WINtA

San Francisco / Tokyo – Mar 17, 2011 - Japanese game design legend Masaya Matsuura and OneBigGame ( http://onebiggame.com), the non-profit publisher of videogames, today announce that for the following four weeks beginning March 17th, net earnings from their latest iPhone and iPad music game WINtA will directly benefit the Save the Children charity teams active in Japan, helping children affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in the country.

Matsuura-san calls for iPhone and iPad game consumers around the world to help his country and download the free WINtA game (http://itunes.com/app/winta) and start purchasing songs.  The net amount received from each track by NanaOn-Sha will be distributed via OneBigGame to directly support Save the Children in setting up a network of child friendly spaces for children in the worst affected areas of Japan. Staffed by trained volunteers and furnished with toys and games, these spaces are safe havens for children to play and socialise with peers their own age, helping them recover from the trauma of the disaster they have just experienced.  

Save the Children is a leading expert in this field, operating child friendly spaces in major disaster zones around the world, including the 2010 earthquakes in Haiti, Italy and the floods in Pakistan.

OneBigGame already has a long term partnership with Save the Children and normally redirects 80 per cent of all its net earnings towards Starlight Children’s Foundation and Save the Children to support their global on-going campaigns.  However in light of the recent events in Japan, OneBigGame are proud to make a special case by re-routing donated funds generated by WINtA to support Save the Children’s relief efforts in the affected regions, with immediate effect.

Tomonori Watanabe, Director of Communications at Save the Children Japan: “I profoundly appreciate this new effort through the game WINtA by which people all over the world are able to join in the charity. We are determined to send your heartfelt messages to children affected in the disaster. Thank you so much!”

Douglas Rouse, Save the Children, said: “We are extremely thankful for One Big Game and Masaya Matsuura’s inventive offer to help us in our appeal to raise £1 million for children in Japan. We hope that this game may offer a new digital way for people to donate to help our aid relief and bring back a bit of normality for families suffering from the disaster.”

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About OneBigGame

OneBigGame aims to raise funds to help solve problems afflicting children around the world. The nature of these problems can be diverse, but the kind of projects OneBigGame supports will always revolve around a structural improvement in children’s lives, expanding their opportunities in life.  OneBigGame raises funds by publishing games kindly donated pro bono by established names in game development, in conjunction with support from the development community as a whole. OneBigGame always aims to donate a minimum of 80 percent of all donations to its charity partners Save the Children and Starlight Children’s foundation.  To learn more about OneBigGame, please visit www.onebiggame.org or www.onebiggame.com

About NanaOn-Sha / Masaya Matsuura

Like a fresh breeze spreading originality and fun, Masaya Matsuura’s NanaOn-Sha has employed music, images, and games as a means to bring smiles to the world since 1993. Beginning with uniquely original games such as PaRappa the Rapper (for PlayStation 1, 1996) and more recently with the hit series Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop (for Nintendo DS, 2005 - 2010), NanaOn-Sha have extended their project realm further; including the creation, development, and production of music for the Robot Pet AIBO and CG animations for educational TV shows broadcasted nationwide. Dealing with such a broad variety of products, NanaOn-Sha is currently looking to expand its international activity as part of their continued exploration of originality. To learn more about NanaOn-Sha, please visit www.NanaOn-Sha.com .

About charity partner Save the Children

Save the Children works in more than 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. To learn more about Save the Children, please visit www.savethechildren.org.uk .

To directly donate to Save the Children’s emergency appeal for Japan, please go to www.savethechildren.org.uk or call +44207 012 6400

About charity partner Starlight Children’s Foundation

When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition, everyone in the family is affected. For more than 25 years, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Starlight’s programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone. Through a network of chapters and offices, Starlight provides ongoing support to children, parents and siblings in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces with an array of outpatient, hospital-based and Web offerings. Programs are also delivered internationally through affiliates in Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. To learn more visit www.starlight.org