Man Arrested for Muggings in Lineage II

FormFactorFormFactor At the core of forgotten
edited August 2005 in Science & Tech
New Scientist reports that a man has been arrested in Japan on suspicion of carrying out a virtual mugging spree by using software "bots" to beat up and rob characters in the online computer game Lineage II. The stolen virtual possessions were then exchanged for real cash.

Several players reportedly had their characters beaten and robbed of valuable virtual objects, which could have included the Earring of Wisdom or the Shield of Nightmare. The items were then fenced through a Japanese auction website, according to NCsoft, which makes Lineage II. The assailant was a character controlled by a software bot, rather than a human player, making it unbeatable.
Ren Reynolds, a UK-based computer games consultant and an editor of the gaming research site Terra Nova, says the case highlights the problem of bots in virtual worlds.

"There's an ongoing war between people who make bots and games companies," he told New Scientist. "And making real money out of virtual worlds is getting bigger."
Source: New Scientist

Comments

  • RADARADA Apple Valley, CA Member
    edited August 2005
    OK.... Lemme get a piece of paper so I can plot this out.....


    He was arrested in real life for virtually assaulting a virtual character, and stealing a virtual item, which he later sold for real money............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. :wtf::scratch: my head hurts, I'm going to go lie down now.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2005
    Japanese law set a precedent that gives real value to digital items; the US has not gone down that road, which is why Blizzard and Sony Online Entertainment have been slow to ban and punish gold-sellers. Once you admit they have real value, item reimbursements can become a matter of Federal Law. Slippery slope.
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited August 2005
    I'm sorry but thats too cool.
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited August 2005
    Buddy Jesus wrote:
    I'm sorry but thats too cool.
    Indeed. All the SF stories of my youth are coming true.

    To all the teachers who confiscated them as "far-out trash", blehhhh!!! :D
  • airbornflghtairbornflght Houston, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2005
    wow, that is about dumb...

    i would just go find that guy in real life, mug him in real life, take his items in real life, and sell it for real money. much more logical.

    "what are you in for?"

    "I killed two people..."

    "where?"

    "On the internet."

    "ok...you just became my prison xxxxx"
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited August 2005
    I could see banning the player involved from the game, but actually putting him in prison? :rolleyes:
  • JengoJengo Pasco, WA | USA
    edited August 2005
    wow... talk about taking something WAY too seriously...

    whats next? are they gonna arrest you for killing someone in counter-strike?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2005
    Let's just start with arresting people for playing Counter-Strike.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited August 2005
    Thrax wrote:
    Let's just start with arresting people for playing Counter-Strike.
    ;D Great idea
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