Aiding Japan

As news of widespread damage from an earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan fills news headlines, several organizations within the video game industry are offering aid to Japan’s relief effort.

Several organizations within the video game industry, such as video game information source, 1up, created a relief effort called, “Play for Japan.” The purpose of this effort is to help Japan by auctioning off several rare video game collectibles and donating all the proceeds.

Online video game retailer Direct2Drive is another company which is doing its part to help victims of this latest natural disaster. This company will use a dollar from every game purchased at their website to help Japan.

Even, video game studio juggernaut and Halo franchise developer, Bungie, is providing aid by donating money to the Red Cross relief effort in Japan. Bungie is generating donations by selling “Japan Quake Relief 2011” wristbands on their website and giving all the money directly to the Red Cross.

Japanese based game developer, Capcom, is lending a helping hand to its country of origin by putting Street Fighter IV on sale for 99-cents and donating all the proceeds to the relief effort.

For Playstation Network users also have a chance to help out Japan, with the new “donate to Japan” feature that allows gamers to donate through the Playstation Network.

For Japan every donation helps, and the video game industry has stepped up to help a country in need.