Tabula Rasa developer NCsoft has announced plans to send the DNA of some of the game’s fans into space when the game’s creator, Richard Garriott travels to the International Space Station this October. Looks like the bar for publicity stunts has been re-set.

Entitled “Operation Immortality“, the campaign will give Tabula Rasa players the chance to have their DNA sequenced, digitized and sent into space on the Immortality Drive. In addition, all players worldwide with active accounts on September 2, 2008 will have their Tabula Rasa characters uploaded to the device, giving them the opportunity to go to space virtually.

In order to make this unique opportunity accessible to as many people as possible, free trials of the game have also been made available. That’s an inventive way of giving people an incentive to play the game if I ever saw one.

“I’ve been able to do some very exciting things in the games business, but nothing of this magnitude,” said Garriott. “I’m thrilled we can offer the chance for millions of gamers to virtually go to space. A select few U.S. players will have their DNA digitised and sent. And, theoretically, if anything happens to the human race, it could be their DNA that is used to resurrect humanity.” That’s presuming future races have a USB 2.0 slot and the driver installation disc, of course.