MANILA, Philippines – Whether their weapons are swords or spaceships, members of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) communities have the power to do great things for social good.

Following the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines, two MMORPGs are getting involved in the relief effort, urging their communities to help out in different ways.

The massive space simulation called EVE Online is asking people to donate an in-game item for typhoon relief, while the fantasy-based Luvinia World wants people to buy in-game items for the same effect.

PLEX for Good

CCP, the makers of EVE Online, announced a PLEX for Good campaign to benefit the Icelandic Red Cross and their efforts in the Philippines.

Purchased with real money, PLEX – short for a Pilot License Extension – is a purchaseable, transferrable item that can be traded in-game for Interstellar Kredits (ISK), the game’s currency. PLEX can also be redeemed on user accounts for 30 days of game access.

In a post on the EVE Online community blog, CCP announced that it would “contribute USD $15 to the Icelandic Red Cross to fund their aid efforts in the Philippines” for every PLEX donated to the “CCP PLEX for GOOD” character that has been placed in the game. More information on how to donate PLEX to the cause is outlined in the announcement post.

According to CCP, previous PLEX for Good events have “raised donations totaling more than $150,000 for charitable causes since the first collection in 2004 following the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.”

Charity sale

For its part, anime-styled MMORPG Luvinia World also has its own initiative for Philippine typhoon relief: a limited-time sale. 

Their sale, which began on November 15, offers discounted in-game items on the game’s cash shop. These include a 15-slot backpack for carrying a character’s battle spoils, as well as some in-game resource bundles.

Profits made from the sale of the items over the 3-week sale period will be donated to the Philippine Red Cross. – Rappler.com