Taking Online Gaming Too Far

[mcguppy]

SOURCE<
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>Real-life murder in online gaming dispute<
>Last Updated Tue, 01 Jan 35906937 23:02:06 EST <
>CBC News<
>A court in China has sentenced an online gamer to death for the real-life murder of a fellow player after a confrontation over a virtual weapon. <
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>The dispute involved the ownership of a "dragon sa
e" in the fantasy game Legend of Mir III. <
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>The court in Shanghai found Qiu Chengwei, 41, guilty of stabbing to death Zhu Caoyuan. <
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>But the court suspended the death sentence for two years and good behaviour might ultimately reduce the sentence from death to 15 years, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. <
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>Tens of millions of Chinese play online games, which are often violent. <
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>Zhu sold the virtual sa
e used in the online game after Qiu had only lent it to him. <
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>Qiu reported the loss to police in Fe
uary, but they said the computer sa
e wasn't a real thing protected by law. <
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>He then demanded the money Zhu had earned from the sale, 7,200 yuan, or about $1,000, but couldn't wait for payment. He attacked Zhu in his home, stabbing him repeatedly in an early morning assault. <
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>Qiu turned himself in to police, saying he did not intend to kill Zhu. <
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>But Zhu's family wants Qiu to receive the full weight of the law, and plans to appeal the suspended sentence. <
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>"We want Qiu to die, and immediately," the victim's father said. <
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> "Dont' try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring, besides that, they're facist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic." - Crash Davis in Bull Durham <
><i></i>

[frog hopping kilik]

Yeah, I saw about this earlier today. While I don't this necessitates the creation of laws dealing with virtual property involved in cases like this, I do think it just serves as a reflection of how pathetic some people are. Seriously - it's a virtual sword. It's not even real. Don't worry about it. <
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>"When someone beats you with a flashlight, you shine light in all directions."<
>Ph33r flashlights.<i></i>

[DEVILRAYS]

I do think there need to be laws about the creation of virtual property, since people create virtual characters in games like Everquest and then sell them. Part of me thinks these could be under-the-table deals, but if people are going to get this worked up, then they need the same kind of sale standards that eBay has, or maybe better ones.<
><
>But yeah, kilik's right...this is pretty dumb. Killing over a matter of $1,000 is dumb enough; killing over a matter of $1,000 for a virtual sword is just inane. <i></i>

[Lagoon Bug]

If I ran the company who made an online game where weapons are so rare that people are selling them for real money, I'd just say "screw it" and program many copies of that weapon. I wouldn't want people to be exchange real money over stuff like that. That's retarded. EXECUTE ORDER 66<i></i>

[Ingrid]

Wow...unbelievable! <
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> <
><i></i>

[soloist]

Sad, but not uncommon such situations<
>are - for I read of another scenario<
>similar to this one and dealing<
>with the same issue. Sellin-<
>g online weaponry shou-<
>ld not be allowed sin-<
>ce it cheapens the<
>experience and<
>discredits th-<
>ose who w-<
>orked ha-<
>rd for t-<
>heir i-<
>tem-<
>s.<
><
>(in my opinion...) <i></i>

[Ajax Yung Sesam]

IC: I'll be the first to admit that owning powerful items and spells in an online game is cool. <
><
>OOC: After all, like iPods and certain trading cards, they're status symbols. To have those things means you have been around the world more than once.<
><
>IC: I remember wanting a spring mantle, but they were incredibly rare. A person would have to get the wool, successfully weave it (requiring hours of skill and being a certain level), and successfully tailor it (which, again, requires great abilities and an even higher level). If you wanted one, the tailor would have to be willing to part with it (usually at a high price).<
><
>OOC: I would never kill someone for one of those things. That's taking the online world too far.<
><
>IC: But, in certain situations, you have to allow online trading take place. If I was a smithsman instead of a tailor, I don't know how long it would've been until I got the mantle. Maybe never.<
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>OOC: My point is, creating an online market with virtual property is not good or worthwhile to the spirit of gaming...<
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>IC: ...but it's necessary in some situations.<
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>OOC: I almost played Legend of Mir once. I can't tell you if that sword was limited in supply or how difficult it was to obtain. I can tell you two important rules this guy
oke.<
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>IC: Never loan out something that valuable...<
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>OOC: ..and never kill over something that worthless. <i></i>

[soloist]

Greetings, Ajax... and welcome back to the<
>Blahblah Roundtable!!! How goes thee?<
>Tis been a while since your tales h-<
>ave graced the walls of this rea-<
>lm (laughs). My only concern<
>is where then will the line<
>be drawn so as to buil-<
>d a respectable com-<
>munity for newbi-<
>es and skilled<
>players to<
>co-exis-<
>t the-<
>n? <i></i>

[Captain Zap]

Welcome back, Ajax! <i></i>