All of us as gamers, at one time have felt that we where addicted to a video game. Whether it is World of Warcraft, or Halo, we have found ourselves playing countless hours neglecting everyday tasks such as bathing and family time, but have you ever felt that the developer was the cause of your problem?
It seems a Hawaiian man is making such a claim; Craig Smallwood 51 years old has opened a lawsuit against the South Korean based developer NCSoft. Smallwood states that the game Lineage II has left him debilitated in his everyday functions, his claim states that he is unable to get dressed, bathe, or communicate with friends and family in the real world. Smallwood states that he has played over 20,000 hours with in the Lineage II world and that NCSoft never warned him about the addictive nature of the game.
Smallwood alleges that he was hospitalized for three weeks and now has to undergo therapy three times a week due to Lineage II. Oahu law firm Bronster & Hoshibata, which represents NCSoft in the case, said Smallwood “fails to properly allege facts that would support each element of the emotional distress claim. As such, Smallwood has failed to properly give notice to NCSoft of the claims levied against it.”
The law firm that is representing NCSoft has placed a motion to have the suit dismissed, but a United States District Court Judge has agreed to hear the case and the proceedings will continue.
The big problem I have with this suit is the fact a judge is willing to hear out the claim of a grown man stating that he is addicted to a video game and that it is the fault of the developer. Where is the responsibility of the man to realize that he is spending to much time on any one thing, and use his reasoning to know that he might need to mange his time better? The judge can’t seriously be considering that this man has a valid complaint, to me this makes the legal system of the United States appear even more ridiculous than it has already is.
Everyone remembers the suits brought against McDonalds or cigarette companies, people need to start taking responsibility for their own actions and stop looking for a quick payout. Last time I checked NCSoft hasn’t hired armed goons to stand in your game room forcing you to sign in to your Lineage II account, the same way that McDonalds isn’t driving you through the drive thru every meal. McDonalds did not make you fat, the cigarettes didn’t just appear in your pocket, and Lineage II did not self install on this ass bags computer. He made the choice to buy the game and the choice to play it non-stop allowing his life to go down the toilet.
Hopefully, this judge realizes that the claim is utter Bullshit and throws it out before this becomes the latest epidemic that clogs up the legal system in the United States. If this suit goes through and this guy wins, where does it stop; parents suing because little Johnny makes bad grades in school because he was up late playing Halo, or people suing because they develop carpal tunnel syndrome from playing Call of Duty. When do we realize that we make our own decisions in life, and stop looking for big brother to make them for us?
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