Charity News, Charity Features

Lend your support by donating to a noble cause

We're big fans of the Retro Computer Museum here at Nintendo Life - we've covered the charity's events previously, and heartily support the aim of preserving working examples of classic systems that everyone can enjoy and interact with. The museum has been running for some time now and regularly...

All for the Child's Play Charity

There are millions of gamers who enjoy playing Mario games, whether it's the NES classics or the latest titles on Wii and 3DS. The world-famous plumber is also the inspiration for Mario Marathon 5, a webcast taking place this Friday to raise money for the Child's Play charity. This event has enjoyed success in its...

Bro-off

Mario marathons are nothing new, but this weekend sees an oft-overlooked entry in the franchise take centre stage — and all for charity. The Bro-Off puts Mario Bros. front and centre, with four world class players battling simultaneously to set a new world record. It all kicks off tomorrow at 12 midday Eastern (9am Pacific, 5pm UK, 6pm...

Kirby will help

If the recent Kirby's Return to Dream Land artwork inspired you, Nintendo of America has a competition just for you. From today, Nintendo is inviting visitors to Kirby's Super Ability site to submit their own drawings and descriptions of their own Super Abilities, all in support of Starlight Children's Foundation and the upcoming Kirby's Return to Dream Land of course. Nintendo will..

Needs to raise $30,000

In the UK, the Retro Computer Museum just moved to a new home, and now the Videogame History Museum over in Silicon Valley needs to raise funds for its own bricks-and-mortar initiative. The non-profit charity needs to raise $30,000 to build itself a permanent building in which to house its classic coin-ops, consoles and gaming...

Artwork, clothing... pillowcases?

In an effort to raise money for the relief effort following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan, Sega of America is auctioning off a wide range of rare collectibles with 100% of the money raised going directly to the Red Cross. With everything from NiGHTS Journey of Dreams pillowcases to House of the Dead: Overkill fake body parts up for grabs, this is a..

10p donated to Save the Kiwi Trust

You don't see many video games about kiwis, though this is Rising Star Games' second game to feature the flightless bird following DS romp New Zealand Story. The lack of kiwi-based games might be due to the increasing danger of extinction faced by its real-life counterpart, but if you want to do something about that – and we know you do – there is something..

Over 750 games in total

Mario, Zelda, Pokémon: these are all good themes for charity marathons, and have raised countless thousands of dollars for a range of charities. Playing every game in a particular series back-to-back is a big accomplishment, but how would you feel about playing every game available for a single console? If that console's the NES and you're Pat the NE

Take this press release

Nintendo charity marathons are all the rage these days: Mother/Earthbound and Mario have both had successful marathons, with Zelda set to join the titles from December 27th. The team at Zeldathon got in touch to spread the word about its upcoming money-raising efforts. The press release below contains all the information you need. Pennsylvania Teens to use Video Games to..

Your thumbs still worth 10 cents to Child's Play

Hudson's promising Lost in Shadow (A Shadow's Tale in Europe) may have been delayed until 2011 but there's no need to cry about it: it's all for a good cause, in fact. Every "Like" of the game's official Facebook page between August 30th and 4pm PST today will raise 10 cents for Child's Play, leaving you with just a few hours to log on and..

Local charity holding its inaugural Footsteps in Faith 5K and Fun Walk

When Genre Baker, then eight years old, from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania was in hospital receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), there was one little machine in the form of a Nintendo DS that made the stays more bearable and now a year older, he is the inspiration for the provision of these portable..

Potential problem for 3DS

The upcoming launch of Nintendo's 3DS is getting people pretty excited as they imagine their first glimpse of true 3D gaming in the palm of their hand. For 12% of those giddy gamers, however, the moment could be a disappointing one. According to British charity The Eyecare Trust, as many as 6m Britons can't properly process...

Raising money for the kids

From the weekend's Mario Marathon news – which is currently at nearly $50,000, by the way – to this news of an equally worthy charity event, this time focusing on the Pokémon series instead. ExtraLives.org is a site dedicated to gaming marathons that, in just one year, has raised nearly $27,000 for charities around the world. To celebrate the site turning one year..

Currently at $33,000 and counting

Exactly one month ago we told you about a Mario event run by The Speed Gamers, and now we bring you news from another Mario Marathon, this time raising money for the Child's Play charity. In just over 52 hours of play the event has raised over $33,000, easily eclipsing 2009's total of $29,082. At time of writing the gamers are taking on some of Super Mario..

Legendary gamer signs up for latest Speed Gamers crusade

With everyone and their dog being on a legal Mario high at the moment, the team over at The Speed Gamers has announced its next marathon will be taking in all the plumber's greatest titles – yes, including Hotel Mario – when it kicks off on June 11th. The plan is to take in a week's worth of constant Mario and Wario gaming, broadcast live..

Gamers attempt to capture all 493 Pokémon in charity speedrun

Speedruns evoke a special kind of excitement in most gamers: the unbridled thrill of seeing highly trained controller-jockeys doing what they do best, coupled with the shame and resentment felt when you witness someone accomplish in hours what you spent months of your childhood working on. Well here's a marathon gaming event we haven't..

40,000 bricks recreate Nintendo icon

He may be more into the plumbing business, but that doesn't mean Mario can't get involved in the bricklaying side of things too, as this story proves. Made as part of the LEGO World Fair, this blocky brother measures nearly 6' tall and weighs over 110lbs, so whilst it may not be a hugely realistic effigy of the plumber it certainly looks the part. It took over..