Local game-maker transforms GKTW Village game lounge

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Local game-maker transforms GKTW Village game lounge

Around Osceola

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 00:00

EA Tiburon unveiled the results of channeling the creative talent of its staff in a different direction July 20 through the renovation of a game lounge at the Kissimmee nonprofit Give Kids The World Village (GKTW).
The Orlando game developer worked with the village to transition its existing Amberville Game Rooms into an entertainment lounge featuring arcade games, a theater and bar-style seating and service areas with a backdrop of high-energy graphics.
The village, a nonprofit resort in Kissimmee that provides weeklong vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the revamped lounge, where EA Tiburon COO Daryl Holt presented an additional check for $500 to Give Kids The World to keep the room stocked with the latest games, books and DVDs.
GKTW provides accommodations at its resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a weeklong, cost-free vacation. With the help of generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 101,000 families from all 50 states and 72 countries.
“Providing a place for families to enjoy interactive games together in a comfortable environment is a natural tie-in for EA Tiburon’s commitment to the local community,” Holt said. “Our team enjoyed working with Give Kids The World to create this entertaining escape for families and we were proud to contribute our time and resources in support of the Village’s mission.”
The two-room lounge was outfitted with four stand-up arcade games and a wheelchair-accessible arcade game to go along with the existing pool table. A dual screen entertainment center and comfortable leather furniture was added for X360 and Wii gaming. A “Rockband” theater, also which doubles as a DVD movie theater, was created and the walls were given a fresh coat of paint and adorned with large-format EA original artwork, highlighted by new lighting throughout.
“Give Kids The World is thrilled to have this exciting new experience for our Wish families to enjoy,” Pamela Landwirth, president of Give Kids The World, said. “We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to EA Tiburon for creating an area where family members of all ages can come together to play the world’s most popular games. Our families will cherish the memories they make in this beautiful game room for many years to come.” A group of EA Tiburon team members redesigned, renovated and equipped the two-room space that is used by village Wish children and their siblings, transforming it into a high-energy, Tiburon-esque game lounge.
The company committed $5,000 for the renovation of the room and utilized surplus millwork and furniture from studio renovations at its office to come in under that budget, leaving money for the donation presented by Holt. And EA Tiburon employees also donated age-appropriate books, movies and games for the room.
For more information about EA Tiburon, visit www.Tiburon.com.