In one of the most bizarre and ridiculous press releases I've ever read, Utherverse, Inc., creator of XXX MMO Red Light Center, is now offering players the opportunity to get virtually high.

Screaming the eye catching headline First Violence, Then Sex, and Now Drugs in Video Games, at first glance, this press release reads like an article written about the sudden "growing trend" of drugs in video games. A little further down it becomes apparent that Utherverse, Inc. wrote it themselves and rather fancy themselves the next Rockstar Games.

Today, 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.

Even Further down they even have the balls to put in a quote from David Walsh, spokesman for the National Institute on Family and the Media speaking against the game to try and create more of a "controversial" atmosphere.

Games are interactive and psychologically powerful. Now we have a game that glorifies drug use. Where do we draw the line?

What's even more aggravating about the use of this quote is that, according to GamePolitics, this quote was taken from Mr. Walsh's statements about NARC back in 2005. I'm sure someone thought they were being very clever, but to me it just smacks of desperation and cheap sensationalism.

I really hope this type of press release doesn't become the trend, we really don't need any more fuel on the anti-gaming fire. Flynn De Marco

Scary Drugs-in-Games Headline is Actually Company's Own Press Release [GamePolitics]

First Violence, Then Sex, and Now Drugs in Video Games [Yahoo Biz]