Gamers stage virtual funeral for dead player

Online gamers remember dead colleague

Players of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft have held a virtual funeral service for a girl who died after a multi-day gaming binge. 

The Chinese girl, by the name of 'Snowly', died in October after playing the game for several days without rest during a week-long Chinese national holiday.

Several hundred fellow gamers directed their online characters to a cathedral in the game where the service was held, Chinese website CRI online reported. 

'Snowly' was a very active member in her MMORPG community and had logged one of the highest attendance rates. During the virtual service members of the community spoke in her remembrance.

The death of the girl is one of several cases this year after excessive game playing. While such deaths are not new the Chinese government is now seeking to instate a gaming curfew, limiting sessions to three hours at a time. The rule is scheduled to take effect next year.

A group of seven Chinese games manufacturers is voluntarily instating time limits and will start a trial in late October.

World of Warcraft is one of the most successful MMORPGs. The game takes place in a fantasy universe where the more than 3.5 million players take part. Gamers are charged a subscription fee of $14.99 a month.