Virtual Divorce = Virtual Murder = Real Arrest
It's no secret that online gamers are crazy over MMORPGs in Asia. Sometimes, it seems, as in this case, they are crazy period.
A Japanese woman, 43, committed virtual murder after her virtual husband (yes, only in the world of the game Maple Story) virtually divorced her. Yep, in reality, it was all a simulation, as is what she did next.
Apparently she had acquired his password from one of his co-workers, so she logged into the game --- and deleted his avatar. While some might say, "so what," she's been arrested on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data.
BTW. Maple Story bills itself as the world's first side-scrolling MMORPG. It's also free.
The woman told police:
"I was suddenly divorced - without a word of warning. That made me so angry."
The woman lived in southern Miyazaki; the man lived 620 miles away in Sapporo. But since only in movies can we actually visit the "cyberspace scene of the crime," she had to make the trek to Sapporo. There is yet no word on if she will be officially charged. If she is, she could face up to five years in prison or a fine of more than $5,000.
A Japanese woman, 43, committed virtual murder after her virtual husband (yes, only in the world of the game Maple Story) virtually divorced her. Yep, in reality, it was all a simulation, as is what she did next.
Apparently she had acquired his password from one of his co-workers, so she logged into the game --- and deleted his avatar. While some might say, "so what," she's been arrested on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data.BTW. Maple Story bills itself as the world's first side-scrolling MMORPG. It's also free.
The woman told police:
"I was suddenly divorced - without a word of warning. That made me so angry."
The woman lived in southern Miyazaki; the man lived 620 miles away in Sapporo. But since only in movies can we actually visit the "cyberspace scene of the crime," she had to make the trek to Sapporo. There is yet no word on if she will be officially charged. If she is, she could face up to five years in prison or a fine of more than $5,000.
