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A woman was recently jailed in Japan for "murdering" her virtual ex-husband's avatar (the digital image that a game player creates to represent him- or herself online). She is accused of hacking into the profile of the man whose avatar was married to her avatar in the computer game "Maple Story," a fantasy world similar to the better-known Second Life and World of Warcraft games.
Not Actual Murder Charged
The woman, a 43-year-old piano teacher, was arrested at her home in Miyazaki and is being detained in Sapporo. Although she has not yet been formally charged, she is being investigated for gaining illegal access on a computer and manipulating electronic data. A police official confirmed that the woman was not plotting a murder or other crime in real life.
An Unexpected Demand for a Divorce
The husband-avatar represented its creator, a 33-year-old office worker who lived more than 600 miles away from the woman. After he unexpectedly demanded a divorce of their avatars, the woman apparently logged into the game using his password and destroyed his avatar. She is said to have confessed to the police, explaining that "I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry."
If she is convicted, the woman could face up to five years in jail and/or a significant fine.
Over a Year's Worth of Work
The man had reportedly spent over a year creating his avatar. Online games such as Maple Story have begun to offer value in the real world, with currencies, employment opportunities and much intrigue.
(Source: Time Online)
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