Parents suing Blizzard for World of Warcraft addiction

Nov
2005
20

posted by on Ramblings

7 comments

A thirteen year-old Chinese boy jumped to his death last year from a 24 story building, allegedly after playing too much World of Warcraft. The parents of the boy are now suing game maker Blizzard with the help of lawyer and “internet game addiction researcher.” The legal team also plans on filing class action suits against “the whole game industry on behalf of other parents.”

How liable should game developers be for the consumers that use their products? Though unfortunate, this case and the passing blame over a tragic situation seems very similar to the age-old violence and video games debate.

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  • DT

    It is sad to here something like this, but sueing blizzard is not the answer, and I think that the parents should of paid more attention to their Son and could of prevent this from happening. In the end money those not make you happy,the lost of a son will always be their.

    and wats up with everybody sueing business, for their mistakes

  • http://completehealthblog.com/ Edward Hill

    yes, it should blame for the parent, but blizzard have also responsible for this case because they are the developer of this game. so, it is responsible for every parents to give advise to their children not to play games like World of warcraft.
    .-= Edward Hill´s last blog ..Bladder Infection And Its Remedies =-.

  • Miller

    This is a sad story to hear, but is Blizzard really to blame? I say no, being a former WoW player myself I know the alluring pull that the game delivers to a gamer. It’s not Blizzards fault for producing a game that does what its supposed to do (Be good at bringing them business and providing a rich gaming experience), it is the parents fault not only for not paying attention to what their child was doing with all his time, but also because as part of the game blizzard has a easily managed parental control setup so parents can monitor and set certain time of the day the child can play, as well as certain time spans in which they can play it. In any case where something happens to a child or something happens involving a child or teen doing something outlandish or extreme, parents are always quick to pull the trigger on someone else instead of taking blame for being poor parents. It’s truly nauseating, and in regard to the age old “Games inducing violence in children debate” is utter BS in the highest regard, any time an adolescent acts out in a rage or violent burst the finger is pointed to Television or video games, well guess what its not. Back before television and video games children were just as violent, playing swords with sticks, throwing stones, etc. The “Professionals” that make these claims have fancy degrees in behavioral science and they no nothing, they deny that human nature is to be violent we are animals, boys pick on each other in feeble attempts to feel superior to one another which is basically them trying to take hold of the title “Alpha Male”. They may not know why they are doing it but in essence that is what causes violence in boys and men, slice the cake any way you wish it’s still a cake. Look at history of mankind it’s paved in violence and blood, yet we deny that it’s in our nature . . .how blind and ignorant. Before video games and T.V., it was comics and music, before that it was violent radio shows, how many generations are to pass until people start accepting that only those of weak minds, or those who suffer from mental disorders are the ones that are susceptible to the violence in any form a medial entertainment. This boy was 13 years old, chances are he didn’t buy the game himself and he didn’t pay the monthly access fee with his credit card. End lesson: Pay attention to your kids! Stop placing blame for your futile neglect to raise your child or monitor their health.

  • http://aisforamerica.com Coast guard gifts

    I was pretty much addicted to World of Warcraft for a solid year before I had to give my account away to my guild leader in order to break the addiction.

  • Jackson Fred

    man parents are sooooooooooooo wierd these days, lik really, wats da point of sueing blizzard? they know they ain’t gonna win, they’ll just end up like when Peter Griffin sued McBurgertown because he ate 30 burgers. They ain’t gonna win, and c’mon, Blizzard is just doin there jobs like every game makin company, make da most addictin and awesome game ever. They didnt make the addiction on purpose, there job is to make money, they are not to blame, no one is!(maybe Satan did it).

  • Jackson Fred

    and when they sue blizzard fr alot of money, but wats good bout that? didnt they learn anything wen some kid’s parents sued Ozzy Osbourne because there kid siucided? like jesus, they won’t succeed! and like even if they got alot of money, blizzard maybe will lose too much money, and has to shut down, and wat’s good bout that? we’ll lose our fun, many people will lose there jobs, and it’ll pretty much damage the economy. so those mad parents, dont sue blizzard, even if they really is the reason your son suicided, they are innocent, suin is like revenge, i dont mean its bad to sue( lik every people need justice and freedom) ,if u sue them , wats da difference between u guys and blizzard? ur kid won’t reborn, and blizzard will lose a whole tons of money, or maybe need to shut down, and many will end up as bad as u are right now, or even worse, and many people will lose our fun.

  • http://www.iphone4jailbreak.org Sourish @ Iphone 4 Jailbreak

    these computer games are addictive