The increasing significance of gaming in the lives of ordinary people took another step in the wrong direction this week, as one Chinese gamer received a suspended death-sentence for brutally murdering a fellow gamer. Qui Chengwei stabbed Zhu Caoyuan in the chest, after he found out his fellow gamer had sold an in-game sword from the title Legend of Mir 3 at an auction. The virtual sword was supposed to be on-loan only, but fetched 7,200 Yuan. That's £473 or about $240US. Qui attempted against his former friend, but that failed as the Chinese legal system does not protect virtual property. With the rise of gaming in China, the authorities may soon have to consider the virtual world as in neighbouring South Korea, where a special police branch investigate online gaming crime. As in South Korea, is growing increasingly obsessed with virtual world RPGs online.

Qui lost his patience after legal action failed, stabbing Zhu in vengeance. Zhu's parents will appeal against the life sentence and demand the death penalty: "My son was only 26 when he died. He was sleeping when Qiu broke into his home. He was barely able to put his pants on before Qiu stabbed him," stated father Zhu Huimin. "We want Qui to die, and immediately."

It is expected the law will soon change concerning artefacts like the Legend of Mir Dragon Sword, as they cost gamers time and money to acquire.. however one Shanghai lawyer contended this, arguing that the objects are just data created and owned by online game providers. More on this soon.

By Luke Guttridge