A gamer from South Korean has suffered a cardiac arrest after a 50 hour session of popular sci-fi game Starcraft. The 28 year old man, identified only by surname Lee, started playing on August 3rd. During his 3 day gaming session, he had nothing to eat and only stopped for brief periods of sleep or to visit the toilet.
Taegu police told Reuters that the likely cause of death was "heart failure stemming from exhaustion". The man was taken to hospital when he was found collapsed in an internet cafe, although he died shortly after. It is also reported that Lee had recently quit his job to spend more time playing computer games.
This is another case that will cause concern for groups that study the psychological effects that games can have on players. Reports indicate that popular MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) can grip players for up to 15 hours at a time, and the full effects of this are yet to be seen.
This, and the recent controversy stemming from the secret sexual content found in Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has put gamers back in the media spotlight. Whilst many family groups criticse games, some argue the attention is unwarrented. Many point to the positive elements of games, teaching skills, models and learning skills. One might conclude that certain games are the 'rock and roll' of the day; the problem is undoubtedly generation, and only time will solve it.
News source: BBC News
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