As has been written before, Sean Smith of the U.S. State Department also was a deeply committed presence inside the world of EVE Online, as well as outside it, serving on the unique Council of Stellar Management, a governing body selected by its peers and convened in the real world. Smith was killed Tuesday in an attack on the American mission in Libya.
https://kotaku.com/how-video-game-fans-mourn-the-death-of-one-of-their-own-5942638
The death of Smith, known as “Vile Rat,” in both the EVE community and in the Something Awful forums associated with the game, touched a deep nerve of grief, sympathy and respect. Here is the game’s in world tribute to Smith, with voice-over remarks from many of EVE‘s leading community members.
https://kotaku.com/secretary-of-state-hillary-clinton-pays-tribute-to-slai-5943472
According to this video’s explanation, “the tiny dots of light inside the bubbles are individual players paying their respects by lighting a “candle” using the in-game cynosural field item.”
Further, the final words Smith transmitted inside EVE are as follows:
12:54:09 PM) vile_rat: assuming we don’t die tonight. We saw one of our ‘police’ that guard the compound taking pictures
