Another South Korean gamer has died this week, this latest excessive-gaming death coming after a fifty-hour session in an internet café in the city of Taegu. The man, who had lost his job after skipping work to play videogames, reportedly died of heart failure induced by exhaustion. The man had apparently not slept and had eaten very little during this dangerous bout of games-playing; and it seems more than a little likely the man - 'Lee' - was very depressed at the time of his death. Such occurrences are becoming increasingly popular in games-mad Korea, where games are among the nation's most popular pastimes.

"It does seem to be the case that online gaming for a small minority is a real phenomenon and people suffer the same symptoms as traditional addictions," commented online gaming expert Psychologist Professor Mark Griffiths. "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 added.

Griffiths also warned that such deaths will only increase as MMOG titles grow in popularity, but stated that fortunately only a small fraction of gamers grow addicted to the experience. 30% of the entire South Korean population are registered online games players, a staggering proportion given the infancy of the hobby in other nations. More soon.

By Luke Guttridge

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  1. Paranitis Unregistered 4 years ago

    I am one of those who are addicted to World of Warcraft, but I am not stupid enough to give up eating and sleeping..I sleep, eat, play, eat, play, sleep, then repeat it every day.

  2. Hansel Unregistered 4 years ago

    To be blunt, you are stupid. Sleep, eat, play, Sleep, eat, play? That sounds like you are pretty stupid. You are addicted to it and by the way, there is no need to retaliate to this comment. I won't be checking this again.
    Cut down on the gaming.
    Gretel

  3. Shinobi Unregistered 4 years ago

    This guy is a lightwieght theres this guy on Diablo 2 that hasn't sleeped for a week . (But im sure he slep).

  4. Shikamaru Unregistered 1 year ago

    There is no reason to be harsh on anyone playing video games. If thats all u got to do, then thats all you got to do.

    just dont be unaware that you havnt eaten and starve yourself.
    that is something a noob would do.

  5. Janek Unregistered 1 year ago

    LOL? Real? hahahahaahhaahhaha this guy sux ... how can play 50 hours no stop no sleep , eat , drink lol?i think he was in hes life ...

  6. wowplayer Unregistered 3 months ago

    poor korean guy, here in russia i know some ppl who play 4-days with no sleep brake and still alive)