Gamers Give Back!

[Kiara]

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/feature_top.gif" width="600" height="18" /></td></tr> <tr><td height="358" background="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/bg600.jpg"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.childsplaycharity.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/cp_square600.gif" border="0" width="600" height="600" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td height="126"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="471" align="center"><tbody><tr><td width="470" height="126"><p align="center">‘Tis the season for Gamers to help kids and other Gamers! Since 2003, <a href="http://www.childsplaycharity.org/" target="_blank">Child’s Play</a> has raised millions of dollars worth of toys, video games, game systems and cash for 40 children’s hospitals around the US and the world. Now, SOE will be contributing to their efforts by offering the Child’s Play Guktan Shield Ornamentation in EverQuest® and Child’s Play Bouncing Baby Bear Cub in EverQuest® II for sale, with proceeds benefitting the charity.</p> <p align="center">SOE will donate $10 to the Child’s Play charity for each Station Cash purchase of these items made between January 20 and February 20, 2009. Log-in Tuesday, January 20, 2009 to participate!</p> <p align="center"><strong>Thanks from <a href="http://www.childsplaycharity.org/" target="_blank">Child’s Play</a> and SOE!</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr> <tr><td height="480"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="509" align="center"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" width="380"><a href="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/bearcub1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/bearcub1_th.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="404" /></a></td> <td width="156" height="200"><div><a href="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/bearcub2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/bearcub2_th.jpg" border="0" width="150" height="150" /></a></div></td></tr> <tr><td><div><a href="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/bearcub3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/bearcub3_th.jpg" border="0" width="150" height="150" /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <table style="height: 338px;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="437" align="center"><tbody><tr><td height="338"><div><a href="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/shield.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/shield_th.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="338" /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr> <tr><td><img src="http://www.station.sony.com/images/community/features/childs_play/feature/feature_btm.gif" width="600" height="18" /></td></tr></tbody></table>

[Spyderbite]

<p>What a great idea and a wondeful use of some of the proceeds from Station Cash. And, a great charity organization as well! Bravo! /applauds</p>

[Nulad]

<p>Now this sort of useage for station cash has me reassessing my opinion of it <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Rosabel]

<p>Child's Play is a great charity, one that I usually give to every year.  My oldest nephew was treated in a childrens hospital for a few things when he was a baby, and the work they do is just amazing.  Look up Child's Play on Amazon as well, they have the wish list for every hospital in the network on there.  I am SO getting the bear...</p>

[Kiara]

<p>I'm really excited about it too <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I think I'll be buying a bear or two for my girls!</p><p>I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!</p>

[CorpseGoddess]

<p>Sweet!  We bought a bunch of books through Child's Play for our local children's hospital for Christmas, so I'll definitely be participating in this.</p>

[Elorah]

<p>This might even have me looking into it...  did I miss how much they cost?</p><p>Too bad that Childs Play doesn't work with <a href="http://www.chkd.org/" target="_blank">Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughter's</a>.  My daughter has all her Diabetic appointments there.  It is a great children's hospital <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Either way, I will probably be buying at least one bear <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[eqaddictedfool]

<p>This takes away some of the sour taste that the station cash has put in my mouth. Now if only sony did this with all the station cash stuff.</p>

[Lostmymind]

<p>What a sad and pathetic way to promote Smed Cash. A great charity being used as a promotional stunt to bolster support of Smed Cash. Bet you'll add those numbers into the next post by Smed stating Smed Cash doubled/tripled in use.</p>

[Seagoat]

<p>I have to second Elorah's question: How much will the bears cost?</p><p>My boyfriend bought me a ton of Station Cash for my birthday, and I need to know how much I can spend and still have enough for the bear!  <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Ciara52]

<p>I'm getting bears also  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />   </p><p>It's not a pathetic anything at all ahem   -   it's a wonderful idea.  And I think it's a good way to use station cash.</p><p>Besides  I really like that little whispy mage guy you can get to follow you around lol   </p>

[Galldora]

<p>Oh, I LOVE this idea!  I'll definitely be getting a bear or two.  Wonderful use for Station Cash, IMHO.</p>

[Huntress Jellica]

