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October 12, 2005

His life as a "KILLER", immigrant worker Chen Hao from China

Chinese Business News
Oct.14
by Tian Yi, Ji Tan

Chen Hao was staring at the 14-inches PC screen. In this game called "World of Warcraft", he scavenged with a long sword in his hand, moving swiftly among brown and desert hills, hunting at those giant monsters. He was only 17 years old.

Suddenly, a monster appeared right behind a small hill, brandishing a pair of big hammers in its hands, fiercely moving toward Chen Hao to attack him. Chen Hao took the advantage of the monster when it brandished the hammers up, and hit its waist before four continuous strikes. The monster was killed, fell down to the ground shaken by its weight.

It's 11 o'clock at night, Aug 17, 2005. Chen Hao had been facing the screen killing the monsters and getting golden coins for almost 6 hours. There were two immigrant workers from rural areas per computer. Everyone take turns to work 12 hours a day in two teams with more than 100 people in each team. It's a workshop for golden coins, in the world of warcraft.

When Chen Hao was busy killing monsters, his collegues in the other team were sleeping on the ground scattered everywhere. Their homes were some rurual areas outside here. But they worked, ate, and lived here, in this virtual world.

This is a small town one hour car drive from Li Shui downtown area in Ze Jiang Province. The pc game workshop locates in the former house of supply and selling commune, which is as large as 200 square meters. The golden coins Chen Hao and his colleagus got in the online game were sold to the Americans on the other side of the pacific, who pay dollars and are eager to use those golden coins to upgrade the player's level.

"World of Warcraft" is an online virtual world for 4 million game players all over the world. However, Chen Hao, these immigrant workers did not play it for fun. It's just their job.

The weather of August here was terribly hot. 24 hours online computers were giving out heat in the room, where on air conditioning was not available. Scores of big electronic fans were stirring the air with terribly big sounds, mixing the smell of sweat and instant noodles. Rythm of "tow butterflies" was floating up through the air. Ashtrys, bowls, cell phones, bottles, scraps of paper and clothes were scattered on the table. People here chose the casual way, either sitting or crouching, with red eyes and yawns. Most of them already fell asleep.

The American players call them "farming gold".

Chen Hao's father sincerely hoped his son can come with him back to the rural hometown to be a peasant, after Chen failed highschool. However, Chen refused to continue after a few months at home. His father asked what he wanted to do. Play PC games, he said, and got a slap on his face by his father. Chen is a handsome young man, doesn't feel like talking. Now he goes home once every week All the time left is for killing monsters or sleeping on the ground.

"I can kill monsters and get at least 250 golden coins per day," he said, "This happened when I was lucky. Most of the time, I was killed by the monster. Once you killed a monster, you can trade its belongings into golden or silver coins. 100 silver coins equals one single golden coin." Chen Hao declared to the reporter. "As long as you are online, you can earn coins without stop."

However, inside the heart of Chen Hao, he really envy those players in the United States, who play the games simply for fun. "When we were really tired and fed up with killing monsters and getting coins, we would also play for fun for a short while, adventuring to some funny place in the game" Chen Hao said. "But after you worked 12 hours, you really simply want to sleep."

Posted October 12, 2005 05:51 PM

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Posted by: Sam Schramski at October 14, 2005 12:01 AM

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