice game, you can do your part for personal and global fulfillment without ever stopping the gaming.The self-betterment in Free Rice comes from vocabulary identification questions that automatically adjust to your skills so they're challenging but not impossible. The world-improvement comes from the eponymous free rice, ten grains of which are donated through the UN's World Food Program and the site's advertisers for each right answer you provide. In the past month, over 856 million grains of rice have been donated, with the total rising exponentially day over day.We love the idea, and think this model has potential for all sorts of games. Every Halo headshot can net a donation to Amnesty international (sponsored by Mountain Dew). Every five star Guitar Hero performance could give money to Save the Music (sponsored by VH1, of course). Bill Gates could add few bucks to his foundation for every Achievement point earned. The possibilities are endless.[Via Gene. Thanks Michelle]
OLPC BOGO customers get free year of T-Mobile HotSpot access
Yes, that's "Buy One, Give One" for those out of the loop, and for the sect willing to fork out $399 in order to claim an OLPC XO of their own and have one donated too, T-Mobile is announcing that it will give you a solid year of HotSpot access gratis. The partnership is hoping to encourage participation in the philanthropic campaign, but this is most certainly not the first time T-Mobile has handed out free WiFi in order to get its name out there. Nevertheless, if this tidbit somehow pushes you into the buyers' camp, you can place an order between November 12th - 26th and calmly anxiously await your new machine along with "information on how to activate the one year of complimentary HotSpot service." Go on, you know it's the perfect excuse to pull the trigger, and besides, that warm, fuzzy feeling you'll have will totally justify the hit to your checking account.[Via DailyWireless]
Fifth annual Child's Play charity drive begins
Child's Play organizers have announced that the annual charity drive is now underway. The drive was first launched some five years ago by Penny Arcade masterminds Gabe and Tycho as a fundraiser for the Seattle Children's Hospital, and has since grown to become a global hub of good will for those in need, while simultaneously demonstrating that gamers by and large are not the anti-social jerkwads the media would make them out to be. Those interested in contributing to the drive, which now includes hospitals in more than 25 states and five countries, can easily donate items though purchases made via Amazon, and officials note that the tax deductible gifts will be sent directly to those hospitals in need. In addition, the annual Child's Play Fundraider Dinner is scheduled to take place on December 11 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, and will as always include both a silent and live auction, with all proceeds going towards the charity.
Nintendo gets its philanthropy on
As we all know, there's a ridiculous number of very good reasons to own a DS. But here's another anyway, for those who reside in Canada: right now, for every 20 DS Lites sold at a Canadian branch of Wal-Mart in the next week (November 3 - 10), Nintendo has agreed to donate one Lite to your local Children's Miracle Network Hospital.A most considerate gesture, Ninty, and if any of our Canadian readers were wavering over whether or not to pick up a DS, here's your perfect excuse.
Canstructed Mario feeds the hungry
We have to say, a Mario made out of cans is pretty awesome. What's even better, though, is that this sculpture was made for a charity competition known as Canstruction. This unique charity donates the canned goods used in structures like this to local food banks.Canstruction presented the canned Mario last year, but since the holidays are coming up we thought we'd try to get you all into the giving spirit. We love video games, but donating stuff is rad, too. [/Public Service Announcement]Check out more pictures of the canned Mario after the break.
Last chance to help Engadget Energize Education in the DonorsChoose blogger challenge!
You've already heard our impassioned plea; we won't go over that again. You know all the details of the challenge; we're not going to rehash them here. This is just a quick heads up that today is your last chance to contribute to the Engadget Energizes Education charity drive on DonorsChoose.org, as well as a gentle reminder that we're still far from our goal. Forty-nine generous souls have banded together to donate almost $6,800 as of this writing, funding a variety of projects that will impact over one thousand disadvantaged public school children. But our goal is $25,000, meaning that as it stands, thousands of additional students will go without the critical technology they need to start life on an even playing field. Please, do whatever you can to help this worthy cause reach as many young lives as possible. Thanks for your time, and your selflessness. Update: The challenge has been extended by 24 hours, although we're sure you'll be rushing to click the link below anyway... DONATE
Western Digital's Passport drive goes pink for breast cancer research
Just weeks after Western Digital colorized its Passport line of external hard drives, the firm is at it once more with a metallic pink iteration. This particular unit, however, promotes something a bit more important than your obsession with nightly backups, as WD has pledged to donate an undisclosed amount of cash to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for each one purchased from now until February 29, 2008. The drive comes stocked with 250GB of space, gets its juice directly from your USB port and is available now for $199.99 for those interested.
Ford sells pink 30GB first-gen Zune, donates 100% to breast cancer research
It's October, which inevitably means that we'll be seeing a healthy dose of gadgets in pink as manufacturers look to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This particular device, however, means a touch more to the cause than most, as both Ford and Microsoft are teaming up to donate "100-percent of the purchase price" to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Granted, this 30GB Zune is one of those first-generation models, and while we're not told exactly how many were produced, it is being marketed as a limited edition piece. So for those more concerned with the cause, infatuated with pink and absolutely cool with not receiving a second-gen Zune (any takers?), you can grab one now for $249.99.[Thanks, Slice]
Will you help Engadget energize education (and pwn the Blogger Challenge leaderboard)?
