Extra Life
This is a reflection paper I wrote for my Humanities class I figured I’d put on my Tumblr. I know I get a lot of questions about how I started The Game Fanatics and what motiviates me, and all that jazz.
Read on if you’d like, drop a comment, or shoot me a question in my ask box.
Extra Life is a global charity event where gamers do what they do best…game! The concept is fairly simple, you pledge to play video games for 24 hours, get your friends to support you by donating a one-time amount or committing to donate for every hour that you game. This amazing idea was started right here in Houston by a fellow blogger friend of mine just a few years ago, and this year it grew to be a worldwide phenomenon that raised over 1.1 million dollars for the Children’s Miracle Network.
To bring this all into perspective I’ll need to explain how I got started in the gaming scene. I created a video game blog in December of 2009 as a blowoff hobby to use my web design and graphic design abilities in a creative manner and escape the rigidity I faced when dealing with clients. I figured that I loved games, I love writing, and I love design, why not merge these passions into a viable potential business. Thus The Game Fanatics was born. Fast forward three years, thousands of hours, and a handful of conventions and business meetings later to today where The Game Fanatics garners almost 3 million hits a month and is sustaining an amazing community.
This brought my website to the limelight a bit, because it’s one of the largest gaming communities in the video game-impoverished South, and this year we were able to work hand-in-hand with Microsoft and Texas Children’s Hospital to participate in a 12 hour gaming event hosted at the Microsoft Store in the Galleria.
The charity event was a huge success, and it certainly brought Houston on the map, as we became one of the largest cities to raise donations for Extra Life this year. We were able to get pizza and drinks donated, and of course we had free access to the vast array of games and electronics in the Microsoft Store, as well as some very rare autographed memorabilia from famed game developers.
When I created The Game Fanatics I never knew how big it would become, but one thing I always knew was that I wanted it to be much bigger than myself, much bigger than gaming, and much bigger than entertainment. Earlier this year we had a 24-hour gaming event by ourselves and our community where we raised $750 for our veterans. Next month we’ll be doing another event called
“super secret event name here”where I hope to raise money for Christmas presents for the impoverished.I believe that as global citizens of the Earth it is our duty to look out for those who cannot look out for themselves. Basic humanity compels us to show compassion to those less fortunate than we are, and to share our blessings to the needy. I hope to never stray from this core belief that my parents have instilled in me, and I intend to use whatever platform I find myself opportune to have to help others.
