Ian Wood 1 Posted October 30, 2008 US software behemoth Microsoft has doubled a cash reward for information on the whereabouts of a Canadian boy who ran away from home after his father took away his Xbox game console, it said Tuesday. Brandon Crisp, 15, took off on his bicycle from his Barrie, Ontario home on October 13 -- Canada's Thanksgiving holiday -- and rode east along an old rail line. He has not been seen since. His father told local media he had removed Brandon's Xbox, built by Microsoft, after noticing changes in behavior since Brandon started playing "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" online. The boy started skipping school, stealing money and ignoring his studies, his father said. A local newspaper, the family's Internet service provider and Child Find offered a 25,000-dollar (19,500-dollar US) reward for information leading to his return. Microsoft topped it up with another 25,000 dollars, the company said Tuesday in an email to AFP, "hoping for his swift return." "Like everyone, we are deeply worried about the disappearance of Brandon Crisp," the company said. Exhaustive searches have not turned up a single clue beyond the boy's bicycle, found last week with a flat tire. Police are said to be examining who Brandon played with online. "Law enforcement has contacted Microsoft about this matter and we are cooperating fully with them," said Microsoft. On Sunday, 1,600 volunteer searchers packed up their reflective vests and ended their efforts to find him, while police stopped their air and water search. In an interview with the daily Globe and Mail, the boy's father, Steve Crisp, said he had not known how important the gaming system was to his son and how he would react when it was taken away Experts commented that gamers may form bonds with fellow online players. "This had become his identity, and I didn't realize how in-depth this was until I took his Xbox away," Steve Crisp told the Globe and Mail. "That's like cutting his legs off." "This is such an issue that hits every parent out there, with video games that are starting to control our kids' lives," he said. "I just took away his identity, so I can understand why he got so mad and took off. Before, I couldn't understand why he was taking off for taking his game away." Now, Brandon's father says he just wants his son to come home. Copyright © 2008 Agence France-Presse. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AFP report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of AFP. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishfire 2 Posted October 30, 2008 And that's why I want my kids to learn to enjoy other activities besides video games. I'm a gamer, and I can already tell that they will be gamers, too, but as long as they can go outside and enjoy themselves and form real relationships, then that's fine. As long as they don't spend all their time playing video games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhaseSniper 0 Posted October 30, 2008 Wow.... Talk about being involved in a game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
