NCsoft’s Operation Immortality and world-renowned pro wrestler team up to send genetic fingerprint to International Space Station

Matt Morgan, known as “Beast” on television’s American Gladiators and a professional wrestling star for Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling, has signed on to have his DNA sequenced and digitized and sent to the International Space Station (ISS) with gaming legend Richard Garriott in October. Garriott will take DNA samples from select individuals on the “Immortality Drive,” a storage device that he’ll leave on the ISS as part of NCsoft’s® Operation Immortality™ and Garriott’s latest game, Tabula Rasa®.

Morgan, who stands seven feet tall and weighs 320 pounds, has been described as “the most genetically-jacked, athletically stacked giant in the world.” Early in his career and still today, Matt Morgan was given the name of “The Blue Print.” He earned this name because some believe that Morgan is not just considered the “Blue Print” for how big men will be portrayed in wrestling in the future, but also because he is a “Blue Print” for the paradigm of human genetics and physical potential.

“I think the concept of Operation Immortality is incredibly exciting,” said Morgan. “I’ve done a lot of interesting things in my life, but this certainly ranks up there as the most unique. I’m honored to be included on the Immortality Drive and look forward to being part of Richard Garriott’s fascinating trip to the ISS.” (more…)

Sending digital time capsule with human DNA on Richard Garriott’s journey to International Space Station

Could you be the savior of humankind?  NCsoft, the world’s leading publisher and developer of online computer games, has announced it will launch the “Immortality Drive” – a time capsule with the digitized DNA of select video game players and space aficionados – into orbit when famed game designer Richard Garriott travels to the International Space Station in October 2008.
As part of NCsoft’s “Operation Immortality,” Richard Garriott – the man who created Tabula Rasa, a massively multiplayer online (MMO) PC game that explores the destruction of Earth – is now venturing into space to save humanity.

During the campaign, Tabula Rasa players have a chance to have their DNA sequenced, digitized and sent into space on the Immortality Drive. In addition, all players with active accounts on September 2, 2008 will have their Tabula Rasa characters uploaded to the device, giving them the opportunity to go to space virtually.  In order to make this unique opportunity accessible to as many people as possible, free trials of the game are available at http://www.rgtr.com/trial.  Garriott will place the Immortality Drive on the International Space Station when he travels there this fall.

“I’ve been able to do some very exciting things in the games business, but nothing of this magnitude,” said Garriott, executive producer for Tabula Rasa at NCsoft. “I’m thrilled we can offer the once in a lifetime chance to millions of gamers to virtually go to space with me. A select few will have their DNA digitized and sent. And, theoretically, if anything happens to the human race, it could be their DNA that is used to resurrect humanity.”

Starting today and lasting through August 31, 2008, anyone with a PC and an Internet connection can go to http://www.OperationImmortality.com and participate in weekly polls on humanity’s greatest achievements which will be included on the Immortality Drive, such as “What is the greatest song of all time?” and “What is the greatest technological breakthrough of all time?” Current Tabula Rasa players, or those who download and play the free trial, will also be able to enter a personal message for inclusion on the Drive.

“This is your chance to leave your mark,” says Garriott. “While everyone can participate in the polls at OperationImmortality.com, Tabula Rasa players will be the only gamers in the universe who can say that a piece of them is in space, since we’re sending their in-game alter-egos, and for some, their DNA, to space with me.”

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