First off, we want to express both our gratitude for and amazement at the overwhelming reaction to our DonorsChoose.org charity drive so far; we're humbled that so many of you have chosen to give back to our public schools by providing crucial technology to children in some of the neediest of districts. Since the challenge began on the 9th, 45 of us (including several Engadget editors who put our money where our mouth is) have joined in to contribute over $6,000 towards nearly two dozen projects around the country, which together will fund supplies utilized by some 827 students.That being said, our work here is far from done. Team Engadget Energizes Education is currently in fourth place on the technology leaderboard (down from a peak of second) and still needs over $20,000 to meet its goal. So even if you think that there are better causes to give to, or you're cynical about so-called "skimming" of administrative fees (incidentally, DonorsChoose does give you the option to waive any overhead and allocate 100% of your gift towards the project), we're still hoping that you'll donate just a few dollars if only because you like what you read here every day. Think of it as an optional subscription fee that goes to a worthy cause instead of even more redundant gadgets for us. We have until October 31st to raise as much money as possible, so if you can find it in your heart to help out the littlest less-fortunate this holiday season (Halloween), we'd really consider it a personal thanks and a mitzvah as well. DONATE
Help Engadget Energize Education in the DonorsChoose blogger challenge
We like to have a lot of fun around here, but we also know that there are times to get serious and use our semi-prominent position to rally our readers around a good cause. Or in the case of the 2007 DonorsChoose blogger challenge, 25 good causes. Engadget has partnered with numerous different tech-centric programs around the country to help raise funds for the children that they serve, and with your assistance, we're hoping to collect a total of $25,000 to be distributed among these various organizations. The best part? As its name suggests, DonorsChoose allows you to allocate your donation however you please; so instead of contributing to the general "Engadget fund," you're actually giving directly to one or more programs impacting high-need public schools. You have until October 31st to make a donation -- either by clicking here or on the Read link below -- and we sincerely hope that you'll consider helping out these projects that really do have a chance to give kids a better future. We'll keep you updated with Team Engadget's progress, and while it would be almost criminal to guarantee every reader a new HDTV if we meet our goals, well...Read - Donate!Read - Blogger challenge press releaseRead - About DonorsChoose.org
DS Zelda mod in a cooler shade [update 1]
This Zelda DS mod is pretty much exactly like the other well-known Zelda DS Lite: same raised sword-and-shield emblem, same lighting effects, and even the same two-tone design. The only real difference is that it uses two different tones. It's even being sold for charity like the last one. Australian high rollers can feel good about bidding on this item, because 15% of the final purchase price will go to the Child's Play charity.While the previous effort evoked a very classic Zelda feel with its stately gold and black hues, this DS, with its vivid blue-on-white design, fits in more with the Wind Waker/Phantom Hourglass aesthetic, which is more DS-appropriate anyway![Update: Auction relisted, new link here.][via Kotaku]
T-Mobile rolls deep with designer Sidekicks for charity
T-Mobile teamed up a while back with a bunch of fashionistas to design elaborately redone Sidekick 3s to benefit Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, an organization raising money to benefit breast cancer causes worldwide to the tune of some $40 million since its inception in 1994. The results are in -- and while we can't comment on the usability or aesthetic goodness of what we're seeing, we've got to stay focused on the fact that it's all going to a very worthy group. Some of the names on the list of participating designers are big enough to drive prices way up on the auctions, we'd imagine, which all end today. So go place that massively generous bid of yours, and if anyone can figure out what the heck is going on with the Duckie Brown one, do let us know![Thanks, Jade C.]
Lenovo to auction Olympic laptops for charity
In celebration of the "one-year-out mark for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," Lenovo has just announced that it will be conducting a series of back-to-back, week-long auctions to gift high bidders with its svelte Olympic-themed machine. Beginning on February 8, 2008, a "Cloud of Promise" laptop will be available for bidding each week leading up to the Olympic Games, and a number of them will even be "autographed by athlete ambassadors." Reportedly, "100-percent" of the proceeds will be distributed through the Lenovo Hope Fund to select philanthropies, including Right to Play, and the auctions will take place at the currently unavailable www.lenovohopefundauctions.com website.[Via TechDigest]
Charitable iPhone auctioned off for $100000
And you thought forking out five grand for the very first Nokia E90 Communicator was impressive. In the name of charity, "Keep A Child Alive" to be precise, an anonymous bidder pledged a whopping $100,000 in order to acquire the "first iPhone sold" (at least the first one at Apple's SoHo location), two Jawbone Bluetooth headsets, and a pair of round-trip airplane tickets and VIP passes to the Black Ball in New York City later this year. Reportedly, the pricey handset will be "personalized with a voice mail greeting and presented by Alicia Keys" to the generous winner on October 25th, but we wonder if the bidder would be willing to shell out a few more Benjamins to eliminate the excruciating wait.
