Sony to donate up to $10,000 in celebration of Earth Day

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 21st 2009 at 11:57AM }

Want to do something green? Why not play a video game or watch a movie? Sony will donate $1 to Conservation International for each "unique paid transaction" made on the PlayStation Store on Earth Day (April 22), with a maximum contribution of $10,000. Each purchase must be made from the PlayStation Video Store.

The PlayStation Store currently features a "Save Our Earth" section featuring a rather eclectic mix of sort-of-Earth-related games, including PixelJunk Eden, Flower, Flock! and er, Burn Zombie Burn.

Tags: charity, conservation, conservation-international, donation, earth-day, playstation-network, psn, scea, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

offday @ Apr 21st 2009 12:04PM

There are about 10 million more worthwhile organizations than this that Sony could be donating money to. What a waste.

Fx.Dr @ Apr 21st 2009 1:22PM

Oddly enough, each one of those start with "Offday...".

Oh well, better than The Human Fund.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Apr 21st 2009 2:03PM

I'll get the pole!

Avatar @ Apr 21st 2009 3:32PM

Really? The environment isn't important? Here's some food for thought:

A lot of people argue that we should focus on other problems rather than the environment. But I'm sure that nearly everyone can agree that we are in fact ruining our planet at an accelerated rate every year. So we can cure every disease or world hunger or what have you, but where will we live? The only possible theories that exist as far as finding new places to inhabit goes, it's either hollow out the earth or build a lattice-work shell around the planet, both of which would take generations and unlimited amounts of resources. Did you know that if not for environmental groups like Greenpeace and Conservation International, we'd have no forests in North America, very little clean water, and probably a lot fewer species of animals than there are.

offday @ Apr 21st 2009 3:50PM

"But I'm sure that nearly everyone can agree that we are in fact ruining our planet at an accelerated rate every year."

Actually, no. The nation is pretty divided on that one.

Global warming or climate change or whatever the heck we're calling it at the moment may be happening, but no one knows for sure what's causing it, despite what Al Gore would have you believe. Some scientists believe that it's just Earth being Earth. Until we have actual proof that what's happening is our fault, and not just a cycle that Earth goes through, then let's stop blowing money trying to stop it. Earth has been around a lot longer than humanity. We have a lot to learn about it, and I'm pretty sure this planet has seen far worse things happen on it, than some people using too much hairspray.

Avatar @ Apr 21st 2009 3:59PM

I was trying to avoid talking about global warming, because I agree, who knows, as far as that goes, but there are plenty of other things going on without even having to worry about that. Deforestation, pollution, nuclear waste dumping (like what still goes on in India), oil drilling, spills, accidents, explosions, etc. That's what i'm concerned about, and that's what needs to be focused on, imo.

Ashitaka @ Apr 21st 2009 4:01PM

@ offday

You really are dumb.

Global Warming IS A FACT. And humans being the cause of it IS A FACT.

What are you going to deny next? Evolution?

Edge @ Apr 21st 2009 4:26PM

I don't get how we as gamers can deride game violence stories in the media that have MORE evidence of truth and causation... and then turn around and buy into this hippy crap, sold with the very same sensationalism. Hypocrites, the lot of you!

In A World (XBL) @ Apr 21st 2009 6:38PM

"Earth has been around a lot longer than humanity"~offday

Yeah, and there was a time when Earth's climate was inhospitable to human life (good job contradicting the point you were trying to make, btw), so unless you plan on morphing into a dinosaur and a wooly mammoth as the situation warrants, we'd better do as much as we can to keep things as stable as they've been for the past 12,000 years.

offday @ Apr 21st 2009 10:58PM

I'm dumb? Well congratulations. You're so dumb that you managed to name not one, but two things that have never been proven. Your genius amazes me.

offday @ Apr 21st 2009 11:00PM

"Yeah, and there was a time when Earth's climate was inhospitable to human life (good job contradicting the point you were trying to make, btw)"

Um actually, you just helped my point. We weren't here to make the conditions that way, just like we aren't causing the climate to change now. Again, thank you for proving my point.

John @ Apr 22nd 2009 12:14PM

Global Warming IS A FACT. And humans being the cause of it IS A FACT.

What are you going to deny next? Evolution?

At one time the sun revolved around the earth was a FACT and the earth was flat was a FACT.

Consensus != Fact

In A World (XBL) @ Apr 22nd 2009 5:36PM

"At one time the sun revolved around the earth was a FACT and the earth was flat was a FACT." ~ John

Yeah, and Peanutbutter & Jelly sandwhiches are delicious, but what does any of this have to do with the FACT (backed by the evidence of science, not uninformed consensus) that climate change is real and humans have an impact on it.

Ashitaka @ Apr 23rd 2009 7:04AM

@ offday

"You're so dumb that you managed to name not one, but two things that have never been proven. Your genius amazes me."

Those two things HAVE BEEN PROVED by the scientific community. If you can't handle the truth, you're dumb. Crawl back to the hole you came from.

