Being charitable

If you're not keen on swelling the coffers of the major US games retailers by trading used games for store credit at miserly rates of exchange, you should check out a new charity, Donate Games, that has just launched. You send them your unwanted games and receive a tax credit in return (since it is a charitable donation). They then sell the games to raise money. It is currently US only I'm afraid. Thanks to Game Politics for bringing them to my attention.

Closer to home, the UK games industry's main charity is now GamesAid, which superceded the more boringly titled (but highly effective) Entertainment Software Charity. They've got off to a good start and can hopefully weather the recession.

The best known gaming-related charity is Child's Play, founded by Gabe & Tycho of Penny Arcade fame, initially to show that gamers didn't conform to the media stereotype of being selfish and homicidal. I try and donate each year, sometimes by inflicting gaming torture on hapless Canadians.

Child's Play cunningly uses the Amazon Wishlist functionality to allow you to buy toys for specific children's hospitals in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Egypt, cutting out middlemen and ensuring that children who really need the distraction that gaming can provide get the chance to enjoy it, whatever their family's circumstances. In addition to their numerous fund-raising events, you can also donate money directly online via PayPal, allowing you to get your compassion on, even on Sundays.