The Great Side of Video Games
I’m tired of everyone in the news media trying to show that video games are TEH BAD and somehow if you play them, you’re TEH EVIL.
So I’m making a LIST. The next time someone tells you that video games are evil, share this with them. I’ll add to it periodically.
Since I’m an English professor, I believe in sources and analysis, so I’ll provide that whenever possible. Direct sources specifically for the charities and livestreams.
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VIDEO GAMES
Games help keep creativity and art alive:
Art - [link] [link] [link] [link]
Animation - [link] [link] [link] [link]
Music - [link] [link] [link] [link]
Writing and Poetry - [link] [link] [link]
Costuming and Crafting - [link] [link] [link]
TV and Movies - [link] [link]
Games that teach empathy
Undertale - A game that encourages the player to befriend, not kill, his enemies.
Papers Please - A game that forces the player to make tough moral decisions.
Stardew Valley - A game that teaches empathy with animals, plants, and the villagers you live with. Also helps normalize LGBTQ relationships.
The Last of Us - A game where the main character faces extreme PTSD and relearns empathy and love throughout the game. Both this game and the sequel help normalize LGBTQ relationships.
Animal Crossing - A game with anthro animals that rewards players for empathetic behavior, encourages clean and neat environments, and teaches about plants, animals, fish, and bugs.
Games that are pure art
Ori and the Blind Forest
Journey
Okami
Abzu
Shadow of the Colossus
Flower
Child of Light
Games that teach history
Assassin’s Creed - Games set in historical settings. Each game has elements where you can investigate a building, a person, or a location and learn more about it’s real life history. Games take place in Jerusalem, New England, the Caribbean, Florence, Rome, Egypt, London, France, and many other places during important historical events such as the Renaissance, the War for Independence, the Golden Age of Piracy, and other important events.
Brothers in Arms, Road to Hill 30 - Based on the true story of two important groups of soldiers during World War II.
Battlefield One - The opening of this game paints the tragedy, fear, and destructive nature of war in a dark, realistic light.
Games that encourage reading
Pokemon - Games that are strictly text based - no voice acting. Pokemon games need players to have a command of their language in order to play, since cut scenes, directions, story, battling, Pokemon, and all ways to play require reading.
Final Fantasy 1-9 - Games are strictly text based. Players need to have an understanding of reading to understand play, cut scenes, directions, and story.
Games that incorporate social commentary
Grand Theft Auto V - Grand Theft Auto uses subtle game tactics to bring to light the issues with social media, consumerism, drugs, biased news, parenting problems, greed, reality TV, adultery, and many more.
The Metal Gear Series - Metal Gear games explore social commentary about war, human nature, child soldiers, violence for the greater good and the positives and negatives of advancing technology.
Choice-based games with a literary theme
Detroit: Become Human - Discusses slavery, what it means to be human, the consequences of choices, empathy, love, freedom, non-violent protests vs. violent protests, and abuse, and domestic violence. Uses deep literary themes to drive the story.
LA Noire - Uses choices to explore police cases in 1940s LA, and requires logic, empathy, and detective work to solve cases. Uses deep literary themes and strong characters to drive the story.
Heavy Rain - Uses choice to discover the location of the Origami killer and save your son. Uses deep literary themes and strong characters to drive the story.
Games that encourage intelligent puzzle-solving and critical thinking
Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Puzzle-solving and strategy is absolutely necessary to advance and grow in this game. Also encourages exploration and is visually stunning.
The Legend of Zelda Games - Many Zelda games incorporate intelligent puzzle solving in order to advance, encouraging critical thinking and brain health.
Portal 1 and 2 - Puzzle based games that require critical thinking and problem solving skills in order to advance.
The Ace Attorney Games - Encourages critical thinking and intelligent puzzle solving to solve each case. Also encourages reading and literary analysis.
The Metroid Games - Encourages puzzle solving and critical thinking to advance in the game. Also encourages reading and literary analysis.
Games that address mental health, abuse, and civil rights
Hellblade - Addresses mental illness.
Games that incorporate LGBTQ+ themes, characters, and discussion around the community
Dream Daddy - Game about dads dating other dads, this game helps normalize LGBTQ relationships in all communities.
Overwatch - Features several openly gay characters.
GAMERS
FACTS:
In 2018, YouTubers and Twitch Livestreamers raised over 20 Million Dollars for charity, with a majority of that coming from gaming streams and gamers.
These same gamers and YouTubers have many many stories of fans who have told them they helped them get through depression, mental and physical illness, and build friends and communities. YouTubers also fulfill hundreds of Make-A-Wish wishes every year.
Battle Royale games help encourage a community and there are many reported incidents of people finding love and communities through these games.
Fans of gamers have created multiple communities including dating communities and mental health support communities all over the internet.
CHARITY
Charity Livestreams are donation based - gamers and fans of YouTube personalities donate over the course of the stream to raise money for a valuable cause.
Generally speaking, donations are provided by fans of the organization, meaning most of these are funded by everyday gamers.
GAME GRUMPS
Charity auction, 2013 - $7,000 raised for Child’s Play, which benefits children in hospitals and shelters.
Charity Reality Show, 2015 - $5,000 raised for cancer research.
