Industry responds to tsunami disaster

Game companies and players around the globe are pitching in to donate money for rescue and reconstruction efforts taking place in the wake of South Asia's recent earthquake and tsunami.

Electronic Arts, based in Redwood Shores, California, has pledged $250,000 to the UNICEF South Asian Tsunami Relief Fund. In addition, it will match employee donations (by a factor of 2-to-1) made to the UNICEF fund or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund through March 31, 2005.

In Iceland, CCP, the publisher of EVE Online, has established a fund that gamers can contribute to. Throughout the month of January, CCP will convey donated funds to the Icelandic Red Cross (IRC). The IRC has guaranteed to use 100 percent of the donations for tsunami relief. Donations can be made at the EVE Online Web site.

"We are very happy to see that also in the virtual universe, charity and caring are common human values," said Thorir Gudmundsson, director of communication at the Icelandic Red Cross. "This is clearly demonstrated by the EVE player community in its fundraising effort."

Similarly, gamers at the Big Screen Game Tournament, held January 8-9 in London, pitched in to raise nearly $2,000 for tsunami victims. Fans in London can continue to donate through the weekend of January 15. Donations there will go to England's Disaster Emergency Committee.