Kotaku
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's School and Youth Programs stands on the brink of a golden age, as a new champion has been named teach kids about community service and help children leukemia and other cancers of the blood. A champion known and loved by millions across the globe...eight years ago. Vivendi Games and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society proudly present you with this proud champion - Crash Bandicoot.
Yeah well at least it wasn't Bubsy.
"The Society and Vivendi Games anticipate that Crash's involvement will help attract more students to the Society's various youth programs due to his popularity with kids of all ages. More than 35 million Crash Bandicoot games have been sold worldwide since 1996, making Crash one of the most recognizable gaming and entertainment characters in the world."
Sure he is recognizable to an extent, in much the same way a failed prizefighter is recognized as he ducks into the local bar to drown his dreams of fame and fortune in booze like some 3rd-rate Rocky knockoff. We just shake our heads sadly and move along, remembering the good times.
Still, I applaud Vivendi for lending their character's image to such a worthy cause. Crash will be appearing on posters, pamphlets, clothing, and even the Society's website. Show your support for our plucky fallen icon by downloading some of the wallpapers and icons found at http://www.schoolandyouth.org.
Video Game Hero Crash Bandicoot Urges Kids to Join the Fight Against LeukemiaCrash is the New National Champion of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's School & Youth Programs
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ — The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Vivendi Games today announced that Crash Bandicoot, the valiant, action hero of the highly popular video game series, is the new national champion for the Society's School & Youth programs.
The partnership comes as Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games prepares for the launch of the latest incarnation of the top-selling Crash Bandicoot game franchise, "Crash of the Titans", available this October on the Xbox(TM) 360, PlayStation(R)2, Wii(TM), NintendoDS(TM), PSP(R), Game Boy(R) Advance and mobile phone platforms.
Throughout his video game adventures, Crash must battle the evil Dr. Neo Cortex and his no good ways. In joining forces with the Society, Crash now helps in the fight against leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Crash, the fun-loving, adventure seeking marsupial is always ready for a good fight and is a natural fit for the School & Youth programs, which are geared towards teaching kids about community service and helping kids with leukemia and other blood cancers. In the 2006-2007 school year, more than 21,000 schools participated in the program, raising more than $18 million for blood cancer research and patient services.
The Society and Vivendi Games anticipate that Crash's involvement will help attract more students to the Society's various youth programs due to his popularity with kids of all ages. More than 35 million Crash Bandicoot games have been sold worldwide since 1996, making Crash one of the most recognizable gaming and entertainment characters in the world.
"We are extremely honored to be partnering with the Society and in joining the battle against Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma," said Mark Halacy, executive vice president of Human Resources for Vivendi Games. "Crash is a bandicoot with a big heart; he's brave, he's loyal and he's always ready for a good fight and a great cause. We feel this is a winning combination for a tremendous cause."
Crash Bandicoot will appear on the School & Youth recruitment posters and other printed materials as well as on the School & Youth Web site, newsletters, apparel and other items. Free downloads of Crash wallpaper and icons are available at http://www.schoolandyouth.org.
"The Society is extremely excited about introducing Crash Bandicoot as the new national champion of School & Youth programs," said Nancy Klein, the Society's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications. "Crash is a fun, energetic character with tremendous appeal among kids and will help attract even wider interest in this life-saving campaign which has raised more than $100 million since its inception."
Comments
They should have gotten Kain and Raziel.
Oh well, at least it's for a good cause.
Personally if I had cancer I'd rather somebody like Link or Samus was involved than some big headed huge mouthed fuzzy monster beast with jeans and shoes, that's not helping, that's nightmares.
I mean hell, if Samus can take down Metroids, she can take down cancer.
With that weird grin and bizarre face-to-body proportions, he might be the mascot for medical marijuana in cancer.
Anyone reminded of that South Park episode where Russell Crowe fights cancer by punching patients?
This might have worked 10 years from now. They'd need Master Chief and Tommy Vercetti now to appeal to the kiddies now. @__@
*10 years ago, dammit.
As long as he doen't talk, I hate Crash Bandicoots voice, and so do you.
I guess getting Mario or Sonic as a mascot would have been breaking the bank
The Crash games haven't fallen nearly as badly as the Spyro games have. Twinsanity was pretty good, IMO, and I'm curious about the upcoming one.
Booya, Grandma. Booya.
Dude... what's with hating on Crash? Especially when he's fighing a good fight. This reminds me of the Simpsons Lollapalooza episode where one jaded hipster says to the other, "Dude, are you being sarcastic?" and the other replies, "I don't even know any more."
Everything about Crash being washed up aside, is this an organization that would want a charecter covered from head to toe in hair as a mascot?
(Why yes, I am a horrible person.)
Remember as a kid, when after a baseball game, someone's parents would have a cooler full of soda for all the kids? But there was always that one skimpy parent that would bring Shasta, instead of a real soda? That's what just happened to these kids with their mascot.
Crash Bandicoot: the Shasta of video game characters.
@pwnedbynoobs: He's sucked since 1998? 1999 if you include Crash Team Racing, I suppose. The games released just weren't up to snuff when compared to other games released in the same years... Especially when compared to the spiritual successor to the Crash Bandicoot series, Jak & Daxter.
I hope the bandicoot is doing well. I don't wanna see him all sickly, like that one ATHF when Frylock died.
On a lighter note, Party Party Party!
Ah c'mon, Crash isn't all that bad. Twinsanity and Tag Team Racing were pretty decent. Not a bad choice for a good cause. Even Spyro has gotten out of his miserable slump with his latest console game. Sonic however....
I hope Crash of the Titans on 360 turns out well.
Crash of the Titans looks dumb as hell. Honestly, ever since Crash Bandicoot Warped, which was also the best in the series, the series completely lost it. Naughty Dog needs to get behind this franchise again because the series is terrible and irrelevant right now. Until Crash becomes a great game series again, Crash should be sitting at home instead of being a worthless prop used to fight blood cancer.
I liked Bubsy. :(
Yeah, I really don't think a character is "well recognized" if you have to explain how well recognized the character is, yo.
(I almost had a dangling participle, but I saved it with a "yo")
I liked Bubsy too.
It doesn't change the fact that Crash crashed. Whee hee hee hee.
Crash Bandicoot has Leukemia??
I guess mario was too busy?
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