The avatar simulated video game Minecraft, which has become largely successful in the U.S. among pre-teens, teenagers and adults, can be used and enjoyed for a myriad of purposes.

Users can create virtual architecture, explore the world and meet new people. Last week, Business Insider reported the story of a computer science graduate student developing a 1:1 replica of Manhattan on the game.

Additionally, the week before, a local newspaper in Greenfield, Mass. reported that the game's EDU version was using the town's elementary and middle school as a way for students to learn computer technology skills.

On Thursday, Salon reported that a Minecraft gamer had recently completed a memorial to his late wife using blocks and materials from the game to create a towering bust of her image.

Going by the name "Gas Bandit," he incorporated the help of eight generous donors in the game to lend the materials necessary to complete the virtual statue, which overlooks the ocean while also holding a pickaxe high in the sky and surrounded by torches.

"Gas Bandit's" wife Pauline died last year of ovarian cancer, when she was only 41 years old. He posted a virtual tribute video of his immortalized wife's bust to the YouTube community requesting people to donate to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

In the comments section, about 100 people have expressed their condolences and appreciation for "Gas Bandit's" work.

The video takes the viewers on a complete exterior tour of the bust in a virtual coaster. The tour continues to go underground and ends on a plague that honoring Pauline, aka Chikii, who was born in 1972.

Virtual tributes are not unheard of as several World of Warcraft gamers held an in-game funeral in remembrance of their friend in March 2006. Unfortunately the virtual service was cut short after it was savagely raided by another group of players.