St. Jude Children's Hospital is about to witness the goodwill and anonymous nobility that the gaming industry is rarely congratulated for having, let alone recognized for.
The original server blades of World of Warcraft have been made into commemorative statuettes and are being auctioned off in order to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Hospital, a research institute doing work in America and around the world. What makes the 2,000 server blades so special is their importance in the World of Warcraft: they were the building blocks and asphalt for the virtual landscapes of the game. Having since been replaced, this old server hardware housed the game's 14 million players, their homes and the ethereal relationships they all shared.
To your average WoW player, owning some genuine Blizzard Entertainment hardware while simultaneously donating to a charity is like having cake and eating it too.
Virtual Real Estate Retail
Blizzard Raises Money for St. Jude Children's Hospital
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Reality in Charity Fundraising - The use of virtual reality technology in fundraising for charitable organizations presents a disruptive innovation opportunity to engage donors in immersive and meaningful experiences.
2. Gamification for Philanthropy - The integration of gaming elements in philanthropic initiatives opens up disruptive innovation opportunities to attract and incentivize donors through interactive and rewarding experiences.
3. Repurposing Digital Assets for Social Impact - The repurposing and auctioning of digital assets, such as server blades, for charitable causes creates disruptive innovation opportunities to blend virtual and physical worlds while raising funds and awareness.
Industry Implications
1. Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations - Nonprofit and charitable organizations can leverage virtual reality and gamification to enhance fundraising efforts and create meaningful connections with donors.
2. Gaming and Entertainment - The gaming and entertainment industry can embrace philanthropic partnerships and utilize their digital assets to support charitable causes, fostering positive brand image and customer engagement.
3. Virtual Reality Technology - The virtual reality technology industry can collaborate with charitable organizations to develop innovative solutions that enable virtual experiences for fundraising and social impact.