Get ready to duck from the thrown stones, a novel for of punishment in virtual world Roma Victor is set to daunt future potential troublemakers from causing grief to other players: crucifixion .
From the Roma Victor website:
Cynewulf, who is the first player within Roma Victor to receive this brutal punishment, will be hung on a cross for a full seven days on full public display in the digital reconstruction of the provincial town of Corstopitum (modern day Corbridge in Northumberland, England).
... Crucifixion is to be used as a form of player 'ban' within the virtual world of Roma Victor, with the length of the ban reflecting the severity of the punishment. For cheating by exploiting a bug and advancing his or her character's skills unfairly, for example, a player might typically receive a seven-day ban; multiple or more serious offences will result in a longer (or even permanent) ban.
The cynic in me says that the PR team behind the "historically accurate" Roman era-set Massively Multiplayer Online Game have been gagging for someone to step out of bounds so they could coat the world's newsreaders with the controversy-provoking information. Indeed, the source of this story is just about everyone.
On the other hand, this is a novel approach to public humiliation in a genre in which consequences are limited and griefers - when caught - simply disappear.
Having said that, I prefer the post-modern way which Second Life punishes its errant Residents. More information on that here.
