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Hello Kitty MMO Holds Gulf Coast/Pakistan Charity

Sanrio Digital has announced that it is holding a special charity event within its Hello Kitty Online massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. The event, which started on Thursday, allows users to play a special mini-game to build "donation points." When the event ends on September 30, the total donation points generated will be calculated (using an unspecified algorithm) into cash donations from Sanrio Digital. The donations will be split evenly between Oceana, to support clean-up of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and UNICEF, for aiding flood victims in Pakistan.

The game, called "Chocolate Harbour Rescue," requires players to assist in the clean-up of a chocolate spill in the Sanrio Harbour area of the MMO. In addition to building donation points, players will earn special virtual rewards within the game created for the event.

Sanrio Digital's parent company Sanrio Co., Ltd. recently celebrated its 50th anniversary; festivities included a Hello Kitty display at Tokyo's Odaiba island and a line of Hello Kitty-branded Dr. Martens shoes. The free-to-play MMO Hello Kitty Online originally launched in Asia in 2009 and has conducted several other charity events online. The North American and European versions of the game launched on August 24, 2010.

Image © Sanrio Digital