Vancouver, B.C.– Members of the global videogame community have come together in an unprecedented  effort to create a special video to show their appreciation for the Japanese game industry and to raise awareness for Red Cross relief efforts for the people of Japan.
Titled “Gamers Heart Japan”, this 60-minute special will premiere on April 3, 2011 on broadcast networks G4 in the U.S. and Canada, SCI FI Australia, and Musique Plus and SPACE in Canada as well as online.  This special is filled with veteran game industry journalists from all over the world as well as some of the top game makers on the planet who will be sharing their thoughts on the incredible work and talented creators from the Japanese videogame development scene.
“For those of us whose lives revolve around games, the tragic and ongoing effects of the disaster in Japan are particularly painful because the people who live there are some of our best friends and our most admired heroes,” says Editor of wired.com, Chris Kohler.
“Japanese game developers have had a profound influence on us, shaping who we are and what we do. The decision to participate in and support the ‘Gamers Heart Japan’ project was an easy one to make,” says Editor-in-Chief of Destructoid, Nick Chester.
“Most of us at Insomniac grew up immersed in Japanese games and through that experience we developed a love of Japanese culture and its people – given this awful tragedy we’ll do whatever we can to give back!” says President and CEO of Insomniac Games, Ted Price.
The special will be a positive and uplifting tribute to a country that is so vital to videogame fans the world over. Donations for The Red Cross in your area can be made through the GamersHeartJapan.com website.  You can also follow GamersHeartJapan on Facebook and GamerHeartJapan on Twitter.
“Local Red Cross teams have been working around the clock to help thousands of people left devastated by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan,”  “We are grateful to the Gamers Heart Japan special for supporting Red Cross relief operations underway in affected communities,” says Secretary General and CEO of Canadian Red Cross, Conrad Sauvé.
“Gamers Heart Japan” will feature interviews with journalists from and/or air on these outlets starting on April 3, 2011:
G4 (US & Canada)
SCI FI Australia
SPACE (Canada)
Musique Plus (Canada)
MTV.com (Multiplayer)
Yahoo! Games
USAToday.com (GameHunters)
and more…
Confirmed game developer interviews:
Game Developers:
Jade Raymond – Ubisoft Toronto – Assassin’s Creed / Splinter Cell
Dr. Greg Zeschuk – Bioware – Mass Effect / Dragon Age / Star Wars: The Old Republic
Dr. Ray Muzyka – Bioware – Mass Effect / Dragon Age / Star Wars: The Old Republic
Ken Levine – Irrational Games – Bioshock
Tim Schafer – Double Fine – Brutal Legend/Costume Quest
Cliff Bleszinski – Epic Games – Gears of War
Ted Price – Insomniac Games – Ratchet & Clank / Resistance
Siobhan Reddy – Media Molecule – Little Big Planet
Maxime Beland – Ubisoft Toronto – Assassin’s Creed / Splinter Cell
Todd Howard – Bethesda – Fallout 3 / Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Peter Molyneux – Lionhead – Fable
Alex Rigopulos – Harmonix – Rock Band / Dance Central
Robin Hunicke – thatgamecompany – Flower / Journey
Jenova Chen – thatgamecompany – Flower / Journey
Evan Wells – Naughty Dog – Uncharted
Ed Boon – NetherRealm Studios- Mortal Kombat
Sid Meier – Firaxis – Civilization
and more…