Apparently, a zero-G flight isn't enough for Richard Garriott. The well-known game developer has just shelled out about US$ 30 million to become the sixth paying visitor to the International Space Station. Read more in the full article.

The latest report released by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reveal that the video game industry grew four times faster than the U.S. economy in 2003 to 2006. After seeing 17% annual growth, gaming left the national economy's 4% in the dust.

More interesting findings await at the full article.

 

While the world was still reeling from the shock of the horrible tragedy that is the V-Tech shootings, a formal investigation into the murderer's background - as well as what could have been done, and what should be done to prevent anything like this from happening again - was launched, and has recently concluded. Its findings, which should provide at the very least, solace to the bereaved, also provide an answer to a question that the videogame community (as well as the rest of the world) had been asking: was violence in videogames a factor in Seung Hui Cho's outburst?

The answer is a resounding 'no'.

This comes directly from the full report of the Virginia Tech Review Panel, spearheaded by none other than Governor of Virginia, Tim Kaine, with the actual material hosted on his official website. Excerpts that best convey this affirmation presented as is:

Sun and her parents recall that Cho seemed to be doing better. He was enrolled in a Tae Kwon Do program for awhile, watched TV, and played video games like Sonic the Hedgehog. None of the video games were war games or had violent themes. He liked basketball and had a collection of figurines and remote controlled cars.

Years later when he was in high school, Cho was asked to write about his hobbies and interests. He wrote:

I like to listen to talk shows and alternative stations, and I like action movies…My favorite movie is X-Men, favorite actor is Nicolas Cage, favorite book is Night Over Water, favorite band is U2, favorite sport is basketball, favorite team is Portland Trailblazers, favorite food is pizza, and favorite color is green.

Cho’s roommate never saw him play video games. He would get movies from the library and watch them on his laptop. The roommate never saw what they were, but they always seemed dark.

With various critics of videogames such as Dr. Phil and Jack Thompson pointing to videogames as a major influence in the V-tech killings before the findings themselves were published, it's certainly interesting to find out just what the reaction of the masses will be, now that these results have come to the public light. We'll be here to update you on developments as they happen, and you can let us know what you think by your comments below.

In honor of those who were lost in the Virginia Tech tragedy, a Second Life resident with the in-game name of Milosun Czervik built a memorial, a stone heart on a pedestal. MTV's Stephen Totilo reports that when he visited the memorial to pay respect he saw this note left there by one of it's many visitors:

I never wanted to be remembered for such a memorial, so do not praise me for it; but, I couldn't just leave flowers. My heart and soul cries out for those that have lost loved ones, and I, like many others, still ask 'Why?'

Grieving online isn't something entirely new, but there's just something touching about this memorial.

The real life name of mister Czervik is Ross Perkins. At the moment he is a research associate at the School of Education of the VT campus. He notes while being interviewed that this was his contribution. The texture on the virtual memorial is the "hokie stone," which is the stone that covers nearly all the buildings on their campus.

While some people choose to spend their energy pointing their fingers at the evils of a new medium of entertainment, it's heartening to know that those who are immersed in the said medium, in the said culture, are choosing to deal with it in their own humble way.

Denizens of the virtual world of Second Life now have the chance to not only see their avatars in-game but to actually carry their likenesses around with them. Michael Buckbee, a real-life resident of Virginia Beach, Virginia, has founded a company called Fabjectory, a startup that sells real objects custom-created from the digital items coded by Second Lifers. And how much will the service cost Second Lifers? According to one customer, it's typically less than $ 100 US.

Even though Fabjectory is just a few weeks old, business is totally booming, with Buckbee already having almost a dozen clients lined up. Right now, Buckbee is focusing on three- to seven-inch statuettes of Second Life avatars. He meets clients as his in-game persona, "Hal9k Andalso," and takes the necessary screenshots to turn the clients' digital selves into polymer figures using equipment common in industrial design firms.

While a lot of famous people and companies have been given virtual versions of themselves (even Hilary Duff got one), only a few companies have taken the opposite route. Given the emotional investment that a lot of the people who play Second Life have in their avatars, even John Lester - an employee of Linden Labs, the company that created and manages Second Life, and a happy Fabjectory customer - thinks that the idea will surely take off. Lester even envisions people having models of their in-game residences created as the process becomes more affordable.