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RPGs have caused a lot of upset before–gamers are an easy target, surely–but if games get in the wrong (and perhaps improperly medicated?) hands, they get in the wrong hands. Recently, a robbery was committed in the (quasi) name of Shadowrun, a popular urban fantasy RPG:
Robert Boyd, 45, from Broadlands in Carrickfergus, held up staff at the Orchid shop in Belfast disguised in a wig, hat and glasses.
He told the court he had been in a role-playing game at the time and may have blurred reality and fantasy.
In his defence, Boyd claimed that due to pressures that he was suffering in his work and marriage and his indulgence in a role-playing game called “Shadow Run”, he thought he may have been playing the part of criminal elf Buho when he threatened the lone female shop owner at knifepoint after asking for a discount.
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I’ll have to remember to tell my friends that the next time they get caught duck hunting out of season, I have just the defense tactic for them. Especially if they try to shoot their dog, as well.
posted by Jeremy on 4-12-2007 at 6:25 am
Truly scary. I personally know of two marriages that ended because of these online games. The husbands (men in both cases) simply would do nothing but play the game every waking hour. One of the men was fired because he was missing so much work. These are men in their 40’s with children to support.
To me it sounds very similar to alcohol addiction and the case cited above only puts a punctuation mark on it (I didn’t know what I was doing; I was drunk).
I sure hope people don’t start playing while driving.
posted by n2y2 on 4-12-2007 at 12:12 pm
What’s scarier is that Shadowrun isn’t an online game… it’s pen, paper, and dice (similar to Dungeons & Dragons).
posted by Jason! on 4-12-2007 at 1:20 pm
cool! nice to know there’s an origin…but there is an rpg version that’s pretty intense.
posted by Becky on 4-12-2007 at 1:29 pm
Oh? Thanks Becky! I didn’t know they made a computer rpg of it (I’m showing my age). I think the original paper publisher was FASA Corp.
posted by Jason! on 4-12-2007 at 2:27 pm
Yes, the original publisher was FASA. Fourth Edition now being printed through FanPro. Fabulous game.
The only way I’m going to believe this guy actually thought he was role-playing at the time is if he said anything about Lone Star when the cops showed up. ;)
posted by Rraythe on 4-12-2007 at 4:57 pm
“men in both cases”
I love hip progressive blogs where it’s necessary to note that both husbands were in fact men….
posted by Aaron on 4-13-2007 at 5:37 am