'Stray' Cat Video Game Helps Real Cats
2022-08-06
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1A new video game that includes a brave cat is popular with cat lovers.
2Some of them are using the game to raise money for real cats.
3The game was released last month. It is called "Stray."
4A stray animal is one without a home.
5Many stray cats and dogs live on city streets.
6Thanks to online fundraising services, gamers are playing "Stray" live for audiences to raise money for animal shelters and other cat-connected organizations.
7Annapurna Interactive, the game's creator, publicized "Stray" by offering two cat rescue and adoption agencies copies of the game to give away.
8Livestreaming game play for charity is not new.
9But the quick popularity of "Stray" is a bit unusual.
10It was the fourth most watched game on the day it was first shown on Twitch, the video game streaming site.
11Viewers watch as players send the game's cat through a city to solve problems and escape enemies.
12The cat in the game does all this while doing usual cat activities, like scratching, jumping or hitting things off tables.
13About 80 percent of the game's creative team are "cat owners and cat lovers," the game's producers said.
14"I certainly hope that maybe some people will be inspired to help actual strays in real life," said Swann Martin-Raget.
15He is a game producer of Stray and works at the BlueTwelve gaming studio in France.
16Annapurna Interactive contacted the Nebraska Humane Society to discuss a partnership before the game's launch on July 19.
17The humane society jumped at the chance, marketing specialist Brendan Gepson said.
18"The whole game and the whole culture around the game, it's all about a love of cats," Gepson said.
19"It meshed really well with the shelter and our mission."
20The shelter received four copies of the game to give away.
21People donated $5 for a chance to win one of the games.
22In one week, the shelter raised $7,000, Gepson said.
23Most of the 550 donors were new to the shelter, including people from Germany and Malta.
24Jeff Legaspi is Annapurna Interactive's marketing director.
25He said it made sense for the game's launch to do something "impactful," or making a powerful influence.
26He added that he hopes the game will "bring more awareness to adopting and not shopping for a new pet."
27The game is available on PlayStation and the Steam online game platform.
28Steam monitor SteamDB said "Stray" has been the number-one purchased game for the past two weeks.
29Annapurna did not release sales numbers or download numbers for the game.
30I'm Dan Novak.
1A new video game that includes a brave cat is popular with cat lovers. Some of them are using the game to raise money for real cats. 2The game was released last month. It is called "Stray." A stray animal is one without a home. Many stray cats and dogs live on city streets. 3Thanks to online fundraising services, gamers are playing "Stray" live for audiences to raise money for animal shelters and other cat-connected organizations. 4Annapurna Interactive, the game's creator, publicized "Stray" by offering two cat rescue and adoption agencies copies of the game to give away. 5Livestreaming game play for charity is not new. But the quick popularity of "Stray" is a bit unusual. It was the fourth most watched game on the day it was first shown on Twitch, the video game streaming site. 6Viewers watch as players send the game's cat through a city to solve problems and escape enemies. The cat in the game does all this while doing usual cat activities, like scratching, jumping or hitting things off tables. 7About 80 percent of the game's creative team are "cat owners and cat lovers," the game's producers said. 8"I certainly hope that maybe some people will be inspired to help actual strays in real life," said Swann Martin-Raget. He is a game producer of Stray and works at the BlueTwelve gaming studio in France. 9Annapurna Interactive contacted the Nebraska Humane Society to discuss a partnership before the game's launch on July 19. The humane society jumped at the chance, marketing specialist Brendan Gepson said. 10"The whole game and the whole culture around the game, it's all about a love of cats," Gepson said. "It meshed really well with the shelter and our mission." 11The shelter received four copies of the game to give away. People donated $5 for a chance to win one of the games. In one week, the shelter raised $7,000, Gepson said. 12Most of the 550 donors were new to the shelter, including people from Germany and Malta. 13Jeff Legaspi is Annapurna Interactive's marketing director. He said it made sense for the game's launch to do something "impactful," or making a powerful influence. He added that he hopes the game will "bring more awareness to adopting and not shopping for a new pet." 14The game is available on PlayStation and the Steam online game platform. Steam monitor SteamDB said "Stray" has been the number-one purchased game for the past two weeks. 15Annapurna did not release sales numbers or download numbers for the game. 16I'm Dan Novak. 17Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 18_____________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20fundraise - n. activity done to collect money for a political party, charity, school, etc. 21charity - n. the act of giving money, food, or other kinds of help to people who are poor, sick, etc. 22viewer - n. a person who sees or looks at something 23inspire - v. to make want to do something ; to give an idea about what to do or create 24mesh - v. to fit or work together successfully 25______________________________________________________________________ 26We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 27Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.