http://digitalmass.boston.com/news/globe_tech/upgrade/2001/120401.html

Computer virus found in gaming software

By Hiawatha Bray, 12/4/01

It seems there's no escape from computer viruses, even for people who just want a bit of harmless digital fun. A Japanese firm is recalling a computer game created for a living-room console game machine, because it contains a virus that could destroy a user's personal computer. Sophos PLC, the British antivirus software company that reported the discovery, says it's the first time a virus has been found in console gaming software.

The game, called Atelier Marie, was produced by the Japanese company Kool Kizz, for use on the Sega Dreamcast gaming console. But the disk contains a screensaver program that can be installed on a standard personal computer. Unfortunately, those who install the screensaver will also install a virus called Kriz, which can wipe out data from a special memory chip that tells the PC how to boot itself. If this happens, the computer is rendered useless until the chip is replaced.

"We first saw that virus a year ago," said Sophos's senior technology consultant Graham Cluley. "Its payload is very unpleasant."

Fortunately for US and British gamers, Atelier Marie is unavailable in either country.

Kool Kizz has warned customers not to put the Atelier Marie game disk into their PCs, and is promising to put a safe version of the screensaver on the company Web site. But because the virus doesn't affect the Dreamcast game machine, owners of the game can continue to play it.

Atelier Marie is the second recent example of a computer virus popping up inside a digital entertainment product. In early November, the film studio Warner Bros. had to recall thousands of copies of a DVD video featuring the popular cartoon characters The Powerpuff Girls. The disk contained the Funlove virus, which causes computers to run more slowly or to crash unexpectedly. The virus has no impact on standard DVD players. But many PCs can play DVDs, and these PCs could have been infected by the video.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2001