Man Sues Lineage for Making him Addicted, Wants 20,000 hours of his life back

• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2010-08-21 03:15

  A federal judge is allowing a negligence lawsuit to proceed against the publisher of the online virtual-world game Lineage II, amid allegations that a Hawaii man became so addicted he is “unable to function independently in usual daily activities such as getting up, getting dressed, bathing or communicating with family and friends.”
  
  Craig Smallwood, the plaintiff, claims NCsoft of South Korea should pay unspecified monetary damages because of the addictive nature of the game. Smallwood claims to have played Lineage II for 20,000 hours between 2004 and 2009. Among other things, he alleges he would not have begun playing if he was aware “that he would become addicted to the game.”
  
  Smallwood, who did not immediately respond for comment, alleged that the company “acted negligently in failing to warn or instruct or adequately warn or instruct plaintiff and other players of Lineage II of its dangerous and defective characteristics, and of the safe and proper method of using the game.”
  
  Released in 2003 as a sequel to the original Lineage game, which was a national phenomenon in South Korea, Lineage II is an immersion 3-D MMORPG that gained a reported 600,000 users within a few years, and is still being regularly expanded and updated six years later — all the better to turn more vulnerable Americans into bleary-eyed shut-ins.
  
  U.S. District Judge Alan Kay refused to dismiss parts of Smallwood’s complaint this month, possibly clearing the way for a trial. ”In light of plaintiff’s allegations, the court finds that plaintiff has stated a claim for both negligence and gross negligence,” Kay ruled (.pdf).
  
  An attorney for the company was not immediately prepared to comment on Kay’s August 4 decision. But in a Tuesday court filing, NCsoft again urged the judge to dismiss the case.

  
  
  Addicted Gamer Sues Game-Maker, Says He is ‘Unable to Function’ | Threat Level | Wired.com
  
  If he is that addicted, the cat wonders how did he manage to get out of his home and file this lawsuit. Or a matter of fact, how he is able to remember to get to the courts for the case or call a lawyer.
  
  but really, the author of this article is no better.
  stereotyping those who play MMORPGS or online games as shut ins
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-08-21 03:23
  Wouldn't it be his fault for not controlling his own actions and stopping?
• Kansi wrote on 2010-08-21 03:27
  That's hilarious, blaming a game company for getting himself addicted. It ultimately was his own choice.
• Genny wrote on 2010-08-21 03:33

  
  Unable to function independently in usual daily activities such as getting up, getting dressed, bathing or communicating with family and friends.

  
  Seriously? He's addicted to some game, can't work for his sh*t and now he's suing them to feed him?
  
  Big. Time. Loser.
• MikeHo wrote on 2010-08-21 03:42
  He should just be f ing happy he didnt die...
  
  Its his choice to play the game get over it.
• Tatsu wrote on 2010-08-21 03:46
  How many Americans does it take to change a light bulb?
  
  Ten Americans. One to grab the ladder, one to get the light bulb, one to switch the bulbs, seven to file a lawsuit.
• Serathx wrote on 2010-08-21 03:46

  Quote from Bieber;132483:

  Wouldn't it be his fault for not controlling his own actions and stopping?

  
  
  Exactly.
  This lawsuit is just going to fail.
• Genny wrote on 2010-08-21 03:47

  Quote from Serathx;132506:

  Exactly.
  This lawsuit is just going to fail.

  
  Remember McDonald?
• Piko wrote on 2010-08-21 04:26
  Media fails. They always make us gamers look bad most of the time.
• Axx wrote on 2010-08-21 04:42
  Uh oh...because of the idiot judge, I see him winning ala trials against the tobacco companies. All MMOs are gonna have to come with a warning label stating that they contain addictive instances.
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-08-21 04:44

  Warning: Gameplay may take up several hours of your life. Make smart decisions while playing regarding how often. Consequences in life vary.

  
  
  x.x
• Finnea wrote on 2010-08-21 04:50
  If this passes with the court I'm gonna wonder about the cigarette industry.
• Invertex wrote on 2010-08-21 04:54
  Since the American judicial system really has nothing better to be doing, right?
• Genny wrote on 2010-08-21 05:13
  If only Mafias run MMO Publishing Companies....
• Zid wrote on 2010-08-21 16:49
  This would fall under the "Stupid" category of Fark.