OneBigGame launches game industry charity initiative.
The games industry takes its fair share of criticism, especially when compared to other entertainment media. The likes of sensationalist newspapers or floundering politicians will attack the games we love in return for improved ratings or circulation figures.
As an industry we are sometimes untied and dragged out on a piece of old rope and presented as a scapegoat for all manner of reasons – this is something we have to accept.
Today is not that day. OneBigGame shows the world why we, as an industry, have feelings too.
OneBigGame is a games industry charity initiative supporting Save The children and The Starlight Children Foundation by the release and sales of some rather compelling games.
The first game in the series is “Chime“, soon to be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade and created by Zoe Mode. PlayReplay is proud to have been involved, alongside a number of other contributing companies.
I have added the announcement press release below, detailing Chime the game and OneBigGame’s involvment. For more information visit www.chimegame.com or www.OneBigGame.org Play, so others can.
ONEBIGGAME LAUNCHES FIRST NOT-FOR-PROFIT GAME CHIME,
A BEAUTIFUL PUZZLE MUSIC GAME, CREATED BY ZOË MODE
OneBigGame’s First Title Will be Available This Winter on XBOX LIVE ARCADE FOR XBOX 360
SAN FRANCISCO – November 2nd 2009 – OneBigGame, the non-profit publisher of videogames formed in 2007, is proud to introduce the first game to be published under its label.
Chime, created pro bono by music game specialists Zoë Mode, is a unique block puzzle game fused with music creation elements and contributions from a number of famous musicians. Chime will be released this winter on Xbox LIVE® Arcade.
Chime introduces a creative twist on both music and block puzzle games. The game will task players with covering a number of different grids with irregular shapes, each connected to a sound effect from the different music tracks, to form rectangular blocks, called quads. As gamers slowly cover the grid, they will be building up the song playing in the background in a unique way. Working their way to 100 percent coverage, players will unlock the song in full. Easy to get into but hard to master, Chime will hook fans with its addictive game mechanics and cool music tracks by Moby and Paul Hartnoll (Orbital), among other yet unannounced artists.
Zoë Mode is the first in a series of developers and designers who have been working on games for the charity publisher. OneBigGame has more than 15 games currently in development from various established developers to raise funds for its children’s charities.
Notable other developers include Shiny founder David Perry who will remake one of his favorite ZX Spectrum games, adventure games guru Charles Cecil who is creating an adventure version of one of the most played casual games in the world and the father of music rhythm action games Masaya Matsuura, working on a reinvention of the genre for the iPhone, WINtA. All these games will be released in the course of 2010, following the launch of Chime this winter.
All participating non-profit games will be published and distributed by OneBigGame both through its own dedicated games portal and a number of digital download platforms on both console and PC. Games will be available for a limited exclusivity period, ranging from 4-12 months, during which all net proceeds will be going to charity.
About OneBigGame
OneBigGame aims to raise funds to help solve problems afflicting children around the world. The nature of these problems can be diverse, but the kind of projects OBG supports will always revolve around a structural improvement in children’s lives, expanding their opportunities in life.
OneBigGame raises funds by publishing games kindly donated pro bono by established names in game development in conjunction with support from the development community as a whole. The games will be published amongst others on its dedicated games portal onebiggame.org (to go live later this year) as well as through a variety of pc and console download channels.
OneBigGame always aims to donate a minimum of 80% of all donations to its charity partners Save the Children and Starlight Children’s foundation.
About Zoë Mode
Zoë Mode makes games that are accessible; simple, social, games that are effortlessly fun but don’t take themselves too seriously. Based in Brighton, London and San Francisco, its diverse work force is unified by its attitude to gaming. Zoë Mode believes that games are powerful ways of bringing people together and having fun and that there’s more to life than gaming, but that gaming can make life better; and strongly believes that there is a game for everyone. Zoë Mode is part of Kuju Entertainment Limited.
All of Zoë Mode’s services are provided at no cost to OneBigGame and all Zoë Mode’s royalties (in the case of the Xbox Live Arcade version a minimum of 60% of the purchase price) are donated to OneBigGame.
About charity partner Save the Children
Save the Children is the world’s independent charity. We’re outraged that millions of children are still denied proper healthcare, food, education and protection. We’re working flat out to get every child their rights and we’re determined to make further, faster changes. How many? How fast? It’s up to you.
About charity partner Starlight Children’s Foundation
When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition, everyone in the family is affected. For 25 years, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Starlight’s programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone. Through a network of chapters and offices, Starlight provides ongoing support to children, parents and siblings in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces with an array of outpatient, hospital-based and Web offerings. Programs are also delivered internationally through affiliates in Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. To learn more visit www.starlight.org
OneBigGame – “Play, so others can’’
