Crowdfunding Campaign Helps Raise Money For Blizzard Video Game Developer With Cancer

Six months ago, Blizzard senior software engineer Ron Nakada was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. Though Nakada played an integral part in the development of games like “World of Warcraft” and various other Blizzard titles during his seven-year career at the popular video game development company, his long-term disability insurance has not kicked in yet – leaving him unable to cover the massive expenses of cancer treatment.

To the rescue: InXile Entertainment’s Technical Director John Alvarado, who launched a crowd-funding campaign to help Nakada pay for his treatment. InXile, which was founded in 2002, is the creator of PC and Mac title “Wasteland 2” and the 2013 point-and-click adventure “Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded.” “Ron has an urgent need right now to pay accumulated bills, including credit cards he has to rely on to get by, and a longer-term need for assistance while he continues the battle,” the campaign statement says.

“In addition, Ron has a family he is supporting and he is currently unable to be at work,” says Nakada’s page on crowd-funding medical site YouCaring.com. “While things like disability are incredibly helpful, they do not bridge the entire gap to meet his salary. Until he is able to return to work, we can help alleviate the additional financial stress this is placing on him and his family.”

Nakada, who received the serious diagnosis during his first year of marriage, was unable to cover his monthly medical expenses with his salary and insurance alone. The gaming veteran graduated with a degree in computer engineering from the University of California in San Diego in 1988 and has worked at Blizzard Entertainment since 2006. He also spent more than three years at former gaming developer Point of View, creator of “Nascar 06” for the PS2.

You can donate money to Nakada's treatment here. There are 31 days left to help reach the site's $25,000 goal. The amount raised is currently at $18,680.