NCSoft issued the following press release late yesterday:
American Gladiator And Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling Star Matt Morgan to Send DNA to Space: NCsoftâ<80><99>s Operation Immortality and world-renowned pro wrestler team up to send genetic fingerprint to International Space Station
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 13, 2008â<80>“Matt Morgan, known as â<80><9c>Beastâ<80> on televisionâ<80><99>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 â<80><9c>Immortality Drive,â<80> a storage device that heâ<80><99>ll leave on the ISS as part of NCsoftâ<80><99>s® Operation Immortality┢ and Garriottâ<80><99>s latest game, Tabula Rasa®.
Morgan, who stands seven feet tall and weighs 320 pounds, has been described as â<80><9c>the most genetically-jacked, athletically stacked giant in the world.â<80> Early in his career and still today, Matt Morgan was given the name of â<80><9c>The Blue Print.â<80> He earned this name because some believe that Morgan is not just considered the â<80><9c>Blue Printâ<80> for how big men will be portrayed in wrestling in the future, but also because he is a â<80><9c>Blue Printâ<80> for the paradigm of human genetics and physical potential.
â<80><9c>I think the concept of Operation Immortality is incredibly exciting,â<80> said Morgan. â<80><9c>Iâ<80><99>ve done a lot of interesting things in my life, but this certainly ranks up there as the most unique. Iâ<80><99>m honored to be included on the Immortality Drive and look forward to being part of Richard Garriottâ<80><99>s fascinating trip to the ISS.â<80>
â<80><9c>The Immortality Drive wouldnâ<80><99>t be complete without the DNA from a human physical specimen and who better to fit that bill than The Blue Print himself, Matt Morgan,â<80> said Garriott. â<80><9c>Iâ<80><99>m thrilled that Matt is on board and that an American Gladiator will be making the trip with me to space.â<80>
In addition to DNA samples, people can visit the OperationImmortality.com website and provide other materials that will be included on the Immortality Drive. Visitors can participate in weekly polls on humanityâ<80><99>s greatest achievements, which will be included on the drive. 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. All Tabula Rasa players will have their character information included. And there are weekly drawings on the site for a limited number of participants to have their own DNA included on the drive.
No purchase is necessary to participate in Operation Immortality, with free trials of Richard Garriottâ<80><99>s Tabula Rasa available at http://www.rgtr.com/trial. The game is currently available at most major retailers and at the PlayNC® store. The retail box includes the first month of online game play. After the first month, players will be charged a monthly subscription fee of US$14.99. The game is rated Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
For information about Operation Immortality, including full terms and conditions, go to http://www.OperationImmortality.com. For information on Richard Garriottâ<80><99>s Tabula Rasa go to http://www.rgtr.com.
About NCsoft Corporation
NCsoft North America is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NCsoft, with its own development and publishing offices in Texas and California, also works with other NCsoft subsidiaries and third party developers throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online entertainment software products. The company has successfully launched multiple online titles in the last three years and continues to support its franchises, which include Lineage®/Lineage II, City of Heroes®/City of Villains®, Guild Wars®/Guild Wars Factions®/Guild Wars Nightfall®/Guild Wars: Eye of the North┢, Richard Garriottâ<80><99>s Tabula Rasa, Dungeon Runners┢ and Exteel┢. More information about NCsoft can be found at www.PlayNC.com.
Nick’s Note: I’d just like to add that if I’ve had enough to drink, I can launch my DNA into space.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
