NEWS

Chinese Monks Got Guns

Take a trip to Xiahe, a remote Chinese county on the China/Tibet border, and you might witness a gang of Buddhist monks blasting each other with submachine guns. No, this isn’t a crappy American Chow Yun-Fat movie—it’s “Counter Strike.”

The classic terrorism combat game has become a favorite with the younger monks at the local Labrang Monastery, who unwind by playing at a nearby Internet cafe. “Apparently, the monks are not permitted to drink alcohol, eat meat or be married, but it’s totally acceptable for them to play violent video games,” said an employee of Gearbox Software, who witnessed them in action. Good to hear someone can still tell the difference between fantasy and reality.

[MTV Multiplayer]