Thread: Another Victim of WoW

A terrible way to end a day of gaming....

http://www.thelocal.se/15742.html
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Swedish boy collapses after 20-hour World of Warcraft binge[/size]

Published: 17 Nov 08 15:28 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/15742/20081117/

A 15-year-old boy from western Sweden collapsed and went into convulsions on Sunday afternoon after playing the World of Warcraft computer game for 20 hours straight.

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* Swedes' virtual church to bring online gamers to Jesus (16 Oct 08)

The boy was one of seven friends who had gathered on Saturday at the 15-year-old’s home in Laholm for to play the video game, a new version of which was released last week in Sweden.

“They played all day and all night. Maybe they got a few hours of sleep. They ate a little food and breakfast at their computers,” the boy’s father told the Kvällsposten newspaper.

At around 2:00pm on Sunday, the boy had what appeared to be an epileptic seizure.

“We were terrified and called rescue services,” said the father.

At the hospital, doctors said the boy’s bodily systems had been thrown off by a combination of sleep deprivation, lack of food, and too long a stretch of concentrated game playing.

While the boy is expected to make a full recovery, his father said he plans on limiting the amount of time his son is allowed to play computer games.

He has taken it upon himself to warn parents of the other boys about the dangers of extended game playing.

“They also think the boys need to reduce the amount of time they play and will themselves be more vigilant,” said the father.

Officials from the Game Over treatment centre in Linköping in central Sweden have noticed a spike in calls from concerned parents since the release of the latest World of Warcraft installment, Wrath of the Lich King.

“It’s been a huge problem. We have parents who call everyday and ask,” said Game Over’s Emilie Backlund to the Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) newspaper.

She has seen a steady rise in computer game addiction, with most cases stemming from those playing online fantasy games such as World of Warcraft and Counter Strike.

“And it’s not only a problem for young people. Adults have also contacted us and it really doesn’t matter how old you are,” Backlund told SvD.

The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

The fathers a fuckin moron. Who in there right mind would let there kid play for 20 hours strait? Or not make sure the kid ate something? Rediculus.

ahaha

A orc witch doctor must have put a hex on him.

And the parents were... where?

Anyone else getting tired of hearing video games being mentioned in practically every teenage or child death? "A 17-year old male was struck and killed by a sedan while skateboarding across a street. Detectives suspect the teen got the idea from Tony Hawk's Pro Skateboarding game, in which players can be struck by a car while skateboarding and simply get up and continue on their way a few seconds later."

Christ. :3

Originally Posted by Langrad

The fathers a fuckin moron.  Who in there right mind would let there kid play for 20 hours strait?  Or not make sure the kid ate something? Rediculus.

I played NASCAR 06 for 48 hours and I am fine now.

Yes I ate and drink. That is it. Then I stopped because I could not look strait and my mom yelled like hell at me.

Originally Posted by Tick

And the parents were... where?

Anyone else getting tired of hearing video games being mentioned in practically every teenage or child death? "A 17-year old male was struck and killed by a sedan while skateboarding across a street. Detectives suspect the teen got the idea from Tony Hawk's Pro Skateboarding game, in which players can be struck by a car while skateboarding and simply get up and continue on their way a few seconds later."

Christ. :3

I agree with the talking insect .

Theres several things wrong with this. First its partially there parents fault because they let him play for 20 hours and didn't make him take a break to rest and or get some good food in him. Second The kid should have taken it upon himself to stop and take short breaks to get something to eat and stretch.
I have stayed up much longer than 24 hours playing video games and never felt anything wrong. My parents made me stop to walk the dog and to eat but other wise i was playing and i turned out fine.
And yea Tick I'm sick and tired of hearing about videogames blamed as the reason for a person doing something. When it involves guns its the parents responsibility to teach there kids about them. When it comes to people doing stupid things that u can do in games and not in real life its also partially the parents fault but it is mainly Darwins Law.

Video games are for entertainment. If you want to stay on for as long you want that means the games is very good. I say it is the kids fault not the parents. Because when he turns 20, his parents may not be there.