Taiwan Teen Killed Over Online Game Dispute
Fantasy slaying leads to real homicide.
Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
TAIPEI -- The killing of a Taiwanese teenager in a brutal knife attack
at an Internet cafe over a dispute involving the Blade&Sword Online
computer game has raised concerns over violence on the normally
tranquil Pacific island.
"(The assailant) didn't know the difference between reality and
fantasy," lamented the Apple Daily, which splashed a graphic depiction
of the assault across its front page Tuesday.
The local TVBS news station suggested the violence of the game played
a role in the attack.
"In the bottom corner of the game, there's a sign that pops up and
tells players to 'kill until your eyes are red,'" a TVBS commentator
said. In Chinese culture, red eyes are associated with extreme anger,
bordering on insanity.
Blade&Sword gamemaker, Pixel Studios of Beijing, was not immediately
available to comment on the incident.
The dispute occurred after the 19-year old killed in the attack, Lee
Hon-hui, used his character in the online game to slay an opposing
player. Angry over being knocked out of the game, the alleged
assailant left the Internet cafe and headed straight for a hardware
store to buy a long machete-like knife, according to TVBS. He then
allegedly returned and attacked Lee.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,121552,tk,dn062205X,00.asp
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"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty."
-- Author Unknown
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