Microsoft offers reward for Xbox runaway

Come home... all is forgiven!

Software giant Microsoft has doubled a cash reward for information on the whereabouts of a Canadian boy who ran away from home after his father took away his Xbox. Brandon Crisp, 15, legged it from his Barrie, Ontario home in October and has not been seen since. His dad said Brandon left after he had removed Brandon's Xbox.

He was worried that his son's behaviour had been changing since he started playing Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare online.

Apparently he had been skipping school, stealing money and ignoring his studies, his father said.

The local rag, the family's ISP and Child Find offered a $19,500 reward for information leading to his return.

When a kind-hearted MS heard about it, it topped up the fund with another $25,000. A spokesperson said in an email to AFP that the software outfit was "hoping for his swift return."

The company said it was deeply worried about the disappearance of Brandon Crisp after the kid's bike was found last week with a flat tire.

Police investigating the case are examining who Brandon played with online. Microsoft has been turning over data which police think might help them locate him. In an interview with newspapers, the boy's father, Steve Crisp, said he had not known how important the gaming system was to his son and how he would react when it was taken away.