Crucifixion.com

Internet Game Site Stages 'Virtual Crucifixion' for Rule-Breaker

from AFP

PARIS - An Internet game site based on Roman Britain has staged a "virtual crucifixion" of one of its players to punish him for breaking the rules.

The site Roma Victor is an online recreation of life in Britain 2,000 years ago, in which players live as slaves and citizens under the Roman empire.

Cynewulf - in real life a 27-year-old electrical engineer from Flint, Michigan - has been electronically nailed to a cross where he will hang "for a full seven days on full public display," the site said on Friday.

His punishment is for "ganking," or repeatedly gang-killing new players as soon as they appear, thus destroying their chance of getting to grips with the game.

Gamers on the site have the opportunity of insulting Cynewulf as they pass by his cross in a public square.

Online game sites usually punish cheats by bans ranging from a few hours, days or weeks, with bad transgressors getting lifetime bans, although such punishments are usually very discreet and never made public.