Korean man dies after 50 hour game marathon

[grimbal]

From CNN.com:

SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) -- A South Korean man who played computer games for 50 hours almost non-stop died of heart failure minutes after finishing his mammoth session in an Internet cafe, authorities said on Tuesday.

Full story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/08/09/game.death.reut/

[boatofcar]

In the grand scheme of things, 50 hours of doing anything isn't that long, especially with taking "brief naps." I wonder what kind of shape or preexisting conditions he had, if any?

[Slimedog]

Too bad they never said the name of the game.

[Chuplayer]

Makes me kind of grateful my dad put a stop to this 24-hour gaming session I was trying to do this one time :shameful:

[PDorr3]

Does anyone know of a list of stores/cafes that offer free wireless connections?

[Haoie]

Probably 1 of those weird MMOs over there.

[evildead2099]

From CNN.com:

SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) -- A South Korean man who played computer games for 50 hours almost non-stop died of heart failure minutes after finishing his mammoth session in an Internet cafe, authorities said on Tuesday.

Yikes! I survived a 24 hour gaming marathon without any long-term problems, thankfully.

[classicb]

this is why I'm glad I have video game ADD and can only play video games in short spurts. which is why I love handheld gaming. I think the most hours I ever played in a row was an all nighter of Tecmo Super Bowl with my friends and even then we took turns since we were playing season mode.

[Mattiekrome]

Lee had recently quit his job to spend more time playing games

Man, talk about having your priorities in order! Scary thing is, If I hadn't met my wife I would probably be working part time at the "Dollar Tree", then playing MMORPG's, drinking beer, and smoking cigarettes nonstop EVERY chance I would get. I'm glad I didnt end up like "Lee"...

[GaijinPunch]

Man, talk about having your priorities in order! Scary thing is, If I hadn't met my wife I would probably be working part time at the "Dollar Tree", then playing MMORPG's, drinking beer, and smoking cigarettes nonstop EVERY chance I would get. I'm glad I didnt end up like "Lee"...

Man, I used to love smoking while I played games (when I lived alone). Cold and rainy sunday with a hangover = pack of smokes and Descent 3 all day about 5 years ago. Oh, to be young again. I quit smoking 2 years ago, FYI.

[Mianrtcv]

In the grand scheme of things, 50 hours of doing anything isn't that long, especially with taking "brief naps." I wonder what kind of shape or preexisting conditions he had, if any?

The brief naps thing does throw this situation into question. As well his physical well being would have been interesting to have been clued into (if he was grossly obese, in poor general health, etc.) regarding this situation.

That said, 50 hours of anything is rough. I have been on the road numerous times for approximately 48 hours with less than 4 hours sleep, sometimes less. Trust me 50 hours is long enough to run into serious issues. Health wise your body starts to haywire without enough sleep as most of us have run into at one time or another. I was running on empty after roughly 48 hours straight and began to tell an old story to a colleague. He reminded me weeks later of the tale I told him. He said it was funny, it was like he was there and the details were so vivid. He said I spoke specifically in the present tense. Unfortunately I did, but the tale was a decade old of a friend that passed on and some of the situations we used to get into. I was sleep deprived and in la la land. I was able to score high on basic motor function, however could not operate in the land of reality.

Even with artificial stimulants (which are horrible for you) the whole "marathon" scenario is romanticized. I remember as a kid the whole notion of burning the midnight oil. Staying out all night, working all day then repeating it again. The marathon is nothing fun. Given the choice. I pass. Give me a few solid zzz's over "beating the night" any day.

I don't get the zzz's yet. I also don't push my luck when possible. All things considered, enjoy every moment... not at the cost of your future moments though. Get some rest.
-_-

[Yamazaki]

I've been to Lan-partys where I was awake from Friday 1pm to Sunday 2pm nonstop!! After that continuing regular life.

I bet the guy didn't have a very healthy lifestyle either. Since it happened in Korea I say Lineage.

[Gamereviewgod]

"Hey, Mr. Lawyer Thompson guy! Come here! You can sue Korean game companies now too! And while you're over there, would you mind losing your return ticket?"

[Lady Jaye]

According to another article (posted in the duplicate locked thread in the OT), the game played was Starcraft! Granted, he must have been playing over battle.net, but even then, this kind of story usually breaks over a MMORPG.

[unbroken]

yea makes me glad i can only play video games for about 2 hours at a time, the most i have probably ever played a video game was about 8 hours, and i took several breaks in between.

[kelma66]

50 hours is definitely a long time to go without a lot of sleeps, but this dude was taking naps and I would submit that they were pretty effective naps.

