CNET reported that Legend of Mir 3 player Qiu Chengwei, recently, IRL, murdered Zhu Caoyuan, another player, over a stolen virtual weapon. Qui and a friend had won the Dragon Sabre and allegedly loaned it to Zhu. Instead of returning the weapon, he sold it for about $870. When Qui tried to tell the police about his stolen virtual weapon, he was told that it was not actual property, and therefore not protected by law.

On one hand, it is grievous that a person would take another’s life over a weapon in a video game.

On the other hand, what validates something’s existence? The virtual weapon had monetary value. Just because an item doesn’t take up meatspace, doesn’t mean that it does not exist.

Had the weapon been deemed actual property by the police, they may have recovered the monetary loss and a life would have been saved instead of exchanged for the value of a virtual Dragon Sabre.

I wouldn’t be surprised if an insurance company would pick up on this story and begin to insure virtual property. In order to do this, they would have to define what it was they were insuring, and place a value on that which is priceless. The American Association of Insurance Services is rethinking the valuation of e-commerce. It really isn’t that big of a jump to insure virtual weapons. Ideas can be copyrighted. Identities can be stolen.

The argument over the definition of “property” has only scratched the surface. For that matter, the same could be said about “reality”.

A Washington Post story earlier this week spoke of the geek culture in Akihabara. Costume cafes, where waitresses personify manga characters, were quoted as being a “dream come true”, further blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. When mainstream culture doesn’t accept your definition of reality, create your own culture. Or, just start living out your fantasy and culture will follow. Cogito, ergo sum.

MasterCard has successfully marketed a whole campaign on the intangible gratification afforded by MasterCard purchases.

Professionally drawn custom avatar: $500. Redemption Keystone: $50,000. Seeking revenge over a stolen Dragon Sabre? Priceless.