Child's Play charity initiative launches for 2004

Immensely popular videogames satire site Penny-Arcade has launched this year's Child's Play charity effort, which aims to collect toys, games, books and other entertainment products for children's hospitals in the USA.

Last year's effort - launched, according to Penny-Arcade founders Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, in response to constant media coverage blaming games for problems with society - raised some $250,000 for the Seattle Children's Hospital.

This year the team behind the drive has extended the reach of the charity to cover five hospitals in the United States, based in Seattle, Oakland, San Diego, Houston and Washington DC.

Visitors to the site are invited to buy items for the hospitals from specially constructed Amazon wishlists, or to donate cash directly to the appeal.

"You can go to each hospital's list and buy a toy, and that toy will be sent to the hospital," explains the official site. "Some of these kids are in pretty bad shape - imagine being stuck alone in a hospital over the holidays - so getting something from a fellow gamer would really raise their spirits. Some of the stuff the hospital will give away for kids to keep, while other gifts (like consoles) will be kept by the hospital for patients to use throughout the year."

More details of the Child's Play charity can be found at the official site.