Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

October 20, 2009 -

FarmVille users on Facebook have taken advantage of a program launched by the games developer to donate almost half a million dollars to a pair of nonprofit agencies in Haiti.

Zynga launched Sweet Seeds for Haiti about three weeks ago reports VentureBeat, offering its 56.0 million users a chance to make a difference by having a portion of the price of virtual sweet potato seeds sold in the game go to the nonprofits FONKOZE and FATEM.

FATEM President Jacky Poteau said that over 500 children have been affected positively by the donations, allowing them a chance to escapes poverty and gain a better education.

FONKOZE is an alternative bank for the poor, while FATEM dedicates itself to improving the basic needs of the community, with a focus on education and alleviating hunger.

So the next time someone tells you to stop wasting time on Facebook, tell them you’re simply making the world a better place.

Comments

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by SeanB on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 23:34.

I was part of this donation. Did my part, and it didn't cost me a cent. I signed up for a couple advertised items, got some spam in my email, and in the end some kids in haiti got some money.

Literally something for nothing.

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by Craig R. on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 23:09.

Considering that Zynga makes some of the most profitable - and annoying - games on social networking sites, I can't help but wonder what their cut is of this.

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by SeanB on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 23:33.

for this drive, it was 50%, but much of thier 50% was revenue they'd already earmarked as regular income, so.... less than that.

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by DarkSaber on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 08:24.

And therein lies my problem. They are using the "50% goes to charity" line to encourage people to spend more money with them, therefore increasing their own profits. It's a cynical marketing ploy.

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by Andrew Eisen on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 14:51.

Facebook.  Myspace.

I just don't see the appeal (other than perhaps a convenient way to share pictures with your friends and family).

Then again, I don't enjoy multiplayer games so I suppose it's not surprising that I'm not a fan of social networking sites.

 

Andrew Eisen

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by Kabyk on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 14:56.

Which is why LAN was invented! Also why it needs to stay! (I'm looking at you, Blizzard)

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by Father Time on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 15:37.

Worse comes to worse we'll still have Counter Strike. Counter Terrorists Win

----------------------------------------------------

 Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

---------------------------------------------------- Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by DarkSaber on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 14:38.

Yeah, invites for this and other slacktivism games have been annoying me on Facebook for a good month now. Nothing a quick click of "Block Application" can't fix though.

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by SeanB on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 23:32.

"....to donate almost half a million dollars to a pair of nonprofit agencies in Haiti."

you go girl, keep blocking those applications!

Re: Virtual Goods Lead to Real Benefits for Haitian Kids

Submitted by DarkSaber on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 06:46.

The company behind it is Zynga. If they aren't skimming a little something off the top, bottom and sides for themselves from the donations, I'd be very surprised.

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
 
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Wonderkarp: dont fool yourself, Technogeek. Remember Mass Effect 3? How about the ferver against Phil Fish?10/19/2014 - 10:18am
MechaTama31: None of which is the fault or responsibility of the people who are not trolling, harassing, threatening, doxxing, etc. So why is their opinion hostage to the people who are?10/19/2014 - 10:06am
Technogeek: If the developer were male there wouldn't have been a "conversation" in the first place.10/19/2014 - 2:27am
Monte: trolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm
Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm
Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm
Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm
Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm
Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm
Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm
Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm
ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm
MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm
Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm
MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am
Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am
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Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm
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