Lately there has been a bit of talk about the addictive nature of video gaming as well as its effects on crime levels. As a visitor of MyGaming, you probably don’t need to be told how rewarding and how much fun video gaming can be. Unfortunately there is a dark side to the pastime that occasionally rears its head in the form of neglect, life threatening addiction, violent outbursts, organised crime and even prostitution. Perhaps some of the stories below will help prevent you, or one you hold dear from stumbling into the pitfalls of video game addiction.
World of Warcraft
In 2007, a woman and a WoW player advertised on Craig’s List that she would allow someone to “mount” her in return for 5000 WoW gold, which she planned to use to purchase an epic flying mount. In a follow up post, she revealed that the deal was a success and she had her epic mount, and a new friend. There’s something rather sad about selling your body for virtual money.
An epic mount and a gryphon
In 2005, a young Chinese girl nicknamed Snowly died after playing World of Warcraft continuously for several days, neglecting sleep. An online funeral was arranged in her honour, but the ceremony was marked by the news of another WoW gamer death under similar sleep neglect circumstances.
World of Warcraft in-game funeral for Snowly
In a tragic tale of neglect, a 4 month old South Korean girl died in 2005 while her parents were preoccupied playing WoW. The couple had left the sleeping infant alone for four hours whilst they played the game at a local Internet cafe. While they were gone, the infant had rolled onto her stomach and suffocated.
13 year old Chinese boy Xiao Yi committed suicide in 2005 by leaping from atop a 24 storey building. The note he left behind was written from the perspective of a video game character, and he detailed a wish to meet up with his gaming friends in the afterlife. When previously confronted about his WoW addiction, Xiao had told his parents that “he had been poisoned by games and could no longer control himself.”
StarCraft
In South Korea gaming is serious business. So serious in fact, that in 2005, 28 year old Seungseob Lee spent a marathon session of 50 hours playing the game at his local Internet cafe. According to reports, he only stopped for bathroom breaks and short periods of sleep, neglecting to eat and drink. Eventually he succumbed to exhaustion and his heart failed. Lee died in the hospital shortly after. By way of explanation for such disregard for his own health, reports indicated that he had recently been dumped by his girlfriend (also an avid gamer) and had been fired from his job for repeated tardiness related to his gaming habits.
Gunbound MMO
Gunbound is an online turn based artillery game in a similar vein to Worms. In 2007 a Brazilian gang – La Firma – kidnapped the current top score account holder in order to sell his account. The accounts are reportedly traded illegally in a thriving online black market. In order to lure the hapless gamer into a trap, the gang used a girl to flirt with him – online. When he went to meet her, he was kidnapped and forced to reveal his account information, which the gang tried to sell for US$8000 via a website. Brazilian police were eventually able to arrest the gang.
Habbo Hotel
Habbo Hotel is an online social game in which 8 million monthly visitors can decorate their personal spaces with a variety of virtual goods purchased for real money. In 2007 a Dutch teen was nabbed for virtual burglary within the game. The thief set up fake Habbo websites and lured unsuspecting victims into parting with their account passwords. He then removed the furniture from their virtual spaces, and “hid” the stolen goods in his own room as well as those of five accomplices. Overall, just under US$6000 worth of virtual goods were pilfered. The teen was charged with burglary and hacking
A stunned Habbo Hotel furniture thief victim surveys the crime scene
Legends of Mir 3
Chinese gamers Qiu Chengwei and Zhu Caoyuan shared a glorious victory in the MMORPG Legends of Mir, receiving the Dragon Sabre weapon as a reward. Whilst Caoyuan was in possession of the virtual item, he decided to flog it on E-Bay for 7 200 Yuan (±R8 200 at current rates). Chengwei was incredibly displeased with this and decided to take the dispute to the local police, who were unable to mediate as there are no Chinese laws governing virtual property. Chengwei decided to take matters into his own hands, breaking into the home of Caoyuan and delivering a deadly stabbing to the chest. Chengwei was sentenced to life in prison, all in the name of a virtual item.
Halo 3
17 year old Daniel Petric found himself feeling rather angry after his father took away his copy of Halo 3 in 2009. Reports indicate that Daniel used his father’s key to open the lockbox which contained the game. Also inside was a 9mm handgun. Daniel entered his parents room and asked them to close their eyes as he had a surprise for them. He shot both of his parents in the head before fleeing from the scene with the game. Daniel’s father survived but his mother did not. The youth was tried as an adult and faces life imprisonment without parole.
GTA: Vice City
In 2003 one of the most infamous incidents of video game related violence took place. Having been detained for stealing a vehicle, 18 year old Devin Moore grabbed a gun from a police officer and used it to shoot and kill three officers, before fleeing in a stolen police cruiser. Upon his apprehension he told the arresting officers “Life’s like a video game. You’ve got to die sometime.” During his trial his defence team attempted to introduce evidence suggesting that GTA: Vice City had influenced his actions, but this was not allowed. Moore was found guilty and sentenced to death. This case sparked furious debate about the influence of violent computer games, and is the basis of an unresolved lawsuit against Sony.
So fellow gamers, just remember that “it’s only a game” and the world could be a better place.
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