KHD100: Angry online divorcee kills virtual husband
TOKYO - Japanese police say a 43-year-old piano teacher's sudden divorce from her online husband in a virtual game world made her so angry that she logged on and killed his digital persona.
She used his identification and password to log onto the popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May.
A police official in the northern city of Sapporo on Thursday quoted the woman as saying that she was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning and that made her angry.
The official said the woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world.
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.
There is obviously some sort of psychosis when she takes the virtual game too seriously, that she had to do that to the avatar.