Blue Mammoth Games, a Ubisoft studio, along with Skillshot Media, a leading esports production company, is helping to grant wishes for children in their home state by partnering with Make-A-Wish Georgia during the upcoming Brawlhalla World Championship event and live-stream broadcast November 3-5, 2023.
The developer of the popular free-to-play fighting game Brawlhalla has implemented an exclusive in-game title of “Wish Maker” which will be granted, along with a newly released profile Avatar, to individuals who donate to Make-A-Wish Georgia during the three day Brawlhalla World Championship live event and live-stream broadcast.
A unique Brawlhalla collectable item will also be awarded to the highest individual donor each day of the broadcast.
This Brawlhalla partnership is the first major game publisher extension of a Make-A-Wish Georgia partnership first announced by Skillshot and Ghost Gaming in April of this year.
“We continue to use our platform to amplify the amazing work of Make-A-Wish Georgia in delivering hope to young people and their families”, said Skillshot President, Nabil Ismail. “We are so very appreciative of the Brawlhalla developers who jumped enthusiastically on this opportunity to introduce Make-A-Wish Georgia to their community”
“Our studio was enthusiastic and honored to partner with Make-A-Wish Georgia”, said Brawlhalla Esports Director Mateo Palfreman, “They are a beloved organization and it is our honor to support their mission in granting wishes for kids battling life-threatening illnesses”.
Make-A-Wish Georgia grants wishes for children with critical illnesses since the chapter’s founding in 1995. There is still a great need for support to grant the wishes that are waiting. To learn more and find out how to get involved, visit georgia.wish.org.
The Chill Munin Avatar will be granted along with a Wish Maker In-Game Title to those who donate to Make-A-Wish Georgia during the Brawlhalla World Championship event
About Blue Mammoth
Founded in 2009 and acquired by Ubisoft in 2018, Blue Mammoth Games is a development studio based in Atlanta, Georgia. The experienced team specializes in online multiplayer games with large player bases.
Blue Mammoth develops Brawlhalla, a Free-To-Play fighting game on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, Mac, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 system, iOS, and Android devices. Brawlhalla has over 100 million players and is currently the most played fighting game on Steam.
About Make-A-Wish Georgia
Make-A-Wish Georgia has the unique ability to transform a child and family’s life during some of their most difficult trials – as a wish creates an opportunity for hope and the ability to experience life beyond illness. In the fight against a critical illness, each wish serves as a catalyst for renewed strength and encouragement for every child and family on their journey. We’ve been granting wishes to Georgia wish kids since 1995. www.georgia.wish.org
Shawn Byrd received a heart transplant and was granted a wish four years ago. He is now giving back
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2020 (Atlanta, GA)
Four years ago, Shawn Byrd had three open-heart surgeries and in November of the same year, he received a heart transplant that saved his life. Following his transplant, the Make-A-Wish Georgia Foundation granted Shawn his wish to go on a Lord of the Rings Tour in New Zealand. Shawn and his family traveled to the country and toured the Lord of the Rings set. While Shawn has enjoyed a full and healthy life for the past four years, he is currently in the hospital with some complications and may be playing at this event from his hospital room.
Shawn and his father, Wes Byrd (CEO of the esports apparel company Skullz) will be competing in an InvitationATL (IATL) event, joining corporate teams in a Fortnite private match to crown the Invitation ATL Esports Corporate Champion. Matches will be live streamed on Twitch.TV with play-by-play commentary on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020 at 5pm EST.
IATL is a digital event series that combines gaming culture, competition, and celebrity involvement to raise awareness for charities, companies, and causes spearheaded by Skillshot Media.
"Gaming for good is a concept we're always excited to support at Skillshot", said Todd Harris, Skillshot Media’s CEO. "We're excited to have companies across Georgia participating in the first-ever InvitationATL Esports Corporate Challenge.”
The competition fees will grant wishes for local children fighting critical illnesses. For 25 years, Make-A-Wish Georgia has brought transformational wishes to more than 8,000 children and families. The event is considered a casual Fortnite competition that will boost employee engagement and corporate competition from the socially distanced comfort of home.
