TOKYO: A 43-year-old Japanese woman whose sudden divorce in a virtual game world made her so angry that she killed her online husband's digital persona has been arrested on suspicion of hacking, police said Thursday.
The woman, who is jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his identification and password to log onto popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May, a police official in northern Sapporo said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.
"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.
The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.
She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.
Players in "Maple Story" raise and manipulate digital images called "avatars" that represent themselves, while engaging in relationships, social activities and fighting against monsters and other obstacles.
The woman used login information she got from the 33-year-old office worker when their characters were happily married, and killed the character. The man complained to police when he discovered that his beloved online avatar was dead.
The woman, who is jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his identification and password to log onto popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May, a police official in northern Sapporo said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.
"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.
The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.
She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.
Players in "Maple Story" raise and manipulate digital images called "avatars" that represent themselves, while engaging in relationships, social activities and fighting against monsters and other obstacles.
The woman used login information she got from the 33-year-old office worker when their characters were happily married, and killed the character. The man complained to police when he discovered that his beloved online avatar was dead.
Seriously.
15 comments:
Seriously? LOL It is a damn computer avatar!!!
Seriously?!?
Well, at least there won't be a custody battle.
Amen. what is wrong with people?
I think I'd go with torture rather than murder. Murder would be over too quick. And now the feds are going to track me down and lock me up.
No way! I don't know what to say about this. Too many retorts running through my mind. Waste of time, get a life, go serve your fellow man, spend some time writing in your journal, do anything just stay of the computer.
WHAT THE???
ummmm....ok...... And I thought the computer was a safe place to be someone else! Man, disappointed again!
uhm, maybe if they'd spent more time on their REAL LIFE marriage, and didn't take time for the PRETEND one, they wouldn't be in this situation.
I do have to say, during my divorce, we were TOLD to switch passwords and such, because when - DURING the marriage - we CHOSE to share our passwords, then we have to do the same things to protect ourselves as if it were just anybody else we no longer wanted to have the ability to access the account(s).
Hey, at least she had the chance to vent and get rid of the avatar spouse before she could get screwed over in Cyber Space.
(There's a reason I've opted not to EVER learn how to get into the whole "Avatar" stuff.)
Thank you for REAL friends.
Bizarre.
Holy crap. Unbelievable. I love the arm pit post. I guess I should check my son. I don't even really want to know what's going on under his arms though. Or anywhere else for that matter.
"avatar"
Bizarre. I don't get it. I have no other words.
i'm fascinated by the avatar stuff. ok, i'm not. but if i ever did decide to bury myself in yet another computer deal, especially if it has anything to do with virtual fantasy, please threaten me with our friendship.
Holy Smokes!
Perhaps if his Avatar were less happily married, his real life persona might actually still be?
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