Too often you hear about "gamers" as a sloven group, wasting away the days and late hours with their thumbs dancing away on a controller or keyboard. Granted, it happens, but not always for mere entertainment value.
Not unlike walkathons, gaming can actually be used for good, and one event scheduled for this Spring has already received support in the form of some big names.
According to a press release, "Machinima sensation Rooster Teeth (creators of the award-winningRed vs Blue series), gaming juggernaut Wargaming America (World of Tanks, World of Warplanes), developer Naughty Dog (creators of Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, andThe Last of Us) and gaming-headset powerhouse ASTRO Gaming have pledged significant support and will field fundraising teams via the newly-rebuilt Operation Supply Drop website."
In case you haven't heard, Operation Supply Drop is a charity with the noble aim of sending care packages chock full of video games to both troops deployed in combat zones, as well as ones recovering in military hospitals. To date, Operation Supply Drop has raised more than $700,000 in games and gear from across the gaming community, reaching approximately 2,500 servicemen and women worldwide.
Despite the commitment from the studios, the charity is always looking for more able bodied gamers to risk carpal tunnel and donate money and/or time in the name of a good cause.
This year's drive has been dubbed the "8-Bit Salute," and the care packages will be sent to troops in Afghanistan and various recovery centers across the country. May 17 begins 48 hours of non-stop gaming. That being a weekend and all, you were probably gonna do that anyway, so might as well find yourself a sponsor willing to fork over some dough so you can feel good about yourself.
More information on the drive can be found here.