It can be hard to stop playing online games, especially if you are engrossed in make-believe pixelated worlds and focused on beating your last high score. But a teenager took his love of the game to fatal extremes.
A Taiwanese teenager died at an internet cafe after playing Diablo 3, a popular online video game, for 40 straight hours, says Taiwan’s United Daily News broadsheet. The 18-year-old, identified only as Chuang, booked a private room at the cafe in Tainan, in southern Taiwan, around noon on July 13th 2012 and played for nearly two days without stopping to eat.
Fatal aftereffects
On the morning of July 15th 2012, a staff member of the cafe entered the room and found Chuang resting on a table. After the staff member woke Chuang up, the boy stood up, tried to walk and then collapsed.
Chuang was pronounced dead after arriving at a local hospital. Police are investigating the cause and an autopsy is being carried out. According to the report, the actual cause of death is unknown, but police have speculated that long hours in a seated position created cardiovascular problems for Chuang.
Preventing gaming addiction
It’s not easy to get your teenager to stop playing online games since being online is such an integral part of life these days. But recognise that online or computer gaming addiction is as serious as other compulsive behaviour and addictions (such as gambling).
Watch out for these signs of addiction
- Lying to parents about how much time spent playing computer or video games
- Playing computer or video games results in feelings of pleasure or guilt that seem uncontrollable.
- Spending more and more time playing video or computer games.
- Withdrawing from friends and, family, to the point of disrupting family, social, or work life
- Experiencing feelings of anger, depression, moodiness or restlessness when not gaming
- Spending large sums of money for online services, hardware and gaming systems
- Thinking obsessively about being on the computer or playing video games even when away
If you have noticed any of these warning signs in a your child or another family member, talk to them but try not to judge straight away. But let them know you are concerned about them. There are many counseling services available for people dealing with compulsive behaviours like game addiction.
