Russian Lineage II player beats rival...to death

18th January 2008
Massively multiplayer online gamers have developed an unsavory reputation in the eyes of many over the years due to their fanatical devotion and often rabid fan base. That untoward perception was enhanced this week, when Russia Today reported a Moscow man was murdered after a real-life confrontation between two rival Lineage II guilds went sour.
After the man's guild reportedly killed a rival's character in-game, the two guilds agreed to have it out in real life. The ensuing brawl left one so badly injured he subsequently died from his injuries in route to a local hospital. The Russia Today report did not indicate whether official charges had been filed, though it did indicate that a 22-year-old man has confessed to the beating. Russia Today, the English-language service of the government-controlled state news agency RIA-Novosti, also mentions several other recent game-related acts of violence within Russia. A man from Moscow was reportedly recently beaten to death by a gamer from Ukraine in a similar situation of rivals meeting up, and a 20-year-old gamer killed his grandmother after she apparently announced it was time for dinner.

Source: GameSpot