Video Game addictions? should The game company be responsible?

[KOBEMON]

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=27829

Blizzard is facing a lawsuit from Chinese parents who claim that its fantasy game World of Warcraft killed their son.

According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, the 13 year old boy jumped to his death while reenacting a scene from the game.

The parents are backed by the anti-Internet addiction advocate Zhang Chunliang who has got 63 parents whose children have also allegedly suffered from online gaming addiction and plans to file a class-action suit.

Many Chinese parents contend that their children spend hours gaming in Internet cafes at the risk of their health, work, and school.

Old news but i didnt see a thread on this.... but this is only an example...

The real question is that do you think the video game industry should be liable and responsible for these video game addicts? and they should be the one to blame? I say the blame goes towards the parent who allowed their child to get so addicted to the game in the first place. I try to stay away from games so addicting like these, large internet RPG's could suck you in, then you find yourself playing countless ours on the computer.

[Soulja54]

I don't think the companies should be blamed. It's not really their fault. Depending on the kid's age, a lot of the blame can be put on the parents. They're responsible for what the child is exposed to and need to keep things like that within reason. Especially young kids....they're really impressionable and don't know what something like that can do to you. I've heard of people dropping out of school because of games...that's just stupid to me. At some point, they need to make their own decision about it but I think parents really need to watch their kids growing up. There's more to life than video games and staying inside the house....

Everything in moderation. That's how I see it.

[Flex187ad]

You cant really blame a company that develops items that are so entertaining it causes your kids to become addicted to them. The only alternative is to make the games, i dont know, not so good? And dont the ratings on the package usually express the reccomended age anyway dont they? So there shouldnt be a problem... It must just be negligent parents who allow their kids to do what they want despite their age.

[BBall Guy]

The parents are to blame for letting him play so much. Plus the kid is stupid for jumping to his death because he's already a teenager and should be pretty knowledgeable.

[lilballer72]

Theres no way in hell its the company's fault. Obviosly the parents. If the parents obviosly see the kid is playing 24 hrs a day, y dony you just take it away from him a little bit, or just make sure he only plays for a certain amount of time. The parents have no legibale reason for making their son reenact a scene from the game, unless the game told him to...

[Imadogg]

This is as dumb as fat people claiming it was McDonald's fault they're obese... no dumbass it's your fault for eating so damn much...

Of course the game company is not responsible

[yungflo]

Why post a source from a tabloid? all yellow jouralism

[Jazz 0230]

its both, the companies should take some responsibility but its also the parents, if they know its a violent game they should censor it.