Angry divorcee Kills ex-hubby's avatar

Tokyo Police say woman logged on virtual reality game killed ex-husband's avatar.

In Tokyo a 43 year old Japanese piano teacher whom was recently divorced from her online husband in a virtual game world called Maple Story. This event made her so angry that she logged into the virtual world and killed the digital avatar of the ex husband, police said Thursday.

She used his id and password to login to a popular virual world game called "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May, stated a police officer from Sapporo City.

"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted the piano teacher as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.

According to officials the woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world.

The woman was charged with illegal access to a computer changing electronic data. If she is convicted she could face up to 5 years in prison or a fine of $5,000.

"Maple Story" is the Japanese version of the popular virtual world computer video game "Second Life" in that you manipulate digital characters called avatars which represent themselves, they engage in relationships, social activities while fighting against monsters and other obstacles.

The woman got the login information from a 33 year old office worker when their character were happily married, after the divorce she killed the character. The man reported to the police that his computer had been compromised and that his beloved online avatar was dead.

The woman was arrested on Wednesday October 22nd, police offical said he didn't know if the was married in the real world.

Well we know this not the first time that altercation in a virtual world has had consequences in the real world. The article Second Life Game Leads to Real Life Kidnapping. Where a Delaware woman was charged with plotting a real life kidnapping of a boyfriend she met on "Second Life."

Is it getting to the point that people get so engrossed in a virtual world that they start blurring the virtual world and the real world together? Meaning that if they can get away with committing crimes in a virtual world they can in the real world? Please feel free to leave me your comments.