Man Sues Publisher, Claims Game Addiction Ruined His Life

20 Aug 2010 | Posted by

lineage 2Wired.com is reporting that a Hawaii man (seriously? Hawaii? Go outside, dude!) is suing NCsoft of South Korea because their game, Lineage II, is too addictive and has left him unable to function independently. The plaintiff, Craig Smallwood alleges 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.

He also claims, and this is my favorite part, that he would never have started playing the game if he knew that he would become addicted to it. The suit goes on to say that between 2004 and 2009, he played Lineage II for 20,000 hours. Makes your mom’s Farmville obsession seem tame in comparision, eh?

Now, you get to be the judge. How would you rule in this case? Personally, I am of the opinion that if a few million people play a game or see a movie and only one or two act crazy, the problem is clearly with those one or two people, not the product. What do you think?

Source: Wired

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7 Comments »

  • Apollo733 said:

    Wow. I agree with you Anthony, it’s the people that have a problem and not the game itself. If games were truly addictive like Crack or Tobacco, then games like World of Warcraft would be either be illegal or taxed like crazy by the government. This is just a case of someone with a complete lack of self control, discipline, and who blames everyone else for their own problems.

    August 20, 2010 at 10:54 pm
  • ClanFever said:

    This is like those fat ass chicks that tried to sue McDonald’s for their fatness when it was their fault for eating unhealthily and not exercising. Same for this guy. Not the developers fault they made such a great game that some lunatic can’t get enough of. He should be thanking them for such a great game, not try to sue them.

    August 20, 2010 at 11:46 pm
  • zayven said:

    L-O-S-E-R.

    He should be thanking the publisher for giving his pathetic life some semblance of purpose.

    August 21, 2010 at 6:40 am
  • Nick said:

    Why is that dude not at the beach catching tasty waves and getting totally pitted…

    Fail.

    August 21, 2010 at 10:43 am
  • Julez said:

    bahahahah…
    wait..
    hahahaha.

    Oh man. I’m gonna sue STEAM for “allowing me to too easily spend money on fantastic deals, when I should be saving my money for better things… like beer.”

    just.great

    August 21, 2010 at 3:39 pm
  • Cossack69 said:

    You can’t blame the product for your own misuse.

    Man, I am disappoint.

    August 21, 2010 at 6:17 pm
  • lovetheladies said:

    At any point in this mans “addiction” period he could have stood up and done something else, it is completely and totally his decision to do what he wants with his time. So he should punch himself in the nuts

    August 21, 2010 at 9:34 pm