Charity Live Stream, 2015 - $70,000 raised for Healing Horse Therapy Center, which uses horses to help veterans, families with special needs children, and provide therapy for mental, physical, and psychological help.
Charity Live Stream, 2016 - $155,000 raised for Crisis Text Line, a free service that provide suicide prevention help through text.
Charity Live Stream, 2016 - $47,000 raised for Mercury Phoenix Trust, an organization that helps fight and raise awareness for HIV/AIDS, in Freddie Mercury’s honor.
Charity Live Stream, 2016 - $32,000 raised with Hot Pepper Gaming for Camp Kesem.
Charity Live Stream, 2018 - $80,000 raised for Crisis Text Line, and possibly more once T-shirt sales are taken into account.
Charity Live Stream, 2018 - $40,000 raised for Camp Kesem, a camping service provided to children whose parents are fighting cancer.
GAME GRUMP FANS
Fan driven Game Grumps Art Zine - $3,000 raised for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBER LIVESTREAMS AND CHARITIES
Egoraptor Charity Live Stream, 2019 - $55,000+ raised for Healing Horse Therapy Center.
JACKSEPTICEYE
@therealjacksepticeye
Charity Live Stream, January 2018 - $227,000 raised for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Charity Live Stream, February 2018 - $110,500 raised for Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.
Charity Live Stream, April 2018 - $152,800 raised for Gamechanger, a charity that uses games and technology to help hospitalized kids.
Charity Live Stream, May 2018 - $115, 900 raised for Charity: Water.
Charity Live Stream, June 2018 - $151,600 raised for AbleGamers, a charity that gives disabled gamers the equipment needed to play games.
Charity Live Stream, August 2018 - $112,000 raised for St. Jude’s Children Hospitals.
Charity Live Stream, February 2019 - $86,000 raised for Gamers Outreach.
More information about Jack’s Charity Streams can be found here!
Jacksepticeye is known for the #PMA or #PositiveMentalAttitude movement, which encourages people to have a positive attitude, regardless of their situation. This movement has helped many people around the world and has opened dialogue for talking about mental illness.
Jack has also posted videos interviewing therapists to answer important questions about mental health.
MARKIPLIER
@markiplier
Charity Live Stream, January 2017 - $125,600 raised for Human Rights Campaign.
Charity Live Stream, February 2017 - $115,700 raised for St. Jude’s Children Hospitals.
Charity Live Stream, March 2017 - $254,600 raised for Charity: Water.
Charity Live Stream, April 2017 - $123,000 raised for Environmental Defense Fund.
Charity Live Stream, May 2017 - $198,300 raised for Gamechanger, a charity that uses games and technology to help hospitalized kids.
Charity Live Stream, August 2017 - $108,500 raised for Joyful Heart Foundation which helps victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Charity Live Stream, September 2017 - $74,000 raised for Direct Relief.
Charity Live Stream, October 2017 - $107,000 raised for the National MPS Society.
Charity Live Stream, November 2017 - $422,700 for Save the Children.
Charity Live Stream, October 2018 - $(Total Unknown) for the Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute.
Charity Live Stream, December 2018 - $247,000 raised for Stand Up To Cancer, which helps looking for a cure to cancer.
Charity Live Stream, Feb 2019 - $500,000 raised for My Friend’s Place, which helps homeless teens in need.
Mark has also done many other charities on Twitch, though the numbers are not immediately available.
CLOAK
Jacksepticeye and Markiplier also have a brand name clothing line that works with local communities and charities, including Heal the Bay, which does work on beach cleanup.
GAME THEORY (MatPat)
Charity Drive for Hurricane Relief, Oct 2017 - $15,000 raised.
Charity Streaming for St. Judes, Oct 2015 - (final numbers not available)
Charity Live Stream, November 2018 - $190,000 raised for the Brain and Behavior research center in order to bring awareness to mental illness.
ROOSTER TEETH
Charity Live Stream, November 2018 - $1.4 Million raised for Texas Children’s Hospital in the Children’s Miracle Hospitals Network.
Over 5 million total has been raised partnering with Extra Life.
GAME RELATED CHARITIES
Gamers for Good make games, art books, and other game related products to raise money for a variety of charities. They also have days where they help at various places of need, such as the Ronald McDonald house, soup kitchens, veteran’s shelters, and poor cities in need.
Games Done Quick does speed runs for various charities, including Doctors Without Borders and cancer research funds. This charity has been going on for seven years and has a yearly event.
Child’s Play exists to help enrich the lives of hospital bound children through the power of games and the generosity of gamers.
AbleGamers uses funds and technology to create controls for disabled gamers to be able to game.
GameChanger helps hospital bound children play video games for play, learning, socialization, and ease of pain and suffering.
Extra Life hosts various forms of life stream and fundraisers to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Hospital Network.
ANYONE HAVE ANY GAMERS/GAMES/STREAMS/CHARITIES THAT I MISSED? Please send it to me and I’ll add it to the list! Please provide a SOURCE for anything you suggest! SPREAD THE WORLD!
With everything going on with the video game blaming, this needs to recirculate. Spread the word and share your own positive video game experiences!
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