Child's Play Rejects Atlantica Online's Participation In Charity
Child's Play, the long running charity organized by the fellows behind Penny Arcade to improve the lives of sick children in hospitals, has rejected the participation of Atlantica Online developer Ndoors due to player criticism.
The popular free-to-play MMOG featured a special "stocking stuffer" online in their item shop on December 23, promising that a portion of the proceeds would go to Child's Play. The special limited time item contained a random rare drop to entice players to pick it up; the downside came when players learned that the item, sold in their shop for 3999 G-Coins or USD$40, would only have five percent actually donated back to the charity. For such a purchase, Child's Play would only receive USD$2, an abysmal amount considering that the item was supposed to be for charity in the first place.
Players were upset about this and complained about it, both to Ndoors and, apparently, Child's Play directly. On the 29th the company issued another press release stating that they had been asked to withdraw from supporting the fundraiser due to the negative feedback Child's Play received. Ndoors blamed this on the negativity of "a few" players (and seemed to feel keeping 95% of the proceeds of a charity item was a reasonable move to make) and lamented being asked to withdraw all around.
Joystiq reached Ndoors for comment but as yet haven't received a reply. A short statement from Child's Play said that this was the first time they've rejected a company, and that Ndoors allegedly was looking for another charity to send the collected donations to.
It's a shame that this didn't work out, but I don't think it's fair to blame the failure on players complaining about Ndoor's decision to keep the overwhelming majority of funds to themselves. If you're making a substantial profit on a charity item, that strikes me as a bit selfish.
mixvio
Posted to Hot Stuff, Miscellany on 4 January 2010
· Comments (4)
Other stuff like this: atlantica online, charity, child's play, ndoors, selfish
That was really quite bad of them. Keeping up to 95%? What douche bags, now like any other person caught in a lie they are being a bit bitchy and distant and blaming on players who for intensive purposes should be praised for letting Child's Play know that there were 'rats' in the 'hen house'.
40 damn dollars and they keep 38 and the label it's a charity item. Ick. I'm glad the players told Child's Play. I'm sure Penny Arcade founders were less than impressed with it, especially in the current day where game publishers nickle and dime people with add-on content. Good on the players for telling PA.
Ugh... this makes me sick.... like... uhh.... warm gaspatcho
Hopefully they won't be able to find another charity willing to take their donation. My (admittedly limited) understanding of the law is that if it's advertised as "for charity" and it doesn't go to charity, they're supposed to refund the money to the purchasers (who will hopefully donate more than 5% of it back to Child's Play) or it's fraud.