<p>I want a teddy =)</p>

[Pink_Poodle]

<p><cite>Lostmymind wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>What a sad and pathetic way to promote Smed Cash. A great charity being used as a promotional stunt to bolster support of Smed Cash. Bet you'll add those numbers into the next post by Smed stating Smed Cash doubled/tripled in use.</p></blockquote><p>When you look at it, is it really different than "buy this pink rubber duck and 5 cents go to breast cancer?" Not really.</p>

[Kiara]

<p>The bears are 5$ and we donate 10$.</p><p>I'll double check the messaging to make sure it's clearer <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Also, please note:  You can only activate the bear once per character.</p>

[Seagoat]

<p>Gotta say, HUGE kudos...spend $5 to give $10, there's no better deal!  I bought my first bear this morning and will be getting a second later on with an alt.  AWESOMENESS.</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The bears are 5$ and we donate 10$.</p><p>I'll double check the messaging to make sure it's clearer <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Also, please note:  You can only activate the bear once per character.</p></blockquote><p>Wait, so for buying a $5 item SoE gives away $10? That seems uncharacteristically generous.</p>

[Spyderbite]

<p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Wait, so for buying a $5 item SoE gives away $10? That seems uncharacteristically generous.</p></blockquote><p>Very subtle.. "where's the catch?". <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Rijacki]

<p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The bears are 5$ and we donate 10$.</p><p>I'll double check the messaging to make sure it's clearer <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Also, please note:  You can only activate the bear once per character.</p></blockquote><p>Wait, so for buying a $5 item SoE gives away $10? That seems uncharacteristically generous.</p></blockquote><p>The donation is $5 from the player matched with $5 from SOE.  Why is that hard to understand? It's very common to have a matching donation for stuff like this.</p><p>The bears cost them nothing (or pennies if you guestimate the amount of time spent by the art team and developer x the number sold).</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Rijacki wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The bears are 5$ and we donate 10$.</p><p>I'll double check the messaging to make sure it's clearer <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Also, please note:  You can only activate the bear once per character.</p></blockquote><p>Wait, so for buying a $5 item SoE gives away $10? That seems uncharacteristically generous.</p></blockquote><p>The donation is $5 from the player matched with $5 from SOE.  Why is that hard to understand? It's very common to have a matching donation for stuff like this.</p><p>The bears cost them nothing (or pennies if you guestimate the amount of time spent by the art team and developer x the number sold).</p></blockquote><p>Yeah but SoE isn't known for passing up oportunities to make money in anything they do.  The best guess I have is they are doing it to help remove some of the negative feelings towards station cash.</p>

[Elorah]

<p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Rijacki wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The bears are 5$ and we donate 10$.</p><p>I'll double check the messaging to make sure it's clearer <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Also, please note: You can only activate the bear once per character.</p></blockquote><p>Wait, so for buying a $5 item SoE gives away $10? That seems uncharacteristically generous.</p></blockquote><p>The donation is $5 from the player matched with $5 from SOE. Why is that hard to understand? It's very common to have a matching donation for stuff like this.</p><p>The bears cost them nothing (or pennies if you guestimate the amount of time spent by the art team and developer x the number sold).</p></blockquote><p>Yeah but SoE isn't known for passing up oportunities to make money in anything they do. The best guess I have is they are doing it to help remove some of the negative feelings towards station cash.</p></blockquote><p>Does it really matter why they are doing it?  Does it make our donations less then anyone elses? Will the kids like toys that are bought with the SOE donations less then other donation bought toys? I think that it is a good idea...  I dont start to think of motives behind it, just donate one way or another....   *wink*</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p>I'm not saying it makes the donations ant less important. I'm just curious what their motive is.</p>

[Spyderbite]

