Taiwan: Gamer’s death at internet cafe goes unnoticed for nine hours

I do not play video/computer/internet games. Never have..never will.

The story below is tragic..

This has happened before...This man was dead for nine hours before anyone noticed.

Gamer

It's easy to get absorbed in a game, but it's another thing entirely to be so absorbed that you don't notice the guy next to you has died.

Gamers in a Taipei internet café failed to notice the newly deceased for a staggering amount of time earlier this week. Officials estimate that 23-year-old gamer Chen Rong-yu had been dead up to nine hours before anyone realized it.

Rong-yu entered the café to play popular online game League of Legends on Tuesday evening, and was there for quite a while. Witnesses saw him on his cell phone around noon on Wednesday (still playing), but on Wednesday evening a waitress found his corpse, sitting rigidly in the chair with his hands still stretching toward the computer.

Initial reports indicate Rong-yu suffered cardiac arrest brought on by blood clots. Those clots likely formed due to cold temperatures, his lack of movement, and general exhaustion. Rong-yu was reportedly treated for a heart condition last year, though police are still investigating the matter.

While it's rare for gamers to pass away while playing, it's not unheard of — especially in Internet cafes. Players tend to concentrate intensely on their games, ignoring factors like the body's need for sleep and food.

Last year, a 30-year-old Chinese gamer died after staying up for three consecutive days, barely eating or drinking anything. In that case, however, fellow gamers noticed the problem immediately and he was rushed to a hospital, but could not be revived. In 2005, a South Korean gamer suffered the same fate after a 50-hour marathon session of Starcraft at another internet café.

The issue is hardly constrained to internet cafes in Asia. Last August, 20-year-old Chris Staniforth suffered a pulmonary embolism after a marathon session on his Xbox.

The deaths underscore the risk of game addiction, which more and more people are becoming increasingly worried about as the industry grows.

Like us on Facebook and follow @yahoogames on Twitter for the latest stories and chances to win free stuff!

My opinion is that games are great when you play them in moderation. Don't get too worked up and you should be ok.

I can't imagine how these people can play game continuously up to more than 24 hours. I call it "crazy"!

Originally Posted by SteelBird

I can't imagine how these people can play game continuously up to more than 24 hours. I call it "crazy"!

Well... It is kinda like programming. Sometimes when you are so into something all your mind can think about is just that one line of code. You just keep at it and at it and before you know it it is 7 in the morning!

Originally Posted by siegecrossbow

Well... It is kinda like programming. Sometimes when you are so into something all your mind can think about is just that one line of code. You just keep at it and at it and before you know it it is 7 in the morning!

Yeahhh I know what you mean, I had experienced it myself when I was very young

Originally Posted by siegecrossbow

Well... It is kinda like programming. Sometimes when you are so into something all your mind can think about is just that one line of code. You just keep at it and at it and before you know it it is 7 in the morning!

I understand what you mean. I also do programming and play game, but not that crazy. Consider the guy has died for 9 hours before other found out, the people around him were also crazy with their game.

most folks dont like to be bothered when at Internet Cafe, this isn't the first time something like this happened, nor is it really limited to Taiwan.

From what I read the dude booked 8 hours anyway, so it's not that insane for the cafe workers to only notice something's wrong when his time ran out and his still frozen there.

LOL...a game to die for
if he died in the middle of the game, i guess his character joined him shortly after...except the latter gets a free revive or sth

It's the same thing you can get on a long plane ride. Former Vice President Dan Quayle suffered from it during a long flight.