“Working alongside Todd Harris and the team at Skillshot Media has given me tremendous insight into the selflessness and generosity of the gaming community,” said Tim Earley, Make-A Wish Georgia CEO. “Whenever this community comes together to support the mission of Make A-Wish Georgia through wish granting, fundraising and/or raising awareness, amazing things happen!”
For Wes Byrd and his son Shawn, this event means a lot.
“It is such an honor and pleasure to be able to help give back to an organization that has given so much to us,” says Wes Byrd. “Words cannot describe how much it means to a family that is going through so much. Make-A Wish brings smiles and joy to children and their families who have suffered greatly.”
“Shawn has been in the esports and gaming space and playing at Skullz LAN parties all his life. He is looking forward to using what he has grown up loving as a way to help those who have helped him.”
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In a show of support for Make-A-Wish Georgia, several organizations in the Georgia gaming community have come together to fulfill Ethan’s wish of having his game about fighting cancer created and brought to market. Kennesaw State University (KSU), Skillshot Media, three developers from Hi-Rez Studios, KontrolFreek, and the Georgia Game Developers Association (GGDA) are working together to help create Ethan’s game along with student teams participating in KSU’s Global Game Jam, January 31 - Feb 2, 2020.
“This game emulates my journey in the fight against childhood cancer. I couldn’t win this battle without the doctors, nurses, chemo, blood transfusions, friends, and ability to control germs,” said Ethan. “Sometimes you just don’t feel well, and sometimes you have counts so low that you can’t leave your house. This game will give cancer warriors the chance to still play with friends and stay in bed to do it. It also takes back the control from a disease that takes so much. The kids can use it to be stronger and more expressive in beating that nasty beast.”
Global Game Jam is the world's largest game development event with multiple physical locations participating simultaneously. KSU is one of many sites in Georgia providing a place for students and game development enthusiasts to take on the challenge of creating a game in 48 hours. Ethan will meet with participating student teams from KSU and share his vision for his game before releasing the teams to work on an early iteration over 48 hours.
“It truly is a privilege to give greater meaning to Global Game Jam by lending our expertise and talented students in helping Ethan realize his dream,” said Dr. Michael Franklin, an assistant professor of gaming in Kennesaw State University’s College of Computing and Software Engineering. “We are inspired by his personal battle with cancer and his selflessness in choosing a wish that will benefit so many others, and we very much look forward to building a game that reflects his journey.”
At the conclusion of the event on Sunday, Ethan will sit on a panel to judge early versions of his game and select a winner to continue working on the project. Once a winning team is selected, they will receive ongoing mentorship from three professional game developers employed at Hi-Rez Studios, a Georgia-based game development company: Danny Wittenauer, UI & systems programmer on Paladins, Chris Malloy, Champion programmer on Paladins, and Jake Baker, gameplay programmer on Realm Royale. The three of them will donate their time to meet regularly with Ethan and the winning team to see the game through to completion.
Skillshot Media, an Atlanta-based esports solution provider, will supply video coverage during GGJ weekend at KSU and video check-ins to update the public as Ethan’s game comes to life. KontrolFreek, the Atlanta-based creator of Performance Gaming Gear, will provide gift packs to the teams working on Ethan’s game, and a grand prize to the selected winning team. In addition, the Georgia Game Developers Association will promote the winning team alongside finalists in their annual Best in Georgia competition.
“At Skillshot, we're all about building gaming communities, and what better example of the power of community than this?” said Kathryn De Shields-Moon, public relations & partnerships manager at Skillshot. “We are truly moved by the way Metro-Atlanta’s gaming community is coming together to support Make-A-Wish Georgia and make Ethan's inspirational wish come true.”
Since 1995, Make-A-Wish Georgia has been granting the wishes of local children facing critical illnesses. More than 20 years later, nearly 8,000 lives have experienced the impact of a life-changing wish. Make-A-Wish Georgia is a movement of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for wish families and communities disrupted by serious childhood illness.
“A wish can be a transformational experience for our kids. Our wish kids believe the inspiration, hope and joy provided by their wish helped them not just feel better, but sometimes get better,” said Tim Earley, Make-A-Wish Georgia CEO. “With the help of an incredible gaming community like KSU, Skillshot, Hi-Rez Studios, KontrolFreek, and the GGDA, our hope is that Ethan’s wish will bring him the same life-change that so many our wish kids experience.”