@ john

"At one time the sun revolved around the earth was a FACT and the earth was flat was a FACT.
Consensus != Fact"

Religion != Science

Brett from Atlanta @ Apr 21st 2009 12:05PM

This is kinda neat I guess...might pick up Eden encore or something so I get my games and feel good about myself.

james @ Apr 21st 2009 12:08PM

I'm sure whatever hours spent playing this purchased content, on the power using ps3, via your power using tv, heard through your power using sound system, will vastly counteract the effect of a measly dollar.

mikesmith @ Apr 21st 2009 12:08PM

You can cut this irony with a knife

cjshrader @ Apr 21st 2009 12:16PM

For such a small company Sony is, this is really a lot of money for them! I hope this doesn't bankrupt them.

Rick @ Apr 21st 2009 12:30PM

Yeah, it's only "up to $10,000". I can only hope they fall short so they don't have to lay anyone off...

Steve @ Apr 21st 2009 12:18PM

Oh wow. The PS3 consumes the most power out of all the current generation consoles.
Nice going there, Sony.

Cosmo @ Apr 21st 2009 12:22PM

I remember reading that report a while back comparing the power usages of all three consoles with the PS3 being the highest. However, I believe that PS3 was a launch model using 90nm CPU and GPU whereas the current models use 65 and 45nm components and consume noticeably less power now.

Eric E @ Apr 21st 2009 12:38PM

it used less electricity when in the standby state though

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Apr 21st 2009 2:06PM

The Wii uses up the least amount since it never gets played.

...Just kidding.

tobz1000 @ Apr 21st 2009 2:49PM

Set it up processing some distributed global warming task and its carbon more than pays for itself.

Ashitaka @ Apr 21st 2009 4:02PM

@ CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw

No, you weren't.

googleadam @ Apr 22nd 2009 11:43AM

@ CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw

ZING!

aristokrat @ Apr 21st 2009 12:29PM

Hey, who wants to buy some carbon credits while they're at it? I assure you that the money will go to some worthwhile cause. Just pay me and begin feeling good about yourself!

Rob Accomando @ Apr 21st 2009 12:52PM

$10,000?? That's all?

tenor77 @ Apr 21st 2009 1:19PM

I'm following Sony's example. For each vote up I will donate another ounce of belly button lint

WRE @ Apr 21st 2009 2:12PM

Put up or shut up, my belly-picking friend.

tenor77 @ Apr 21st 2009 2:26PM

Paying up.

And for this post, each vote down I will sacrifice a small kitten in a microwave.

Take that Monty Python!

BigD145 @ Apr 21st 2009 2:49PM

$10000? This is why the earth doesn't get to have nice things.

Wally @ Apr 21st 2009 12:57PM

Is Sony cheap or what?

mgsrocks1 @ Apr 21st 2009 3:30PM

Did you forget that Sony is going through a difficult time? At least they are giving some money.

WRE @ Apr 21st 2009 1:00PM

Earth Day is just as stupid as Valentine's day.

offday @ Apr 21st 2009 1:33PM

Agreed.

But I do kind of like candy.

Averna @ Apr 21st 2009 8:54PM

Earth day is a holiday purpose built by the greeting card companies? Where do I send my Earth day card? :P

WRE @ Apr 21st 2009 9:31PM

I didn't say it was exactly the same, I said it was just as stupid.

N3M3515 @ Apr 22nd 2009 1:00AM

"Going Green " is this seasons "Hope for the Cure" pink ribbon garbage. It's more about slapping a label/logo on something and pretty much announcing "Look we're doing it too!".

A lot more could get done if they quit publicly patting themselves on the back and just concentrate on their cause.

Carl @ Apr 21st 2009 1:02PM

I'll make sure i leave the PS3 on all day and buy absolutely nothing on that day in order to do my bit to help the earth.

Fawkes @ Apr 21st 2009 1:04PM

Geez, alot of you are so negative. Why do I bother reading these comments? At least they're helping out in some way. Who else wants to donate $10,000?

BigD145 @ Apr 21st 2009 4:50PM

If I had it, I would. As it stands, most scientists that actually do things in support of our planet don't pull nearly the kind of money that Sony does. Seriously, this is the only planet we have and the people that do the most for it are typically paid the least.

Ignatius @ Apr 21st 2009 1:04PM

Well, with all those mass layoffs, I guess they're not able to splurge.

Moris @ Apr 21st 2009 1:05PM

Just cause it's a dollar doesn't mean it can't do anything. You can plant a tree with that :P And that in turn would keep the earth cooler (albeit by a VERY small amount, but it's something).

And if you already play on your PS3 to begin with, or are already planning to buy one of the games mentioned, then why not do so and help Donate?

Also, yes there are ALOT of other organizations Sony can donate too, but since they are in a way effecting the earth (power consumed by their products, or materials used to manufacture their products), AND Earth Day is coming up... Then why not?

People make it seem like our Climate Problem isn't a problem at all...

WRE @ Apr 21st 2009 2:09PM

Do you know what happens when there is more carbon in the atmosphere? You should be able to figure this out yourself since carbon is considered a "Greenhouse Gas", but an abundance of carbon dioxide has actually been shown to stimulate reforestation. This means that more CO2 can and does contribute to trees and plants growing more in places that were previously inhospitable. So if you really want to help grow a tree the organic way, play your PS3 as much as possible.