<p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Yeah but SoE isn't known for passing up oportunities to make money in anything they do. </p><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">They're a business. That's sort of what businesses do.</span> <span style="color: #ff0000;">If they didn't, they wouldn't be a business anymore.</span></p><p>The best guess I have is they are doing it to help remove some of the negative feelings towards station cash.</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">Heh.. yah.. cause I'm sure that's their first priority. Good one. /chuckles</span></p></blockquote><p>They're just doing a good thing.. intentions aside.. what would you have them do instead that wouldn't cause tin foil hats to start sparking uncontrollably?</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Spyderbite@Venekor wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Yeah but SoE isn't known for passing up oportunities to make money in anything they do. </p><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">They're a business. That's sort of what businesses do.</span> <span style="color: #ff0000;">If they didn't, they wouldn't be a business anymore.</span></p><p>The best guess I have is they are doing it to help remove some of the negative feelings towards station cash.</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">Heh.. yah.. cause I'm sure that's their first priority. Good one. /chuckles</span></p></blockquote><p>They're just doing a good thing.. intentions aside.. what would you have them do instead that wouldn't cause tin foil hats to start sparking uncontrollably?</p></blockquote><p>TBH anything SoE does that seems good with no catches makes me rather suspicious.</p>

[Spyderbite]

<p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>TBH anything SoE does that seems good with no catches makes me rather suspicious.</p></blockquote><p>I think the same way about Insurance companies.. so we have some middle ground. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Spyderbite@Venekor wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>TBH anything SoE does that seems good with no catches makes me rather suspicious.</p></blockquote><p>I think the same way about Insurance companies.. so we have some middle ground. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Hehe, I treat all buisnesses that way since they are evil by nature, untill they can prove otherwise.</p>

[Lostmymind]

<p><cite>Rhoslyn@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lostmymind wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>What a sad and pathetic way to promote Smed Cash. A great charity being used as a promotional stunt to bolster support of Smed Cash. Bet you'll add those numbers into the next post by Smed stating Smed Cash doubled/tripled in use.</p></blockquote><p>When you look at it, is it really different than "buy this pink rubber duck and 5 cents go to breast cancer?" Not really.</p></blockquote><p>Yes it is because they're thrusting smed cash back into the players faces again. There are numerous ways to allow the players to donate. The use of smed cash is being used solely for a political spin. I'll buy 100 pink ducks before I allow Smed to try to force me to use his pathetic system.</p>

[Elorah]

<p><cite>Lostmymind wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Rhoslyn@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lostmymind wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>What a sad and pathetic way to promote Smed Cash. A great charity being used as a promotional stunt to bolster support of Smed Cash. Bet you'll add those numbers into the next post by Smed stating Smed Cash doubled/tripled in use.</p></blockquote><p>When you look at it, is it really different than "buy this pink rubber duck and 5 cents go to breast cancer?" Not really.</p></blockquote><p>Yes it is because they're thrusting smed cash back into the players faces again. There are numerous ways to allow the players to donate. The use of smed cash is being used solely for a political spin. I'll buy 100 pink ducks before I allow Smed to try to force me to use his pathetic system.</p></blockquote><p>Actually, donating through Station Cash is not being forced on you.  You are welcdome to donate through the charity as well!</p>

[Seagoat]

<p>No kidding...if you don't like the method, don't use the method; there are PLENTY of alternatives. It's a pretty straightforward concept.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>If folks choose to use one method above another, or to use a method as it's presented to them and easy to access, they shouldn't be called out for it or made to feel as though they're "selling out" when they participate.</p><p>Dude, it's a charity. A <strong>CHARITY</strong>. For <strong>KIDS</strong>. Where is the downside??</p>

[Evaw]

<p><cite>Lostmymind wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Rhoslyn@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lostmymind wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>What a sad and pathetic way to promote Smed Cash. A great charity being used as a promotional stunt to bolster support of Smed Cash. Bet you'll add those numbers into the next post by Smed stating Smed Cash doubled/tripled in use.</p></blockquote><p>When you look at it, is it really different than "buy this pink rubber duck and 5 cents go to breast cancer?" Not really.</p></blockquote><p>Yes it is because they're thrusting smed cash back into the players faces again. There are numerous ways to allow the players to donate. The use of smed cash is being used solely for a political spin. I'll buy 100 pink ducks before I allow Smed to try to force me to use his pathetic system.</p></blockquote><p>Wow you dont understand the concept of Charity i take it? its not manditory.. thats taxes.. its PURELY optional. I think its a good cause 5$ spent 10$ given soe gets the tax write off i call it a wash! /bravo SoE</p>

