Rad keyblade auction also benefits Child's Play

by Justin McElroy { Nov 27th 2007 at 9:00AM }

We love helping sick kids as much as the next staff of surly bloggers, but even our moral compass is being tested by this eBay listing for an incredible Keyblade replica. We'd like to say the best part is that ~~35%~~ [Update: In their FAQ, the seller says 100%] of the funds raised are going to Child's Play. But alas, we're pretty sure that the best part is the above video from the listing that features one of our favorite things: Cosplayers who've just lost the game of Chicken they've been playing with e-infamy and insanity and have ended up splattered all over the internet. Happy holidays, kids.

Of all the images the video, we're especially terrified of Pikachu holding a sword. Because, you see, even if you're properly grounded and insulated against electricity -- he's still got a sword.

[Thanks everyone who sent this in.]

Tags: childsplay, cosplay, keyblade, kingdomhearts, square

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

FidliousWong @ Nov 27th 2007 9:13AM

Wow... some of those cosplayers I saw at Acen two years ago... Hmmmmm. Do like cosplayers just keep using the same costumes year after year?

A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Nov 27th 2007 9:19AM

Funny stuff.

aristokrat @ Nov 27th 2007 9:29AM

For the record, 100% of the proceeds are going to Child's Play (according to the auction's questions). That's pretty cool, as it will probably fetch a lot of money. Too bad it's not crafted from metal. That would be intense.

aristokrat @ Nov 27th 2007 9:31AM

Also, I think the best part in the video is when they do the "spring" zoom (in-and-out) on the girl's chest. Classy camera work, that.

TheWarden @ Nov 27th 2007 10:01AM

Ha ha! I liked seeing other costumes with it... Helgast soldier, ninjas, Birdo... Pirate "Hello Kitty?" WTF.

Chris @ Nov 27th 2007 10:37AM

I just want to point out something infuriating about Child's Play.

It really has nothing to do with the charity, which is great, but with the hospitals. And I can only speak from experience from one hospital in particular, Children's Medical City in Dallas. They receive donations via Child's Play, but then if you are a patient there and play the games, it gets added to your bill as a charge. The family I know that this happened to was very low income and had five children, the youngest has sever medical problems and when he was in the hospital for an extended time and his brothers and sisters wanted to play games to stay occupied and help the parents, they got charged for all video game use on donated machines!

I find this fairly outrageous, and more hospitals should be called out on charging for donated goods.

Idontknowanymore @ Nov 27th 2007 10:57AM

Man I knew the American health care system was messed up but thatsjust sick. Seriously how does private health care make sense toanyone, its just so inhumane. Private health care in my mind is aboutas low as payday loans, serves only those who have.

You should send a letter to your local paper about that practice, orif you don't think they will listen maybe you should bring it up withchild's play. They may see fit to donate the equipment to moredeserving hospitals.

hvnlysoldr @ Nov 27th 2007 11:58AM

Then you'll be shocked when you hear Europe and Canada are seriously considering cutting "universal" healthcare.

It sounds greedy that the hospital is using donated goods and charging for them. Send an email to the Child's Play guys and the hospital on this conduct. Suggest that if they don't stop, they won't receive any more donations.

aristokrat @ Nov 27th 2007 12:04PM

Wow, then public healthcare must be about as low as helping the poor, which is what economists have found payday loans to do based on many studies. By giving people with low incomes access to money in emergencies, they are better able to keep their jobs in the face of unexpected crises. Many people called out against them as taking advantage of the poor, yet in cases when they were eliminated, unemployment increased, as people would choose to "give up" in the face of a crisis, unable to continue their job commitment. Perhaps the intentions of the loaners might not be completely roses, but the outcome benefits everyone. Maybe knee-jerk reactions aren't the best ones? But nobody cares about economists anyway...

By the way, the same goes for public health care. It seems good, until you realize that the quality of care goes down as doctors no longer have incentive to be the best, as it were. Public health care means people can't pay more to see the best doctors, and thus most won't strive to be the best and earn the most money. Everything gets brought down to the same level, everything slow down, nobody gets better. European health care looks great from the outside, but I'll bet you plenty of people are complaining about how LONG it takes to get anything done. And I thought the increase of outpatient care (in response to fuller hospitals) was bad.

Chris @ Nov 27th 2007 3:01PM

Just need to do a follow up here. I contacted Child's Play about this, and they were really quick and helpful to respond btw.

In any case it was my error and the hospital in question was Fort Worth Children's Medical Center and not Dallas Children's Medical. Ft. Worth is not part of the Child's Play program and therefore has absolutely nothing to do with the robbery going on at Ft. Worth.

The Ft. Worth Medical Center is also using donated video game systems and games, but have no problem charging their patients for items that are already paid for. So if you ever have sick kids in this area, you might want to go to Dallas Children's instead of Ft. Worth Children's (though both are really nice facilities).

Again, I want to apologize to Child's Play and Dallas Medical for any damaged I might have caused for my mis information. This will teach me to get all facts straight before I post on a blog.