Following the success of the “Gamer for Life” campaign, Gamers for Good is embarking on their second journey into charity publishing.
At GDC this year, while running our portfolio review booth for artists in the game industry, Gamers for Good talked with game developers across the globe, and a call for help in one arena came up over and over again mental health.
When we started talking about what we were going to focus the next charity fanart book around, we decided we wanted to help reduce the stigma around mental health. We knew we had to have the right game to champion people around. In 2016 only really one game came to mind when thinking about changing the way people think, Undertale! Toby Fox has been generous in allowing us to pursue our project with Undertale, and we know we will make him proud.
The project’s proceeds will be donated to three fantastic organizations working with gamers and gaming to help in the mental health space.
Child’s Play, who has started an initiative to place Game Centers in Domestic Violence Support Facilities. These Game Centers allow games to fill a role of support for traumatized youth. They offer support through distraction, entertainment, and interactions with others.
Take This, is working on efforts that both make it better to work in games through their “Depression-Proof Studio Culture” efforts, and they also help conventions and conferences in gaming less stressful places to visit through their AFK Room program. The AFK Room program which came to be at PAX’s shows but now exists at GDC and even E3. The AFK Room creates a safe space that can be visited in a time of need, whether that need is just a quiet moment away from the crowds or to speak with one of the clinicians on staff to help with any issues that may be presenting. Through both these programs Take This is getting people talking about mental health and those efforts reduce the stigma attached to mental health and seeking care.
Anxiety Gaming is a grassroots organization connecting directly with gamers and helping them find spaces both in and out of games. Out of game, Anxiety Gaming helps connect gamers in need of mental health care with provider matching service and even has grants to cover care costs. Knowing we all love games, Anxiety Gaming has taken it into the land we all love, and create safe space guilds and clans within the games we are all playing. So you can enjoy the sense of community gaming brings us, without fear of the sometimes negative energy present.
The team are collecting submissions through the website at: www.G4G-Undertale.com The crowdfunding campiagn for the book is scheduled to start in October. If you should have any questions please feel free to reach out to President, Liz Cooper who is waiting to answer any and all questions you might have.
Campaign URL’s:
www.GamersforGood.com/Undertale
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