Impact of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on the video game industry explained
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake had a significant impact on the nation of Japan, including one of its most well-known economic sector, the video game industry. The damage to Japan's infrastructure prompted delays in software and hardware releases, and also caused outright cancellations when the subject matter of the software was considered too similar to real-life events. At the same time, the Japanese gaming industry took on relief efforts to assist those most directly affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
Members of the gaming industry contributed donations to support foundations including several large donations from video game-oriented companies such as Nintendo, Sony Computer Entertainment, Namco Bandai, Sega Sammy, Capcom, and Tecmo Koei, and have also encouraged donations from individuals. Several online games helped donate money to the relief effort, including EVE Online and Zynga's Facebook games. Thirty-six hours after the initial tremor, Zynga had gathered donations adding up to $1.35 million.
Background
See main article: 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
A 9.0-magnitude megathrust earthquake occurred off the coast of Japan on 11 March 2011.[1] [2] [3] The epicenter was 130km (80miles) off the east coast of the Oshika Peninsula of Tōhoku near Sendai, with the hypocenter at a depth of 32km (20miles).[4] [5] The earthquake triggered extremely destructive tsunami waves of up to 10m (30feet) that struck Japan minutes after the quake, in some cases traveling up to 10km (10miles) inland,[6] with smaller waves reaching many other countries after several hours. Tsunami warnings were issued and evacuations ordered along Japan's Pacific coast and at least 20 other countries, including the entire Pacific coast of North America and South America.[7] [8] [9]
The Japanese National Police Agency officially confirmed a large number of casualties across seventeen prefectures.[10] [11] The earthquake and tsunami caused extensive and severe damage in Japan, including heavy damage to roads and railways as well as fires in many areas, and a dam collapse. Around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity and 1.5 million without water.[12] Many electrical generators were taken down, and at least three nuclear reactors suffered explosions due to hydrogen buildup within their outer containment buildings.[13]
Estimates of the Tōhoku earthquake's magnitude make it the most powerful known earthquake to hit Japan, and one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world overall since modern record-keeping began in 1900.[3] [14] [15] Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that the crisis was the country's "toughest and most difficult" since World War II.[16]
Notes and References
- Web site: Magnitude 9.0 – Near The East Coast of Honshu, Japan . United States Geological Survey (USGS) . 13 March 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110313154037/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/ . 13 March 2011.
- Japan's quake updated to magnitude 9.0 . Short Sharp Science . . 11 March 2011. Michael. Reilly. 11 March 2011.
- News: New USGS number puts Japan quake at 4th largest. CBS News. 14 March 2011. 15 March 2011 .
- News: Séisme et tsunami dévastateurs: plus de 1000 morts et disparus au Japon. Le Parisien. 11 March 2011. 12 March 2011. French. Devastating quake and tsunami: more than 1,000 deaths and many more missing in Japan. 15 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110315023314/http://www.leparisien.fr/tsunami-pacifique/seisme-et-tsunami-devastateurs-plus-de-1000-morts-et-disparus-au-japon-11-03-2011-1352998.php. dead.
- News: Tsunami hits north-eastern Japan after massive quake. BBC News . 11 March 2011. UK . 11 March 2011.
- News: Roland Buerk. Japan earthquake: Tsunami hits north-east . BBC . News . UK . 11 March 2011. 12 March 2011.
- Web site: Tsunami bulletin number 3. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center/NOAA/NWS. 11 March 2011. 11 March 2011. 22 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120722031246/http://ptwc.weather.gov/text.php?id=pacific.2011.03.11.073000. dead.
- News: Tsunami warnings issued for at least 20 countries after quake . CNN . 11 March 2011 . 11 March 2011.
- Web site: PTWC warnings complete list . 11 March 2011 . 17 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110317102234/http://ptwc.weather.gov/text.php?id=pacific.2011.03.11.103059 . dead .
- News: Damage Situation and Police Countermeasures associated with 2011Tohoku district – off the Pacific Ocean Earthquake. 17 March 2011. Japanese National Police Agency. 17 March 2011. 23 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170623021131/http://www.npa.go.jp/archive/keibi/biki/higaijokyo_e.pdf. dead.
- News: 平成23年(2011年)東北地方太平洋沖地震の被害状況と警察措置. 17 March 2011. Japanese National Police Agency. 17 March 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170106143349/http://www.npa.go.jp/archive/keibi/biki/higaijokyo.pdf. 6 January 2017.
- News: Millions of Stricken Japanese Lack Water, Food, Heat. NPR. 16 March 2011. NPR Staff and Wires. 14 March 2011. Nearly 1.5 million households had gone without water since the quake struck..
- Web site: IAEA. 16 March 2011. 16 March 2011. IAEA Update on Japan Earthquake.
- News: Tsunami, earthquake, nuclear crisis – now Japan faces power cuts . Branigan . Tania . 13 March 2011 . The Guardian . UK . 15 March 2011 . https://archive.today/20200208210231/https://www.webcitation.org/5xDAT05x0?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/13/japan-tsunami-earthquake-power-cuts/print . 8 February 2020 . dead.
- News: Japan quake – 7th largest in recorded history. 11 March 2011. 11 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110414005047/http://www.3news.co.nz/Japan-quake---7th-largest-in-recorded-history/tabid/417/articleID/201998/Default.aspx. 14 April 2011. dead.
- News: Japanese PM: 'Toughest' crisis since World War II . CNN . . 13 March 2011 . 13 March 2011.