[Tinrae]

<p>I did send a /feedback about this, but thought I would post here as well.</p><p>I am one of thsoe people who aren't really a fan of Station Cash, but I'm not mortified by it's existence either. I had no plans whatsoever to purchase a single item through SC...hadn't even spent my free points.</p><p>At first, when I saw the game's MoTD advertising the promo, I kind of rolled my eyes a bit as it related to SC, but was still interested enough to go see what it was about. Visited the page with the blurb about it, went to the Children's Play website. I do a lot of charity work in real life, both with my time and money, so I'm a sucker for promotions like this.</p><p>I fully expected the bear to cost $20+, so I was <strong>-very-</strong> surprised that it was only $5 and that SoE was actually doing a matching gift program. I didn't think twice about making the $5 purchase specifically for the charity cause.</p><p>When I got the bear, I scribed and casted it right away. To my surprise, it didn't overwrite my deity pet. It also emotes when you hail it, though apparently only after you've named it. </p><p>Thank you, SoE for this program. Please consider more promotions like this in the future.</p>

[JeffreyDeb]

<p><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Also, please note:  You can only activate the bear once per character.</p></blockquote><p>*sigh*</p><p>There goes my evil plan to take over Norrath with my army of bears.</p><p>I guess now I'll have to return those crates of fricken laser beams as well. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Clemency@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lostmymind wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Rhoslyn@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lostmymind wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>What a sad and pathetic way to promote Smed Cash. A great charity being used as a promotional stunt to bolster support of Smed Cash. Bet you'll add those numbers into the next post by Smed stating Smed Cash doubled/tripled in use.</p></blockquote><p>When you look at it, is it really different than "buy this pink rubber duck and 5 cents go to breast cancer?" Not really.</p></blockquote><p>Yes it is because they're thrusting smed cash back into the players faces again. There are numerous ways to allow the players to donate. The use of smed cash is being used solely for a political spin. I'll buy 100 pink ducks before I allow Smed to try to force me to use his pathetic system.</p></blockquote><p>Wow you dont understand the concept of Charity i take it? its not manditory.. thats taxes.. its PURELY optional. I think its a good cause 5$ spent 10$ given soe gets the tax write off i call it a wash! /bravo SoE</p></blockquote><p>Tax incentives! I forgot about that, I knew they had to be getting something.</p>

[Spyderbite]

<p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Tax incentives! I forgot about that, I knew they had to be getting something.</p></blockquote><p>But, you get the same tax deducution for your charitable contribution.</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Spyderbite@Venekor wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Tax incentives! I forgot about that, I knew they had to be getting something.</p></blockquote><p>But, you get the same tax deducution for your charitable contribution.</p></blockquote><p>I don't make enough money to be taxed. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" />  I'm in college only working part time for like $3000 a year.</p>

[Spyderbite]

<p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I don't make enough money to be taxed. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" />  I'm in college only working part time for like $3000 a year.</p></blockquote><p>Then I want your life. With two jobs, one part time and one full time and multiple contracted projects I make enough to push me in to the next tax bracket which spanks me for almost 35%. I can use all the deductions, errr.. bears that my station cash can buy! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Kiara]

<p><cite>JeffreyDeb wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Also, please note:  You can only activate the bear once per character.</p></blockquote><p>*sigh*</p><p>There goes my evil plan to take over Norrath with my army of bears.</p><p>I guess now I'll have to return those crates of fricken laser beams as well. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Ah, but you WILL be able to share them amongst your alts!  So that's sort of like an army of fuzzy bears... right?</p><p>Should you choose to purchase more than one bear, the scrolls will become Heirloom tagged (when that function goes live) and you will then be able to share your extra scrolls amongst your alts through the shared bank system.</p>

[Spyderbite]

<p><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Ah, but you WILL be able to share them amongst your alts!  So that's sort of like an army of fuzzy bears... right?</p></blockquote><p>Oh noes!</p><p><img src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/thumb/e/ed/Fozzie_Season_1.JPG/300px-Fozzie_Season_1.JPG" /></p>

[Cayden]

<p>Any way to code it to where our bouncing baby bears are immune to AE? Danger keeps dying <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>