Microsoft joins hunt for Xbox addict teen

BARRIE, Ontario, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Microsoft Canada has doubled the reward for a missing game-addicted teen who ran away from his Ontario home after his father took his Xbox away.

The company's contribution is $25,000 Canadian, bringing the total to $50,000 or $41,776 U.S., ABC News reported.

Brandon Crisp, 15, of Barrie, a town more than two hours north of Buffalo, left home Oct. 13 after a fight with his father. He was last seen on a trail near his home and his bicycle was abandoned with a flat tire.

"He's literally vanished off the face of the earth," said Barrie Police Services Sgt. Dave Goodbrand.

The teen's family says that he was a good student and enthusiastic hockey player until they subscribed to Xbox Live a year ago. He became so involved in playing "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" that he neglected everything else.

""Like everyone, we are deeply worried about the disappearance of Brandon Crisp," the company said in a statement. "Law enforcement has contacted Microsoft about this matter and we are cooperating fully with them. We are unable to comment further on the nature of our cooperation because of the ongoing investigation."