Just a few days after the launch of a certain MMO expansion pack, the Lich King has nearly claimed his first victim. A 15-year-old Swedish boy has collapsed and started convulsing, after playing World of Warcraft for 24 hours straight.

The gamer had invited six of his friends around to his house in Laholm, Western Sweden on Saturday, so they could hook up their computers and check out the new content being offered in the game. By 2pm Sunday, the boy collapsed, suffering what seemed to be an epileptic seizure.

The boy's father explains:

“They played all day and all night. Maybe they got a few hours of sleep. They ate a little food and breakfast at their computers.”

At the hospital Sunday afternoon, doctors explained that the boy's bodily systems had been "thrown off", thanks to the gamer's combination of lack of food, sleep deprivation and simply playing the game for "too long". He is expected to make a full recovery, but the boy's father has commented that his son's video gaming time will be limited.

The South Park boys play WoW, too.

Dad has also taken the time to inform the parents of the other teenagers about how such a seemingly innocent activity can have frightening physical consequences.

“They also think the boys need to reduce the amount of time they play and will themselves be more vigilant.”

Officials from Sweden's Game Over treatment centre have also reported a spike in calls from concerned parents and families following the Wrath of the Lich King launch last week. They claim that computer game addiction is on the rise, and it's no longer just a problem for "young people", with many adults contacting the centre, looking for help. While World of Warcraft is often mentioned as a prime candidate for game addiction, the centre also reports a surprising number of inquiries regarding first-person shooter, Counter-Strike.

So. I know it's a touchy subject, but I'm curious. Have you ever played a game to the point of physical illness? It doesn't have to have been to the same level as our Swedish friend here, but if you've ever had to stop gaming because you really didn't feel very well, let us know!