Killer Game

SEOUL (Reuters) – A South Korean man who played computer games
for 50 hours almost non-stop died of heart failure minutes after finishing
his mammoth
session in an Internet cafe, authorities said Tuesday.

The 28-year-old man, identified only by his family name Lee, had been playing
on-line battle simulation games at the cybercafe in the southeastern city
of Taegu, police said.

Lee had planted himself in front of a computer monitor to play on-line
games on Aug. 3. He only left the spot over the next three days to go to
the toilet and take brief naps on a makeshift bed, they said.

"We presume the cause of death was heart failure stemming from exhaustion," a
Taegu provincial police official said by telephone.

Lee had recently quit his job to spend more time playing games, the daily
JoongAng Ilbo reported after interviewing former work colleagues and staff
at the Internet cafe.

from Reuters (rhymes with goiters)

Further
evidence that drug-free entertainment like video games and gambling
can be just as addictive as heroin or crack. When
will people wake up to the seriousness of these addictions. We can’t
believe the latest rash of radio ads for Foxwoods, the nearby casino
in RI, which feature some poor schmuck talking to a psychiatrist,
and his every answer to word association cues have to do with gambling!

Shrink: Mother?

Schmuck: A Queen

Shrink: Brothers and sisters?

Schmuck: Three of a kind

Shrink: Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom

Schmuck: Straight flush

You get the idea. Seems like an awful smug and brazen
way to make light of a serious social and psychological problem afflicting
millions of Americans who are compulsive gamblers. Geronimo’s revenge?

Meanwhile, how to deal with these compulsive gamers?
At least some sort of warning on packaging and in gaming dens: "Prolonged,
uninterrupted use of these games may result in heart failure, stroke,
or severe nervous disorders." Just from the point of view of limiting
liability…..