Gamer Punished With Virtual Crucifixion
by Mike D'Anna 
Mar 25th 2006 at 10:00AM
In what has to be the single
coolest punishment ever devised for anyone, the makers of the MMO Roma Victor have responded to the actions of a
particularly disruptive player and hung him on a cross for seven days, for all to see. The full story can be read here.I don't know why it's taken this long for something like this to happen. Aside from being almost poetic, it's got to really tick off the gamer who's dedicated enough to cause that much trouble in the first place. Blizzard GM's, take note...there's a lot of empty road on that long stretch leading into Orgrimmar....I say line that whole road with timber & string up all the gold farmers!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mk Mar 25th 2006 6:03PM
It certainly is an eye-catching punishment. Crucifixion makes historical sense as well. And I'm sure whoever it was deserved a punishment of equal...creativity, especially since this was in beta, if I read the article right.
But I find the use of the primary symbol of one of the world's major religions for it's *original purpose* (i.e., as a torture/humiliation device-cum-barbaric death sentence) deeply disturbing and fairly revolting. I don't know if it's my own Catholic upbringing or my desire to avoid a certain level of reality when I play an MMO that's driving this reaction, but there it is. Obviously I disagree with your calling it "the single coolest punishment ever devised for anyone."
Still, thank you for letting us know about this. Now I'll know enough to avoid Roma Victor when it comes out.
Mike D'Anna Mar 25th 2006 6:39PM
Well put; I should qualify that by saying that I do NOT think crucifixion, in & of itself, is a 'really cool' punishment, but I was referring to this case as being poetic justice within its idiom, and as being cool in this particular case because of that. 12 years of Catholic school here, too...but I'm much better now.
Crash Mar 25th 2006 8:28PM
I think i can get behind your orgrimmar idea kinda like a virtual apean way
bobilox Mar 26th 2006 4:43PM
The referenced article says Blizzard keeps punishment private. I wonder why when humiliation is one aspect of deterance. Maks one think about their actions if they know they could spend a few hours or days in stocks in the IF milatary ward.
Shiver Mar 27th 2006 5:18PM
#4:
Because the chinese farmers don't care how they look to other players, nor would they understand a lot of the public shame that a public punishment would bring.
Tying up their character for 7 days would be a fitting punishment, though, considering it will cut into their profits.