This Friday CBC News show The Fifth Estate takes a look at the sad case of teen gamer runaway Brandon Crisp.
Crisp, 15, ran away from his home on Oct. 14, 2008 after his parents took away his Xbox 360. He had been playing too much Call of Duty 4 and his grades were slipping.
After being told he would lose his gaming privileges, the teen told his father he was running away. His body was discovered in November. An autopsy later determined that he died of chest injuries sustained in a fall, likely from a tree.
In Top Gun, The Fifth Estate looks at the "dark side of what many thought was harmless entertainment." You hear that librarians? Gaming has a dark side!
From the show's site:
When Brandon Crisp's parents took away his Xbox, they had no idea that their attempt to restrict their son's video gaming would lead to tragedy. In retaliation, Brandon ran away. His body was found three weeks later. His disappearance, and death, became a national news story as it revealed a dark side to what many thought was a harmless entertainment. Gillian Findlay investigates how a video gaming obsession can turn to addiction and a pro gaming circuit with thousands of dollars in potential winnings, experts say, can fuel the need to play.
I hope the Fifth Estate doesn't stumble upon this thing called professional sports, they could really blow the lid off that scandal.
Coming up on the fifth estate: Friday, March 6, 2009 at 9 p.m.