Multiple MMORPG communities are celebrating the life of internationally renowned cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who passed away earlier this week.
In EVE Online, players came together yesterday to “spend a little ozone for one of the brightest minds humanity has ever had” by gathering in the same spot, setting aside personal grievances and ongoing wars, and literally lighting up the game in tribute. Reddit is filled with screenshots of the occasion, but here’s the one CCP retweeted:
cynos lit for #RIPStephanHawking #EVEOnline #streamfleet pic.twitter.com/R0osS6AGyS
— Ms Moses (@ItsMsMoses) March 14, 2018
Star Trek Online players across Reddit and the official Arc forums have been petitioning Cryptic to add Hawking, who played himself in a cameo on The Next Generation, to the in-game memorial that celebrates other people who worked on the franchise and contributed to science and science-fiction.
"We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special."
Rest in Peace, Stephen Hawking. pic.twitter.com/GOVoRe9pU8
— Star Trek Online (@trekonlinegame) March 14, 2018
And over in Elite Dangerous, the massive wall of o7s will surely make you tear up. Players are requesting that Frontier add some sort of memorial – ships and stations have been suggested – and one group of players put together a tribute meeting that was summarily disrupted by trolls who will be given not a single bit more attention (but seriously Frontier get rid of these people already what’s wrong with you).
Deeply saddened about the passing of Stephen Hawking. I made this simple poster design in his tribute, thank you Mr Hawking, your work will continue to inspire people forever.
Because legends never die, they just go explore the universe. #StephenHawking pic.twitter.com/bXzbasC8Uw
— Mat Maddison (@Mat2596) March 14, 2018
o7
