Every passionate gamer had at least one nervous breakdown caused by losing a game, and the first things to suffer are usually the keyboard, mouse or (worse) the monitor. In Shanghai a gamer took the nervous breakdown to a whole new level by punishing an ex team member for selling a bonus gained within the game.

They were playing "Legend of Mir 3" and succeeded by joining efforts to obtain a virtual sword. Qiu Chengwei, age 41, repeatedly stabbed his ex partner, Zhu Caoyuan, who had sold "the sword of the dragon" to another player.

Qiu has loaned the sword to his team member since February, but when he found out about Zhu's transaction, he announced the police that the sword was stolen from him. Although selling the sword for 464 pounds was confirmed, the police wasn't able to do anything about it because it is a virtual product and the law doesn't make any reference to that category.

They presented themselves to a Shanghai court where they reached the conclusion that Zhu should compensate Qiu for the loss. But Qiu lost his temper, went to the house of his ex team player and stabbed him in the chest. The aggressor was declared guilty of premeditated murder and awaits the court's verdict.

China Daily brought into discussion the status of virtual ownership and professor Wang Zongyu from the University of Renmin claims that since gamers invest time and money into the acquisition of weapons, bonuses and powers, these goods should be considered private property and protected accordingly.