Don Touch My Sword!
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,535
From: VA
[quote name='Travis R' date='Jun 1 2005, 12:51 PM']You see the point though, right? His sword is representative of nothing tangable in the real world.
If a hacker went into his system and changed the coding so that in the game he no longer had a sword.... was something stolen from him (in the convetional sense that someone could be charged with the crime)? IMO the answer is clearly no.
[/quote]
Yes, I see your point. But my point is, there is nothing concrete about the US dollar. It is simply a widely accepted unit of exchange. If enough crazy gameplayers started to exchange virtual swords for beer or whatever, then you have a currency. They're not as different as you'd like to think.
If a hacker went into his system and changed the coding so that in the game he no longer had a sword.... was something stolen from him (in the convetional sense that someone could be charged with the crime)? IMO the answer is clearly no.
[snapback]719779[/snapback]
[/quote]
Yes, I see your point. But my point is, there is nothing concrete about the US dollar. It is simply a widely accepted unit of exchange. If enough crazy gameplayers started to exchange virtual swords for beer or whatever, then you have a currency. They're not as different as you'd like to think.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,535
From: VA
[quote name='Travis R' date='Jun 1 2005, 12:51 PM']If a hacker went into his system and changed the coding so that in the game he no longer had a sword.... was something stolen from him (in the convetional sense that someone could be charged with the crime)? IMO the answer is clearly no.
[/quote]
Actually, I would have to disagree with this. Let's say you were working on a business spreadsheet, or writing a book. If that same hacker corrupted the data in your files, I think he would (or should be) guilty of something.
I'm not siding with a bunch of crazy people who would kill over a virtual asset obtained during game play. Clearly, that is fanatical behavior. But I do think that the law needs to catch up in terms of defining what constitutes a "theft" or "vandalism" when these acts are carried out upon stored data.
Was the murderer wronged? Yes, I believe so.
Was he justified in killing the "thief"? Hell, no!
[snapback]719779[/snapback]
[/quote]
Actually, I would have to disagree with this. Let's say you were working on a business spreadsheet, or writing a book. If that same hacker corrupted the data in your files, I think he would (or should be) guilty of something.
I'm not siding with a bunch of crazy people who would kill over a virtual asset obtained during game play. Clearly, that is fanatical behavior. But I do think that the law needs to catch up in terms of defining what constitutes a "theft" or "vandalism" when these acts are carried out upon stored data.
Was the murderer wronged? Yes, I believe so.
Was he justified in killing the "thief"? Hell, no!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,483
From: Fayetteville, Georgia
[quote name='Travis R' date='Jun 1 2005, 12:51 PM']You see the point though, right? His sword is representative of nothing tangable in the real world. My bank account IS. I can take the "virtual" money in my bank account and turn it into real money... He can't do that with the sword.
If a hacker went into his system and changed the coding so that in the game he no longer had a sword.... was something stolen from him (in the convetional sense that someone could be charged with the crime)? IMO the answer is clearly no.
[/quote]
But it IS becoming a commodity that represents real money...
If a hacker went into his system and changed the coding so that in the game he no longer had a sword.... was something stolen from him (in the convetional sense that someone could be charged with the crime)? IMO the answer is clearly no.
[snapback]719779[/snapback]
[/quote]
But it IS becoming a commodity that represents real money...
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,467
From: Portland, OR
As silly as it seems these online games are paid for with real money, and it seems cash and prizes are awarded... even though some aspects of the individual games may never be in the physical form, real money was still payed for the opportunity to win virtual cash and prizes, so they should be protected under the same guidelines and laws that protect tangible assets and such. Theft is theft, virtual or physical, how would you feel if someone stole your identity virtually and you were told, "Well, it isn't in the physical form so it doesn't count, sorry about your shitty luck."
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,483
From: Fayetteville, Georgia
[quote name='89 Rag' date='Jun 1 2005, 01:40 PM']As silly as it seems these online games are paid for with real money, and it seems cash and prizes are awarded... even though some aspects of the individual games may never be in the physical form, real money was still payed for the opportunity to win virtual cash and prizes, so they should be protected under the same guidelines and laws that protect tangible assets and such. Theft is theft, virtual or physical, how would you feel if someone stole your identity virtually and you were told, "Well, it isn't in the physical form so it doesn't count, sorry about your shitty luck."
[/quote]
BINGO!
[snapback]719802[/snapback]
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BINGO!
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,837
From: Wayne, NJ
how is there an argument here? someone got killed over a VIDEOGAME. ok, thats like me stabbing my friend in the head for intercepting my pass in madden or something.
i just fnid it funny that america is considered the "sue happy country" and this is happening in china, only a few days until we see the same thing in this country, im sure of it.
thats it im suing the next person who um calls me a doodyperson.
kevin.
i just fnid it funny that america is considered the "sue happy country" and this is happening in china, only a few days until we see the same thing in this country, im sure of it.
thats it im suing the next person who um calls me a doodyperson.
kevin.
