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GameToo Much...... And Die!

A 24-year-old South Korean man died after playing computer games nonstop for 86 hours, police said yesterday. The jobless man, identified by police only by his last name Kim, was found dead at an Internet cafe in Kwangju, 260 kilometres southwest of Seoul, they said. Quoting witnesses, police detective Oh Myong-sik in Kwangju said the man had been virtually glued to the computer since late last Friday and had no decent sleep and meals. The man collapsed in front of the counter early yesterday but soon regained consciousness. He then went to the toilet where he later was found dead, the police officer said. Initial investigation ruled out the possibility of murder, police said. An autopsy was planned. Source Article can be found in The Sydney Morning Herald In related gaming news: sam_handelman writes "In an article on the front page of the online edition, (free reg required) the new york times takes a rather negative look at the rise of broadband gaming in South Korea. The author, Howard W French, is a Times staff writer, with a background in staggering human tragedy, which may help to explain why he thinks my hobby is an epidemic. There was a wired article about Korean broadband (summary: they have lots), which we already discussed."

52 of 851 comments (clear)

  1. Only 86 hours?!?? by ErikTheRed · · Score: 5, Funny

    Geez, dude needed to work on his stamina...

    --

    Help save the critically endangered Blue Iguana
    1. Re:Only 86 hours?!?? by Jace+of+Fuse! · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm getting the impression it's not uncommon within the gamer community.

      The difference between him and us is that we're smart enough to take our required dosage of Mountain Dew and Pizza.

      The old saying still stands...

      SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK.

      And there is the other one...

      DEATH IS NO REASON TO QUIT PLAYING.

      --

      "Everything you know is wrong. (And stupid.)"

      Moderation Totals: Wrong=2, Stupid=3, Total=5.
  2. Boots by Samus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thats the geek way of dieing with your boots on.

    --
    In Republican America phones tap you.
    1. Re:Boots by Guppy06 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Nah, the geek way of dying is saying the 1337-speak equivalent of "Hey, y'all! Watch this!" while chucking 3.5 lbs. of sodium into a lake.

  3. Oh no by Medevo · · Score: 4, Funny

    With the winter coming, and only me and quake 3 at home I might be next.

    Oh well, worse ways to go.

    Medevo

    1. Re:Oh no by Kowh · · Score: 5, Funny

      If you have an Athlon, at least you won't have to worry about freezing to death.

    2. Re:Oh no by Sharkyfour · · Score: 4, Funny

      LOL. So true, so true.

      Right now all the rooms in my house need the heat on to be bearable exceept the one w/my computer in it. That room still needs A/C.

  4. not the game's fault by outsider007 · · Score: 5, Funny

    He then went to the toilet where he later was found dead

    why wasn't this story called "Go to the toilet... and die!?"

    --
    If you mod me down the terrorists will have won
    1. Re:not the game's fault by Guppy06 · · Score: 5, Funny

      "why wasn't this story called "Go to the toilet... and die!?""

      Because we all should have learned that lesson by now with Elvis.

    2. Re:not the game's fault by guttentag · · Score: 5, Funny
      why wasn't this story called "Go to the toilet... and die!?"
      PHB: Good point, outsider. If he'd only stayed in his seat he'd still be alive today.

      Dilbert, I'd like you to write a proposal to choose a committee to draft a proposal for a new company policy that forbids programmers from leaving their seats during working hours.

      Asok: Why can't we just implement the new policy?

      PHB: Asok, go back to your seat right now if you want to live.

  5. Easy fix by InterruptDescriptorT · · Score: 5, Funny

    If the guy puts in a quarter quick enough, he may be able to resume where he left Earth...

    ...I mean off. :-)

    --
    Karma: Excellent Birds (mostly as a result of listening to Laurie Anderson)
    1. Re:Easy fix by MrEd · · Score: 5, Funny
      Well, look at it this way - at least he didn't have to pay for his 86-hour Internet Cafe bill!

      ... at least not in this world... >:)

      --

      Wah!

  6. Anyone know what game he was playing? by Tidan · · Score: 5, Funny
    Cause if he couldn't stop playing for 86 hours straight, it's probably worth checking out.

    Unless he was playing Super Mario Bros. 1, and got stuck in minus world. (Yea, I bet nobody remembers that)

    --
    free ipod? yeah.
    1. Re:Anyone know what game he was playing? by Snafoo · · Score: 5, Funny
      If you do that you will warp to a negatively numbered world which is an water level that keeps going.

