In yet another tragic case where gaming kills, an excessive amount of gaming has caused the death of an 18 year-old in Taiwan. Identified only as Chang, the teenager checked into one of Taiwan’s gaming cafés for two days and played Blizzard’s Diablo III continuously. According to The Australian, he did not consume any food for those two days.
As an attendee entered his room on 15th July, he noticed Chang catching a few winks on the table. After he was woken up, Chang took a few steps and collapsed. He passed away shortly after being rushed to the hospital, where cardiovascular problems were cited as the cause of death since sitting for such prolonged periods of time (without eating or moving) can prove catastrophic for the body.
Blizzard has since then issued a statement to Gamespot Asia:
“We’re saddened to hear this news, and our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time. We don’t feel it would be appropriate for us to comment further without knowing all of the circumstances involved. While we recognise that it’s ultimately up to each individual or their parent or guardian to determine playing habits, we feel that moderation is clearly important, and that a person’s day-to-day life should take precedence over any form of entertainment.“
