Guy Sues Online Game Company NCSoft, Saying That Lineage II Is Too Addictive
from the personal-responsibility? dept
Apparently, a federal district court is allowing a guy to sue NCSoft for making the super popular online game Lineage II too addictive. Seriously:Craig Smallwood, the plaintiff, claims NCsoft of South Korea should pay unspecified monetary damages because of the addictive nature of the game. Smallwood claims to have played Lineage II for 20,000 hours between 2004 and 2009. Among other things, he alleges he would not have begun playing if he was aware "that he would become addicted to the game."This sounds like the sort of case that should be easily dismissed, but not so fast according to the judge. You can read the judge's full ruling here:
Smallwood, who did not immediately respond for comment, alleged that the company "acted negligently in failing to warn or instruct or adequately warn or instruct plaintiff and other players of Lineage II of its dangerous and defective characteristics, and of the safe and proper method of using the game."
Of course, we still haven't seen any evidence that video games create a real addiction issue. Yes, people can get very into games, but to the point of being "unable to function independently" seems a bit extreme. Anyway, the court does dismiss some of the claims, pointing out that he fails to make the case for "intentional misrepresentation," "negligent misrepresentation," "intentional infliction of emotional distress" and "unfair and deceptive trade practices." However, the court does find that Smallwood can at least move forward on claims of "defamation," "negligence and gross negligence," and "negligent infliction of emotional distress," though the judge still does sound a bit skeptical that those will really go anywhere.
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Filed Under: addiction, defamation, lawsuits, lineage ii, negligence, video games
Companies: ncsoft
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so if the game was crappy
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Re:
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From free MMORPG Gekkeiju Online's registration page:
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From free MMORPG Gekkeiju Online's registration page:
Awesome....
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Re: From free MMORPG Gekkeiju Online's registration page:
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There's a wiki page for free MMO games, and I also came across this gem: http://www.nationstates.net
I'm going through the FAQ now, but it looks pretty sweet!
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Re: From free MMORPG Gekkeiju Online's registration page:
CBMHB
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However this isn't 1950. Its not like such things are a well hidden secret (like how the tobacco industry denied the damaging effects of smoking for decades).
I really do feel sorry for him and his situation but I think he's going to have a hard time trying to hold NCSoft responsible for this. (It would be like someone who has been smoking for 5 years trying to sue because they developed throat cancer).
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I have no idea how you are so supposed to hold NCSoft responsible for that. Oh, I know:
"Shame on you for not providing medical counselling for each and every one of your players. You should have known that 1/1000000 people would take your game as Srs Bsns."
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That's why I mentioned smoking. If this were say 1995 when there might have been 2 major MMOs on the market and no one really knew about them yes MAYBE he would have an argument but these days you can't help but trip over an ad for some MMO or another. Just like smoking. I'll have more sympathy for a person that's been smoking since the 40's before the real damage of smoking was widely known than someone who just started 5 years ago.
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Save me from myself society
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Do the math
20,000 hours / 6 years / 365 days = 9.13 hours per day, every single day for those six years.
Yes, I would say that this guy's ability to function was lost.
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Re: Do the math
* This really does become the thought pattern - "I'd just be up watching TV anyway but now I get to play a game too!"
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WOW
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Personal Responsibility is Cool
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Re: From free MMORPG Gekkeiju Online's registration page:
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In the end, I was totally out of control, I knew I hit rock bottom when my box mate kicked me out onto the ally... I had to take action, and so, I deleted my character (Elf up) and with him, went all of my daemons.
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I feel for the guy
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functioned quite well for 20,000 hrs
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Need Lawyer
Because of my addiction to HBO content I was unable to search for a new job. Eventually my unemployment ran out and my cable got shut off. Now I am unable to function at all and have suffered devastating mental trauma.
Please, we need to set an example here. We must force all content that is remotely interesting to anyone to display huge and intrusive warnings and pay me a few million in punitive damages on top of actual damages. And a free lifetime subscription to HBO.
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Class Action Lawsuit!
Therefore, he should raise a class action lawsuit against all Women for gross negligence of video game nerds. If he wins, that would mean that all women will be required to sleep with at least 1 video game nerd to save them from this addiction.
I'll be the first in line baby...
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Class Action Lawsuit!
Therefore, he should raise a class action lawsuit against all Women for gross negligence of video game nerds. If he wins, that would mean that all women will be required to sleep with at least 1 video game nerd to save them from this addiction.
I'll be the first in line baby...
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Wrong Lawsuit
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free online games
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