Gamer Sues Over Being Addicted to MMO Gaming
A gamer has filed a lawsuit against publisher NCSoft, claiming that he is unable to function because of his Lineage II addiction.
Craig Smallwood says he has played a total of 20,000 hours of Lineage II over a period of five years, from 2004 to 2009. Smallwood believes his addiction has affected his quality of life and alleges in the suit that he is "unable to function independently in usual daily activities such as getting up, getting dressed, bathing or communicating with family and friends."
Smallwood is citing negligence in his claim for an unspecified amount of damages and says in the suit, according to Wired, that NCSoft should have issued a warning with the game, cautioning users about its addictive nature.
Wired reports that U.S. District Judge Alan Kay refused to dismiss parts of Smallwood’s complaint this month.
"In light of plaintiff’s allegations, the court finds that plaintiff has stated a claim for both negligence and gross negligence," the suit cites Kay as saying.
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Try the off button you dumb ass!
Yeeah that would have solved all of Craig's problems. I'm sure had he seen a warning like that in the store he'd have dropped the game and walked away.
he should be suing himself... for being stupid, and (i certainly believe) for ignoring his mom's angry scream to stop playing
Only in America could someone so stupid do this.
833 days out of 1825. WoW just wow. Its really his fault but shouldn't NCSoft steped in. they must have a tiny bit of responsibility to stop this guy from playing. i hope NCSoft win any case but they should of just stoped his connection
lol "Smallwood"
Anyway, if an MMO is truly addictive like a drug, then going cold turkey is not the answer. Taking away a heroin addict's fixes completely can sometimes be enough to kill them...
There's people in his own country and around the world suffering from homelessness, starvation, deprivation and serious illnesses such as cancer etc.. so fella, I think your priorities need a kick up the arse. Not some financial reward.
..yep, sure sounds like he had it bad. Yet despite his 'predicament' he still managed to eat and use the toilet, and had enough shelter, privacy and comfort to indulge in a recreational activity for five years solid. Now let me see..one does not have to get up, bath, care how they dress or who they communicate with..how many people would jump at the chance to live that kind of lifestyle?
I think the negligence being claimed is on Smallwood's part; that the alleged damage was self-inflicted. That he got some enjoyment from the game, else he wouldn't have played it for so long. During that time his overheads would have been what: electric? Food and beverages? Toilet paper? So in effect he could have saved a packet by not spending money on other forms of recreation or household bills, or countless other things.
Switch off the game - and switch on your head.
I am not saying computer games and web surfing can't be addictive, to the point where they're treated as a substitute for real life. I just think there can be other factors involved - if it were purely the game that's at at fault then wouldn't everyone who buys it automatically become as addicted as he claims he is? Where does this kind of blame culture end?
There is a reason why your coffee cups have a warning that it contains hot liquid, and why packets of nuts have a warning that they contain nuts and for the exact same reason games are soon going to have a warning about addictive natures, people are IDIOTS! Greedy Idiots! It'll happen, this guy is just trying to be the first to get some money out of it. It's been tried before and I think the games market will eventually have a disclaimer somewhere in the back of the manuals.
There is a reason why your coffee cups have a warning that it contains hot liquid, and why packets of nuts have a warning that they contain nuts and for the exact same reason games are soon going to have a warning about addictive natures, people are IDIOTS! Greedy Idiots! It'll happen, this guy is just trying to be the first to get some money out of it. It's been tried before and I think the games market will eventually have a disclaimer somewhere in the back of the manuals.
Sad, but true.
and will it honestly make any difference? as Hallsworth has already said, would a warning really have changed anything, would it have made him not buy it? or to stop playig after 2 hours? all the warning will be there for is to protect the maker from stuid people like himself
Some years ago my relative got in trouble for ditching class so he could go downtown and play 'Space Invaders' all day. I say "in trouble" because rather than run out and sue the company who invented the game, my relative was held to blame by all concerned. There was no warning label on the game that it could cause addiction, either.
He learned from his experience and grew up to find other interests.
How times change.
He should be suing his parents not NCSoft. For NCSoft though this is a win all the way and why the addage "All publicity is good publicity" works every time. "Too addictive" - what great advertising for them!
He can't dress or bathe, but can file a lawsuit? Gimme a break!
Try Try Try & Try Again
Addicted lol
I can barely play more than 2 hour lol
If this frivolous lawsuit wins then expect some sort of DRM-stryle lock-down that limits you to 4 hours/day of playtime on all new games (with compusory 15 minute breaks every hour to prevent eyestrain, arthritis and epilepsy). =(
It's quite sad how it's affected his life but thats what all games are meant to do. The makers of the game make money because people buy it. People buy it because it's fun. The problem is that some people just don't know when to stop and so they get addicted.
Why do I have a feeling they are going to compare this game to cigarettes or alcohol?