Konami does this with the Metal Gear series as well, with a range of competitions where players submit not only themselves but also camouflages for inclusion into the game. Blizzard has also done something similar, and one of the Blood Knights in Silvermoon is named after the first Blood Knight player to reach the level cap during the TBC beta.
 

Interesting but I think SPORE will out do all by it's promise to include all players created models for vehicle, creature & planet.

Stargate Worlds & Spore are the only titles that I am getting excited by in 2008 but there's always time for more!