TAIPEI -- The killing of a Taiwanese teenager in a brutal knife attack at an Internet cafe over a dispute involving the Blade&Sword Online computer game has raised concerns over violence on the normally tranquil Pacific island.
"(The assailant) didn't know the difference between reality and fantasy," lamented the Apple Daily, which splashed a graphic depiction of the assault across its front page Tuesday.
The local TVBS news station suggested the violence of the game played a role in the attack.
"In the bottom corner of the game, there's a sign that pops up and tells players to 'kill until your eyes are red,'" a TVBS commentator said. In Chinese culture, red eyes are associated with extreme anger, bordering on insanity.
Blade&Sword gamemaker, Pixel Studios of Beijing, was not immediately available to comment on the incident.
The dispute occurred after the 19-year old killed in the attack, Lee Hon-hui, used his character in the online game to slay an opposing player. Angry over being knocked out of the game, the alleged assailant left the Internet cafe and headed straight for a hardware store to buy a long machete-like knife, according to TVBS. He then allegedly returned and attacked Lee.
