ESA Raises $2.6 Million For Charity Through Game Pack

Author: by Staff

The Entertainment Software Association has announced that more than $2.6 million has been raised through its yearly charity game pack, with proceeds from the Xbox 360 game bundle going to children's charities including Web Wise Kids and Hopelab. The pack, which included bundled copies of Cars, Open Season, and Fuzion Frenzy 2 for the Xbox 360 and retailed for $29.99, sold more than 90,000 units, and seventeen retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Target and GameStop sold it. The ESA also took pains to thank Disney Interactive, THQ, Ubisoft, Sony Pictures, and Pixar, who gave permission for the games to be sold, and GreatWestern Industries, Packaging 2.0 LLC, Sonopress, Technicolor, Iridio, and TenGun Design - who donated services free of charge or waived associated royalties. The ESA's previous compilation bundled Sony's ATV Offroad Fury 2, THQ's Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild, and EA's Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2 for the PlayStation 2 at a $19.99 price point, and raised more than $1.5 million for charity through its North American sales in 2005 and 2006. As for the benefiting charities, Web Wise Kids uses its ESA Foundation grants to develop video games that teach children about keeping safe in the online world. WAVE programs motivate youth to complete school, lead productive lives and make valuable contributions to their communities. Hopelab developed a game - Re-mission - to help teens living with cancer. FAS developed a game called Immune Attack to teach high school students about immunology and infection. Computers for Youth provide donated and refurbished computers to kids in low income communities. “The entertainment software industry places a priority on giving back to our communities, with a special focus on helping our young people. I’m proud that together with our partners, the ESA Foundation raised a record amount for a variety of worthy causes,” said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the Entertainment Software Association.