But 50 hours is not THAT long.
At the local Blockbuster here, they have a marathon where you have to stay up 100hours watching movies in the store.

[philosophyst]

At the local Blockbuster here, they have a marathon where you have to stay up 100hours watching movies in the store.

That's a pretty crazy promotion. What do you get if you stay up the 100 hours?

[kelma66]

i cant remember exactly. the big tv and probably a big chair i think. something like that.

[The_Kodiak65]

ok, we all know gaming kicks ass, but it should be done sparingly..... LOL :D

[jajaja]

This have happend before down there. Dont remember if it was in Korea or Vietnam, but the guy played for over 90 hours before he died.

[Stark]

Well at least he died doing what he loved.

He probably would have been ok if he took 1 hour breaks at regular intervals and had enough food to compensate for the gallons of caffeine he must have drank. I wonder what made him stop playing?

[Stark]

Well at least he died doing what he loved.

He probably would have been ok if he took 1 hour breaks at regular intervals and had enough food to compensate for the gallons of caffeine he must have drank. I wonder what made him stop playing?

[kelma66]

I wonder what made him stop playing?

He died.

[kelma66]

I wonder what made him stop playing?

He died.

[Stark]

I thought he stopped playing first. I don't think he died during a game that would be rude.

[Stark]

I thought he stopped playing first. I don't think he died during a game that would be rude.

[kelma66]

I thought he stopped playing first. I don't think he died during a game that would be rude.
:)
He would have continued playing had he not died.

[kelma66]

I thought he stopped playing first. I don't think he died during a game that would be rude.
:)
He would have continued playing had he not died.

[SoulBlazer]

I just read a AP article on this. A local Korean police officer is quoted in it as saying that the man was playing 'online battle simulator games' at a cybercafe.

No clue what the heck game it was, but it makes it sound like he was playing more then ONE.

[SoulBlazer]

I just read a AP article on this. A local Korean police officer is quoted in it as saying that the man was playing 'online battle simulator games' at a cybercafe.

No clue what the heck game it was, but it makes it sound like he was playing more then ONE.

[izret101]

I have read a few articles on it and seen a excerpt on TV.
He also made it into Jay Leno's skit.

He actually didn't play straight he stopped for bathroom breaks and took naps on a makeshift cot.
He died when he stopped gaming and was walking home after some friends found him and said that his mother was worried since he hadn't been home.

See that walking kills.

[izret101]

I have read a few articles on it and seen a excerpt on TV.
He also made it into Jay Leno's skit.

He actually didn't play straight he stopped for bathroom breaks and took naps on a makeshift cot.
He died when he stopped gaming and was walking home after some friends found him and said that his mother was worried since he hadn't been home.

See that walking kills.

[stonecutter]

He should have just pressed his continue button, or restart. LOL

[stonecutter]

He should have just pressed his continue button, or restart. LOL

[Lady Jaye]

I just read a AP article on this. A local Korean police officer is quoted in it as saying that the man was playing 'online battle simulator games' at a cybercafe.

No clue what the heck game it was, but it makes it sound like he was playing more then ONE.

See my post above. Another article says that it was Starcraft.

[Lady Jaye]

I just read a AP article on this. A local Korean police officer is quoted in it as saying that the man was playing 'online battle simulator games' at a cybercafe.

No clue what the heck game it was, but it makes it sound like he was playing more then ONE.

See my post above. Another article says that it was Starcraft.

[Balloon Fight]

Yeah, Lady Jaye is right, it was starcraft. Starcraft in Korea is INSANELY popular. Almost hard to believe that it could get as popular as it is. For example, there are two television stations DEDICATED to the game, 24/7. One of the players there, NaDa, just signed a $200,000 US contract for 1 year. I happen to play the game a lot, but the skill that these guys possess is unreal.

[Balloon Fight]

Yeah, Lady Jaye is right, it was starcraft. Starcraft in Korea is INSANELY popular. Almost hard to believe that it could get as popular as it is. For example, there are two television stations DEDICATED to the game, 24/7. One of the players there, NaDa, just signed a $200,000 US contract for 1 year. I happen to play the game a lot, but the skill that these guys possess is unreal.

[SoulBlazer]

Did'nt mean to question LJ or anyone else here -- it's just that I've PLAYED Starcraft and I fail to see HOW anyone could call it a 'online battle simulator' game. :hmm:

Battlefield 2 (my current addiction), THAT'S a battle simulator game. :D

[SoulBlazer]

Did'nt mean to question LJ or anyone else here -- it's just that I've PLAYED Starcraft and I fail to see HOW anyone could call it a 'online battle simulator' game. :hmm:

Battlefield 2 (my current addiction), THAT'S a battle simulator game. :D