      Oh wow. So if you complete a complex task perfectly, you're rewarded by being removed to a position where the work is repetitive, impossible and ultimately futile. Minusland is middle management!

      --
      - undoware.ca
  7. REDRUM!! by Anenga · · Score: 4, Funny
    Initial investigation ruled out the possibility of murder, police said.

    Hmmm... I don't know about that. Suspects include: (but not limited to) Orcs, Night Elfs, Zerglings, Hydras...
    1. Re:REDRUM!! by DoomedPhil · · Score: 5, Funny

      I guess I'm old, but I'd check to see if the bathroom light was out and interview a grue or two...

  8. I don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    He was fine when he was playing games. Obviously it was going to the crapper that killed him!

    1. Re:I don't get it. by King_TJ · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hey, if you ate LAN party quality snacks and drinks for 86 hours straight - you'd probably have one heinous session at the toilet too.

      Maybe it was just the smell that overpowered him?

    2. Re:I don't get it. by lithiumcloud · · Score: 4, Funny

      Playing Baldur's Gate II, whenever the game went into the loading screen you would get some sort of tip about the game. One of them reminded you to eat, saying they didn't want to lose any dedicated players.

      --
      This space intentionally left blank.
  9. /me . . . by acceleriter · · Score: 5, Funny

    . . . pours a bit of Red Bull on the side walk in memory of his homie. I hope I go down in glory like dat.

    --

    CEE5210S The signal SIGHUP was received.

  10. That's a long time to hold it... by Radi-0-head · · Score: 5, Funny

    Was it the first time in 86 hours that he had used the restroom? That would kill anyone.

  11. Suspicious that... by Xtraneous · · Score: 5, Funny

    He played for 86 hours, as in the X-86 architecture. So what's next? The new Apple Ad?

    It went like, beep beep beep, and then I died

    --
    .noitacidem deen uoy siht daer nac uoy fI
  12. bs by witort · · Score: 5, Funny

    now he's in heaven shouting "OMFG that was such bullshit!"

    1. Re:bs by JanusFury · · Score: 5, Funny

      Except he's shouting it in korean and 3 script kiddies are up there giving him funny looks and asking 'wtf d00d speek english'?

      --
      using namespace slashdot;
      troll::post();
  13. Re:Game? me too! me too! by diesel_jackass · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wouldn't it be funny if he was trying to beat Doom II? Or some other old game that everybody's beaten? And especially if he didn't make it past the first level or didn't know how to switch guns or something.

    Well, I guess it would be more tragic than funny, but due to the fact that it would be so darwinically sad, that it might get a chuckle or two.

    You like that word "darwinically"? I just made it up, hehe.

  14. I hope the poor sap saved his game by blackbeaktux · · Score: 5, Funny

    It'd be such a waste if he didn't. All that effort for nothing...

  15. This is why they need... by SteakandcheeseUm · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is why they need computers in the Bathrooms! geese!

  16. I'd love to know what he died OF by blackbeaktux · · Score: 5, Funny

    But then, if he was a true gamer, he obviously died from "natural causes"

  17. Darwin was Ahead of his Time by coupland · · Score: 4, Funny

    W00t! Computer games as an instrument of natural selection, you've gotta love it. And you thought we were doomed as a species....

  18. Lesson for Slashdotters by MisterSquid · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's a hard lesson to learn, but that's what happens when you don't take enough bathroom breaks while gaming.

    I mean, what a way to "go" . . .

    (Was it number 1 or number 2?)

    --
    blog
  19. Game Over by vvenka1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gives a different meaning to the phrase "Game Over"

  20. Was he playing Gauntlet? by flogger · · Score: 5, Funny

    Young Korean needs food...badly.

    --
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    "First things first -- but not necessarily in that order"
    -- The Doctor, "Doctor
  21. Good thing by G00F · · Score: 4, Funny

    Good thing we Americans are made of stronger stuff.

    --
    The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive
  22. Now he's living in a WarCraft III Game by Kalak · · Score: 5, Funny

    He's probably either:
    1.riding on the meat-wagon
    or
    2.has been resurrected by the Necromancer.

    --
    I am, and always will be, an idiot. Karma: Coma (mostly effected by .hack)
  23. Re:Counter-Strike by Phosphor3k · · Score: 4, Funny

    Replace CS with Tribes/Tribes2/Diablo 2.

