Children who are not at home but in a hospital, waiting for the next test or treatment, can still look forward to a happy holiday season thanks to Child's Play, a non-profit organization of gaming enthusiasts dedicated to spreading the joy of electronic entertainment.

Child's Play was founded in 2003 by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, authors of the popular Web comic Penny Arcade, in response to a perceived negative stereotype of gamers. "The media seems intent on perpetuating the myth that gamers are ticking time bombs just waiting to go off," Krahulik wrote when announcing the formation of Child's Play. "I know for a fact that gamers are good people… We are just regular people who happen to love video games." With that in mind, they began soliciting monetary donations with which to buy Nintendo and PlayStation goods for their local children's hospital.

Their motivation isn't just good PR; there's a scientific basis to support their actions.

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