Next big thing in video games: virtual drugs?

NEWS RELEASE

REDLIGHTCENTRE.COM

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First violence, then sex, and now drugs in video games

RedLightCenter.com adds hookahs and pot to its virtual world

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 12 - There is a new and highly controversial trend coming out of the video game industry - virtual drugs.

In 2005, the video game Narc was the first to introduce street drugs into video games to provide players with "powers."

Yesterday, in a move sure to draw fire from the anti-drug establishment, RedLightCenter.com, the world's second-most-populated virtual social world, announced the introduction of a new feature that allows members and guests to visit an Amsterdam-style smoking room, toke from a hookah, and
get a "virtual high."

The experience is free and is limited to persons 18 and older.

Users report the visual and digital high as being "surprisingly realistic" at mimicking the effects of smoking marijuana.

"The response from our community has been overwhelmingly positive," noted Brian Shuster, CEO of Utherverse, Inc., the parent company of RedLightCenter.com. "We're offering a neat experience that's totally safe and legal."

Not everyone agrees.

Psychologist David Walsh, spokesman for the National Institute on Family and the Media, says drug use in games creates curiosity and allure for players. "Games are interactive and psychologically powerful. Now we have a game that glorifies drug use. Where do we draw the line?"

Red Light Center is an online virtual world that is modeled after Amsterdam's notorious Red Light District.

Users of Red Light Center download a free software program that allows them to create their own unique identity or "avatar," and which also gives them access to the virtual world.

Once inside Red Light Center, any user who enters Merlin's Cafe will find an assortment of hookahs, or Oriental water pipes.

The pipes can be freely smoked, and doing so will cause the user to experience the sensation of getting high.

Smoking more virtual-pot increases the effects, which
range from "mellow" to "wasted."

"The new virtual high allows adults to come together safely and on their own terms, to meet people, and be who they want to be," said Shuster.

"We're proving that someone doesn't have to do the real stuff to experience the sensations. This is the Internet finally coming of age for adults."

About RedlightCentre.com

RedlightCenter.com is the Internet's most advanced virtual reality universe.

The online community site offers users virtual nightclubs,
hotels, bars, movie theaters and stores.

In addition, the cyber universe offers community events such as parties, classes, meeting rooms, live music with dancing and art-gallery openings.

These events are broadcast within the online universe.

Users also have the ability to put on their own events to real audiences within the various RedlightCenter theaters.

User-presented events include the multimedia broadcast of content from podcasts, films, book-readings, comedy
acts, band performances, instructional classes and more.

RedlightCenter.com is now open to a limited number of users in a pre-beta phase.

Additional events and activities are scheduled for release
throughout 2007.

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