    Rinse, Repeat. Thats the story of my first and only 3 semesters at college.

    Step 1 Gaming
    Step 2 ...
    Step 3 Degree!

  24. No, but the OS Makers by jasonditz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Failsafe against 86 hour fatal gaming runs is built into Windows, its called BSODs.

    Microsoft intentionally put them in there to make you go get a snack while rebooting, or conversely take a nap.

    This fellow was clearly using Mac OSX or Linux.

  25. A Korean named Kim by cjsnell · · Score: 4, Funny

    The jobless man, identified by police only by his last name Kim

    A Korean man named Kim...that certainly narrows it down!

    1. Re:A Korean named Kim by nick_davison · · Score: 5, Funny
      A Korean man named Kim...that certainly narrows it down!


      Well, the odds are one smaller, now.

  26. Re:Drat... by (startx) · · Score: 4, Funny

    The weeklong lan works, because eventually everyone has enough sense to get sleep (and get duct taped to the floor) every once in a while and eat wholesome pizza. This guy didn't.

    What? the duct taping isn't required? well shit.

  27. Finally! by __dtrance · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally, proof that I'm not as addicted to the computer as my wife claims!

    Thank's Slashdot!

  28. Man you moderators are SICK by AgentTim3 · · Score: 5, Funny
    *when the doctor had to manually extract the feces from his colon.

    HOW IN THE HELL?!?! does that get modded Interesting?!

    What, are you curious about the precise methodology of feces extraction that was used?
    How many of you would have clicked through if there had been a link "Would you like to know more?"

    Sickos.

  29. I just gotta say.... by theLOUDroom · · Score: 4, Funny

    Game over man!

    --
    Life is too short to proofread.
  30. Re:yeah great journalism here by Destoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    > why exactly was he sitting in one place for 86 hours again?

    It's called Camping.

    --
    Nouvelles de jeux et technologies en français. TC
  31. I wonder if a new Windows virus did it. by Zapdos · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder how long until the Weekly World News carries this story. "Man catches Computer Virus and Dies"

  32. Re:In other news... by elmegil · · Score: 5, Funny
    To all you liberals, grow up and start taking responsibility for your life, and make others take responsibility for theirs.

    As opposed to the conservatives who just want to lock you up for any mistake unless you're the governor's daughter?

    --
    7 November 2006: The day Americans realized corruption and incompetence weren't addressing 11 September 2001
  33. Re:My wife says I'm the worst in the world... by Washizu · · Score: 5, Funny

    My wife says I'm the worst in the world... and now I can prove her wrong.

    Actually, now you are.

    --
    OddManIn: A Game of guns and game theory.
  34. "Game over" or "The End" by kofox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Personally i hate games in which you completely defeat them and you get a nice big dick in the ass "Game over". That is what happens when you die from not being good enough at the game. "The end" is a reward from mastering the game and not being able to go any farther, hence "the end". Not to say this person reached the end of the game, and not to say he didn't deserve a "game over", but i am venting my frustrations with such games such as final fight for snes, or super smash brothers

  35. Re:In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gamers have no political allies. What should we do about it, you ask? Well, I'd like to welcome you to:

    The LAN Party

    We're a nationwide political party with growing influences around the globe, and our main focus is on the protection of the rights of gamers in America.

    Our motto is:

    Try us
    Realize our goal
    Open your mind
    Level the playing field
    Lead on to victory!

    If you are intersted in the LAN Party affiliations, please contact us at lanpolitics@lannational.com

  36. I'm not quite dead yet! by bluhatter · · Score: 5, Funny

    86 hours at the computer? That's nothing! I used to watch windows defrag!

    --


    bluHatter
  37. Police wonder.. by MoriarGryphon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Police later searched for the closest respawn point in hopes of getting more answers to no avail.

  38. The Perfect Soldiers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's about time the gov't gets hip to the perfect army it has in its own borders. In the USA, millions train everyday on various systems in the electronic art of FPS. It IS an art, it IS a skill and most importantly it IS addictive. Today's youth drafted would fair poorly on an actuall battleground, but controlling robots through various familiar and popular games as their GUI and they would be unstoppable. Imagine the teamwork of CTF Quake or Counterstike fully realized on a battlefield while the controllers sit back comfortably smoking bongs, drinking soda and ordering pizza.

  39. 86 hours playing games? by chegosaurus · · Score: 5, Funny

    He needs to get a life. Oh, err... sorry...