On Saturday, November 4th, I decided to do more than write about extra life for kids. I chose to take part in it. I followed the steps to Set up Twitch. I tried to stream my gameplay. I set up a Discord account. We had to create a page to donate to Extra Life. I did all the things expected of me to take part. I have been playing the DC Universe Online video game for a long time. It is a gaming community that I am very familiar with. I thought it would be the most enjoyable. especially, due to the fact they have been participating for years and promoting this.
I began receiving contributions through my social media campaigns. I believed that being connected to the parent company of DC Universe Online would give me an opportunity. I thought I could participate in a larger event. This event took place on their actual day and was live-streamed. you tell you the truth I was full of anticipation and excitement. I checked out their live streams before and didn’t know as much as I thought I did. As I browsed the forums, I noticed a lack of clear explanations for events. Even after messaging a game developer, I had to wait for a response. To participate in boss battles, you had to donate $100 to the desired developer, separate from your campaign funds. The developers had different incentives. You were supposed to contribute to their fundraising goal. I decided to raise money for Texas Children’s Hospital as I’m a Houston resident. DCUO’s corporate donation was to a hospital in Austin, Texas.
During gameplay, the common area I was in became overcrowded. Most online games have a map for each area. To give everyone a chance, they have different levels to participate in. However, everyone loaded up and stuck to one area the entire time. The developers had a meeting and did various things while receiving donations. it began to grate on me some, and I tried to start a small team of adventurers to try to go to different areas. However, after a while, I realized my teammates only wanted me to join boss battles. They didn’t want to participate or support the cause. I guess they just wanted to play against the game’s developer team.
We parted amicably after playing for a couple of hours. I paused the game to get a sandwich and some water. Then, I started playing again and began reflecting on why I was there. I was using a youthful means to raise money for children. When we play games, we try to reconnect with our childhood. We can play board games or video games. These games help us remember happy memories and tap into our imagination. Additionally, playing board games can also help us build connections with others. I stopped and thought. I revisited older episodes of the game. It’s been a year or two. I rediscovered the fun I had when I started playing. I dedicated myself to playing for hours to raise money. I stayed the entire time they were streaming. I remembered what I was playing for.
In my life, I have been fortunate to meet and work with people who share my interests. These individuals have been part of the entertainment industry and various events. My son Vicente Robinson kicked the donations for my fundraising campaign. Wayne Kelly, Jason Griffin, and Blane Mather, who are friends of mine, and my former manager/mentor/big-sister type person Iris ‘IJ” Cunningham supported my run.
I want to talk about my friend Blane. He’s a great person to be around, like most of my friends. I greatly admire his passion for board games. He builds camaraderie through them. One thing I truly appreciate about him is his personality. recently he dealt with a serious loss and his life his wife Susan passed away. His gift was a memory of her. He and his wife both loved board games and playing games with family. I had the chance to be around them a few times. It was easy to be comfortable around them because I understand the joy of sharing interests with my spouse. Seeing their love and enthusiasm for gaming helps me remember. It reminds me of what I was doing and who I was doing it for.
I am not upset with DC Universe Online or any large group in a corporate setting. They are doing Extra Life exactly as planned. They are trying their best with the available tools. Many people are joining the game, so I don’t blame them for trying to stick to their time limits. They only visit a few rooms or areas. The developers are having boss battles and other incentives. They’re competing to raise money for the kids. I can’t be mad at them because it’s for a good cause.
Next year, I plan to change my approach. I am considering playing DC Universe Online again. But this time, I want to be part of a group of people who share an interest in raising money together. We will select a series of episodes to adventure through as a team. Our mission will be to fight villains in Gotham and Metropolis. I will find a place that offers board games. I could spend time playing these games with my friends. It would be great if we could have a continuous supply of coffee. Also, it should be accessible to a restroom. I hope I can remember my enthusiasm for gaming. My son enjoys playing online games with his friends. My friends Jason and Wayne also love nerd culture and helping kids. I hope I remember the enthusiasm for life. I hope I remember the camaraderie around a board game my friend Blane and his late wife Susan shared it with the world.