9-year-old hangs with PopCap, creates iOS game via Make A Wish Foundation

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/04/9-year-old-hangs-with-popcap-creates-ios-game-via-make-a-wish-f/

by shawndumas • 15 years ago

32 5 15 years ago

acrum• 15 years ago

This is a great story; I wish there was more of this. Obviously Pop Cap has something to gain from this story-- goodwill at least, since they mentioned proceeds will go to Make A Wish. Too often around here we're flooded with the "out for yourself" mentality, which I suppose rightly fits in with the entrepreneurial nature. This is a nice break from that.

yardie• 15 years ago

Too often around here we're flooded with the "out for yourself" mentality, which I suppose rightly fits in with the entrepreneurial nature.

I don't think this is the case at all. There is nothing in the spirit of hackerdom where "I got mine" is the standard mentality. In fact it flies in the face of OSS development where people are interested in doing something because they thought it was cool and wanted to share it. Or they found a solution to a problem everyone is having and felt that the best thing to do with it is to give it away.

Saying that someone has gained something by doing charity is a very Randian point of view. Maybe PopCap thought it make them look good. Maybe they thought it would make them feel good on the inside. Or maybe they felt like doing because some kid asked and they thought, "oh, what the hell".

famousactress• 15 years ago

I don't think this is a necessary point to make. Of course they have something to gain. If I did something that made that kid as happy as he is in that video, I'd sure be better for it on a bunch of levels. Marketing bullshit aside, doing things like this is just plain good for all involved.

Further, I agree with the other commenter.. I don't really see the entrepreneurial spirit is ripe with 'out for yourself' mentality. Sure.. people are hustling, but most of the entrepreneurs I know are doing it by focusing on creating real value for people. I'm pretty thrilled with the brand of hustle I've been seeing in the last few years in this respect.

goatforce5• 15 years ago

Making a video game is pretty neat and all, but I think Electron Boy wins the best wish ever prize (they hand out prizes for that, right?):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FCIskbu-OM

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011740342_e...

Both Electron Boy and the Pop Cap kid seem to be from Seattle. The Make A Wish Seattle office is really hitting it out of the park (as much as an organisation that always hits it out of the park can do, if you know what I mean).

tejaswiy• 15 years ago

Phew, for a second there, I thought the 9 year old made an iOS game himself.

9-year-old hangs with PopCap, creates iOS game via Make A Wish Foundation

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