SOE Creates, Sells Virtual Items For Japan Quake Relief

Along with the $3.6 million its parent company donated to relief efforts, Sony Online Entertainment is selling special virtual goods across several of its titles as part of a donation campaign for those affected by Japan's recent earthquakes and tsunamis. The online game developer and publisher is selling special in-game items, such as Cherry Blossoms, in EverQuest, EverQuest II, Free Realms, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, Magic: The Gathering - Tactics, Star Wars Galaxies, and Pox Nora to "raise awareness and memorialize the tragedy" of the disasters. For each purchase of the virtual items between March 25 and 28, SOE will donate $10 to the American Red Cross for Japanese aid. Tokyo-headquartered Sony also put up $3.6 million, donated 30,000 radios, and set up a fund with a matching gifts program for employees to support relief and recovery efforts. Many other online game and social game companies have contributed to Japanese relief since the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunamis devastated the country on March 11, including NCsoft, Zynga, Nexon, and Playfish. Major game publishers like Square Enix, Nintendo, Konami, and PopCap have also sent money to aid efforts. "In times like these, we are reminded of how important and fragile we are and of the positive impact we can have -- both as individuals and, collectively, as a company -- to assist those in need," said Sony Corporation chairman and CEO Howard Stringer earlier this month. "We will continue to make the utmost effort to help the swift recovery of the affected communities in the region."