NCsoft will now be sending the digitized DNA of world-renowned theoretical physicist and author Stephen Hawking into space as part of its ambitious “Operation Immortality ” project, which the Tabula Rasa publisher is considering humanity’s “saved game.” This gives us the opportunity to imagine what would happen if the digital DNA of Hawking and Stephen Colbert were to accidentally merge on the International Space Station. Sounds like a great sci-fi sitcom to me.

Hawking, along with his daughter, Lucy, are participating in the project to raise awareness for the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, a competition that will award $10 million to the first person or team that can sequence 100 human genomes within 10 days or less.

Just got this from the folks at Tabula Rasa!

Stephen Colbert is saving humanity by having his DNA digitized and sent into space on the Tabula Rasa Immortality Drive.

This Thursday, Sept 18, 2008, tune into Comedy Central to watch General British, Tabula Rasa's own Richard Garriott, on "The Colbert Report" discussing Operation Immortality and Stephen Colbert's ultimate contribution to humanity. And, of course, there is still plenty of time for you to contribute by having your DNA immortalized alongside Stephen's.

Over the next two weeks, four lucky Tabula Rasa players will be selected to have their own DNA sequenced and recorded on the Tabula Rasa Immortality Drive, which will be stored on the International Space Station when Richard visits in October. But wait, there's more-when you play the game you will receive an in-game working model of the rocket that will send Stephen's DNA into space. Pretend you are a Soyuz control center technician and have your own liftoff!

If you don't have an account, download the free trial here to create an account, play now, and qualify to become immortal. Also, go to OperationImmortality.com to vote on humankind's greatest achievements.

Play Tabula Rasa and join Stephen Colbert in space!

"The Colbert Report" airs on Comedy Central, immediately following the "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" at 11:30 pm / 10:30 pm CT.

Good luck with the....digitzing.

I know we've been inundating you with updates about Operation Immortality, in which Tabula Rasa 's Richard Garriott is sending his digital DNA into space along with the DNA of others who have signed on.  We've previously announced names like Digg.com's Robert Scoble and Olympic gold medalist Scott Johnson. So who's next? Stephen Colbert, of course!

NEW YORK, September 8, 2008 -- Stephen Colbert continues to make late-night television space history. On "The Colbert Report" in May, he was the first host in late-night to interview an astronaut, Garrett Reisman, in space. Now, Colbert plans to save humanity when he has his DNA digitized and sent to the International Space Station (ISS) with famed game designer Richard Garriott.

"I am thrilled to have my DNA shot into space, as this brings me one step closer to my life-long dream of being the baby at the end of 2001," said Colbert.

"In the unlikely event that Earth and humanity are destroyed, mankind can be resurrected with Stephen Colbert's DNA," said Garriott. "Is there a better person for us to turn to for this high-level responsibility?"

Truer words were never spoken, Mr. Garriott. Want to suggest someone who should join the digital crew, or sign up to have your own DNA sent along? Visit OperationImmortality.com for more info.

As we first told you about back in July , NCsoft's Operation Immortality is sending the digital DNA of some of Earth's best and brightest off into space.

Kevin Rose, creator of the social-bookmarking website Digg, Robert Scoble, one of the world's most popular tech bloggers and Tim Draper, founder of the venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson, have just agreed to join Tabula Rasa's Richard Garriott in sending their DNA into space on October 12.

Want to suggest someone who should have their DNA digitalized and sent along? Want to try to get your own DNA on the trip? Submit your suggestions at OperationImmortality.com .

It's time for another Tabula Rasa Feedback Friday! (We've been bad about keeping up to date with these, I know, and I apologize. We'll be better in the future, really!)

This week's feedback addresses upcoming content, and other questions submitted by users. Check it out here !

NCsoft's Operation Immortality (tm) offers humans the chance to "contribute to mankind's greatest achievements." The initiative, founded by legendary game designer Richard Garriott, under the belief that perhaps some catastrophic event could destroy human civilization. Operation Immortality's goal is to record mankind's greatest achievements and also keep a digitalized archive of DNA structures of exceptional people.

And they want your help.

Scott Johnson, Olympic gold medalist, three time National Champion, and 2006 Olympic Hall of Fame inductee, has been invited to send his DNA into space as part of NCsoft's Operation Immortality.

Operation Immortality (TM), a project intended to collect and archive the very best of what humanity has accomplished, is creating a digital time capsule of the human race, including messages from people around the world and DNA samples from some of our brightest minds and most accomplished athletes. Scott Johnson, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, three-time National Champion and 2006 USA Olympic Hall of Fame inductee, now stands among those who have been asked to participate in Operation Immortality's mission to preserve the most talented and influential people of our time, and has submitted his DNA to be added to the capsule.

Game Career Guide has published a piece with Richard "Lord/General Brittish" Garriot about in-game languages.

"I'm a big believer that, when you create an alternate language, it can't be too complex or it might as well be gibberish." One of the first things Garriott suggested was that spoken languages need to sound familiar. Players will not only get the rewarding experience of feeling clever if they pick up a Latinate or pseudo-Germanic phrase, but also come to the conclusion that the language is learnable, which is a big step in getting them invested in the language and thus the depth of the game.

The do's and don't are laid out clearly, from a man who has a great deal of experience in this kind of thing.

The idea of space travel has captivated humanity for centuries. Today, the wealthy are paying small fortunes to sign up to be able to travel into space. Now, your Tabula Rasa character can head into the great beyond - for free.

In October, Tabula Rasa creator Richard Garriott will visit the International Space Station, and he's taking the Immortality Drive with him to launch into orbit. The Immortality Drive is a digital time capsule uploaded with the DNA of various space afficianados and video game players, and you could be one of them. Every character active in Tabula Rasa as of September 2, 2008, will be uploaded to the drive to make the trip as well. But that's not all; each week, 8 lucky players will be chosen to have their own DNA digitalized and added to the disk.

In order to allow everyone to be part of this great journey, Tabula Rasa is offering

"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."

Deployment 10 is now live in Tabula Rasa. Highlights include a new LFS system, 9-month veteran rewards, and an updated and FASTER combat system!

Check out the details in this extensive post .