CCP and its customers are organizing a charity drive within the popular space MMO EVE Online to raise funds for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. Sanctioned by CCP but mostly community-driven, players are converting PLEX, an in-game item that represents 30 days of game time, into cash to donate to Japan.
"PLEX can be purchased for real world currency at any time through our website. They are also sold in-game on the markets by other players so you can even play EVE without paying a cent, as long as you have enough in-game currency to buy a PLEX," Christian "CCP Wrangler" Danhill, senior community manager for EVE Online, told Ars Technica. "Selling any in-game item for real world currency is forbidden, however, so this is a special exception to 'cashing out.'"
To donate, users simply contract their PLEX to the "CCP PLEX for Good" character. CCP then converts it to its real-world cash value and donates it to the Red Cross. This promotion will began on March 14 and runs until March 31.
"PLEX for Good is an on-going charitable program initiated by the players of EVE Online. Past drives have assisted the victims of the Haiti earthquake and excessive flooding in Pakistan," CCP explains. "To date, EVE Online players have donated over $63,000 (over 3,600 PLEX) to those in need via this program, with almost $100,000 being donated by EVE Online players to charity since 2004."
EVE Online players concerned about charity scams can take heart in the words of Misty Matonis, associate community manager for EVE Online:
"We have very strict policies regarding scamming of PLEX during this kind of charity drive. We simply do not allow it, and our game masters will permanently ban any individual who uses this as an opportunity to scam other players. I am proud to say that our community of players hasn’t had a single incidence of scamming during these efforts, rallying around such causes honorably."
You can learn more about it here.
Source: Ars Technica
Comments
Re: EVE Online PLEX Drive for Japan
While these drives are kinda cool, I wish people would just find a reputable charity that is already on the ground and give directly to them.
Re: EVE Online PLEX Drive for Japan
This is allowing people to spend NOTHING, and give to a charity. Did you miss that?
Re: EVE Online PLEX Drive for Japan
The player either buys the PLEX with real money, or uses in game currency to buy a PLEX that someone else bought with real money but still offsets someone's subscription time. I would not call it 'nothing'... slightly more abstract, but not nothing.