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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Greg Howson

Obsession leads to tragedy

Yet more MMORPG tragedy. Following on from the virtual sword stabbing comes news of the death of 4-month-old baby, who suffocated at home while her parents played World of Warcraft at a cyber cafe. There is something intrinsically addictive in MMORPG's - mainly the mix of socialising and regular, just-out-of-reach rewards - which leads them to become an obsession for some. This, however, is obviously a case of two people clearly not fit to be parents.

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