Video Gamers Are Supporting The Troops In An Unusual Fashion
Video Gamers Are Supporting The Troops
In An Unusual Fashion
An unlikely partnership between the
wife of a deployed National Guardsmen and video gamers across America has
been created to support the troops. Molly Johnson, who is best likened
to a human dynamo, has been working tirelessly to involve video gamers
in the support of U.S. servicemen and their families. “I know that early
adopters create most of the consumer generated media on the internet,”
stated Ms. Johnson. “Video gamers are certainly early adopters and I need
them to spread the word online that our troops need everyone’s back-up.
Most of our soldiers abroad are on the internet during their free time
and I want them to see that America is supporting them.”
The internet is the 21st century
equivalent to Armed Forces Radio. Many servicemen overseas rely on internet
access for news, information and contact with home. Johnson’s strategy
involves mobilizing video gamers, who do in fact generate a tremendous
amount of the content one sees on the internet. Gamers are also active
in terms of blogging and social network activity. They are prolific in
terms of disseminating their views online.
How Johnson is enlisting their help
is what is so unique. She first recruited one of the fastest growing massive
multi-player online game developers in the world, MVP Networks, to join
ranks with her. MVP currently has over 500,000 players participating in
two of their offerings—Redline Thunder Racing and Golden Fairway. The company
is now donating 100% of the proceeds from those who sign up for either
of MVP’s games when they go to www.playforfreedom.com.
“The minute I heard about what Molly was doing I signed on,” said Paul
Schneider, CEO of MVP Networks. “Many of our subscribers are obviously
NASCAR fans and are inclined to assist the military and their families”.
Johnson has selected Operation Homefront
to be the recipient of the proceeds from her efforts. “I looked at what
Operation Homefront was doing with families of deployed service members
and this is exactly the type of program that is meeting the needs of the
deployed and returning servicemen and servicewomen along with their families.”
Operation Homefront has as its main purpose making a difference in the
quality of military family life. “When I started our program emergencies
would crop up in the lives of many families precisely when the spouse was
deployed thousands of miles away,” stated Amy Palmer. “It seems like ‘Murphy’s
Law’ applies the minute after the spouse goes overseas. We are here to
help with emergencies that seem insurmountable to the family at home.”
Although there certainly are differing
views on the subject of current operations in Iraq, there is little if
any debate as to the courage and professionalism of the U.S. military.
Support for the troops is universal in that everyone wishes them well and
prays for their safety. What is unique about the current civilian efforts
during this era of conflict is the number of individuals like Molly Johnson
who are stepping outside of their comfort zone to help the troops. “I obviously
have direct appreciation and understanding for what is happening in Iraq
and Afghanistan. My husband, in his capacity as a Guardsmen, has been deployed
for 3 months so far of a 1 year deployment,” explained Johnson. “I saw
how committed he was to the mission and knew I had to help out any way
possible.”
Johnson is now reaching out to other
companies involved in the consumer generated media world such as E3Flix.com
which is modeling itself as a combination of Netflix and YouTube, and In
Touch Media Group, an online publicity firm based in Florida, to get her
message out on the internet. She has an immediate goal of gaining over
100,000 people to participate in Play For Freedom. “The response I have
already received from so many people has been overwhelming,” stated Johnson.
“Paul Schneider stepped up swiftly to help out and seemingly threw every
company resource he has to get this program off the ground,” she added.
Play For Freedom is also supported by AT&T, Boeing, Clear Channel,
KBR, Lincoln Property Life, and Pit Crew Live.
It is also easy to see why Johnson
is focusing on internet gamers as a resource for Play For Freedom. The
video gaming industry is six times as large as the movie industry in terms
of annual revenues. Over twenty million males from 18 to 30 years old play
video games twenty hours or more a week. Selecting a NASCAR style massive
multi-player game was no accident either. Redline Thunder Racing, developed
by MVP Networks, is one of the featured games Johnson is promoting as a
donations tool which enables her to reach out to the 75 million NASCAR
fans making up the fastest growing sport in America.
For those people who are looking
to actively participate as supporters of the troops, Johnson’s efforts
should be seriously considered. Americans have long been noted for their
charity at an individual level. Without any prodding from private or public
institutions, tens of thousands of individuals are stepping up to make
the lives of all those directly connected to the current war effort easier.
Molly Johnson is yet another example of how creative people can be in their
efforts to help others.
Bob Cefail Senior Writer Press Direct
International
Article Source:
Amazines.Com
