A young Taiwanese man has died after a marathon gaming session of Diablo 3 that lasted 40 hours, sans interruptions for nuisances like sleep, meals, and possibly any physical activity.

The 18 year old man, identified thus far solely by his surname of Chuang, booked a private room the evening of July 13 at an internet café in Tainan, Taiwan, and did not emerge for 2 days.

On the morning of July 15, an attendant of the café went into the room to check on him and found him resting peacefully on a table, the struggles against the minions of Diablo being fought on only in his dreams (or perhaps nightmares).

Once roused, the young man rose and took a few steps before collapsing according to a report from the Taiwan United Daily News. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. The cause of death is currently unknown, with an autopsy set to be performed.

The death could be the result of cardiovascular problems brought on by a long stretch of physical inactivity (as opposed to anything related to a lack of food, drink, or sleep). The manner in which the young man died is certainly reminiscent of other deaths caused by blood clots, which have resulted in the deaths of other gamers in the past following marathon gaming sessions of League of Legends and Halo.

Heart failure could also be the culprit, as was fingered in the deaths of several other gamers who succumbed to lengthy play sessions, including a 28 year old South Korean man who died after a 50-hour Starcraft marathon, and a 30 year old Chinese man who died following a three day gaming marathon.

Blizzard released a statement expressing sadness at the young man's passing, and condolences for his friends and family, while stressing that gaming should always be conducted in a responsible manner:

"We're saddened to hear this news, and our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time. We don't feel it would be appropriate for us to comment further without knowing all of the circumstances involved.

"While we recognize that it's ultimately up to each individual or their parent or guardian to determine playing habits, we feel that moderation is clearly important, and that a person's day-to-day life should take precedence over any form of entertainment."

What's the longest gaming marathon you've ever taken part in, or would take part in? Do internet cafes or even companies running online games need to do a better job of ensuring the safety of addicted gamers by forcing them to quit playing after a certain period of time?  Share your thoughts on these marathon matters in the comments.