subject: S Korean dies after games session posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 13:01:36 +0100
[note to self: so that's what happens if you stay up too long!!!]
S Korean dies after games session
A South Korean man has died after reportedly playing an online
computer game for 50 hours with few breaks.
The 28-year-old man collapsed after playing the game Starcraft at an
internet cafe in the city of Taegu, according to South Korean
authorities.
The man had not slept properly, and had eaten very little during his
marathon session, said police.
Online gaming in South Korea is extremely popular thanks to its fast
and widespread broadband network.
Games are televised and professional players are treated, as well as
paid, like sports stars.
Professional gamers there attract huge sums in sponsorship and can
make more than $100,000 a year.
Growing problem
The man, identified by his family name, Lee, started playing
Starcraft on 3 August. He only paused playing to go to the toilet and
for short periods of sleep, said the police.
"We presume the cause of death was heart failure stemming from
exhaustion," a Taegu provincial police official told the Reuters news
agency.
He was taken to hospital following his collapse, but died shortly
after, according to the police. It is not known whether he suffered
from any previous health conditions.
They added that he had recently been fired from his job because he
kept missing work to play computer games.
Small minority
Online computer games are some of the most popular and largest growth
areas in interactive entertainment.
Players can easily get immersed and feel compelled to play for hours
at a stretch, particuarly in massively multiplayer online role
playing games - MMORPGs - in which thousands of gamers play and
interact in shared fantasy or science fiction worlds.
Reports of gamers spending 10 to 15 hours a day in front of video
games, such as the highly popular World of Warcraft and EverQuest,
are becoming more frequent. Experts say gamers should take regular
screen breaks.
Psychologist Professor Mark Griffiths, author of several in-depth
studies into online gaming and gambling addiction, told the BBC News
website that, according to his research, playing excessively was not
problematic in any shape or form for the majority of gamers.
He said: "It does seem to be the case that online gaming addiction
for a small minority is a real phenomenon and people suffer the same
symptoms as traditional addictions.
"But the good news is that it is a small minority."
In one detailed survey of 540 gamers, Professor Griffith and his team
found that there were four playing more than 80 hours a week, which
is considered "excessive".
He explained many people liked to play MMORPGs for long periods of
time because of the social aspect of the games.
"They are the types of games that completely engross the player. They
are not games that you can play for 20 minutes and stop.
"If you are going to take it seriously, you have to spend time doing
it," he said.
But he warned there was a difference between "healthy enthusiasm" and
"unhealthy addiction." People who sacrificed jobs, partners and loved
ones were considered "extreme players".
Unlike help for traditional addictions, such as gambling, there is
very little help for computer game addiction, he said.
"It is not take seriously yet - it is the same for internet
addiction," he said.
He advised anyone worried about gaming addictions should contact
their local GP and get referred to a psychologist.
More than 15 million people, or 30% of the population, are registered
for online gaming in South Korea. The country also host the annual
World Cyber Games.
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