A trendy psychological game called ¡°Manslaughter¡± has become increasingly popular in China, especially among young white-collar types, with some even developing an addiction to the game, the China Youth Daily reported.

¡°Manslaughter game pubs¡± have started opening in some Chinese cities as of last year. People addicted to the game throng to the themed bars after work to spend hours playing the game, sometimes even staying overnight.

The game is a simple group activity involving at least 8 people, with players split into 3 separate groups: civilians, killers and police. A player acts as a ¡°judge¡± to moderate the game.

Before the game begins, each player picks a card to decide their identity. Killers must murder one civilian in each round of the game, with the other players keeping their eyes closed while the crime is perpetrated. After the killing, police and civilians who are still alive try to figure out who the killer is, and then everyone votes to kick others out of the game. The last remaining killer or police officer left after all adversaries have been kicked out wins the game.

Wu Xin, who considers herself a ¡°professional¡± killer, is addicted to the psychological match of wits. She says she thinks about it every day, and expects to spend all her time-off and weekends playing the game. Thanks to the professional game pubs she can get together with others that have the same interest.

The country¡¯s first professional manslaughter game pub, Xclub, opened last year in an ordinary office building in Beijing, becoming the most recognized base for Manslaughter fans.

Many cars can be seen parked in front of the building, with fashionable looking people endlessly coming and going.

The pub is for members only; game players can begin playing only after obtaining an electronic membership card with a fixed nickname for identification which also tracks all their records and gaming fees. To be fair, processing of the records is done by computer.

There are hundreds of game masters like Wuxin at Xclub. They¡¯ve gotten to know each other through the game and have gradually formed a group.

Wu Xin says the manslaughter game has injected new life into her family. Both she and her husband are crazy about the game and they feel they now have more interests in common. Going to the club has become a fun habit, as they go at least three or four times a week.

An expert in psychology named Qi Qingbo says most Manslaughter fans are well educated, and include senior business managers, university teachers and journalists. And most are picky about making friends. So the role playing game provides a way for them to share an interest with similar people while relaxing, showing off their talent, and using their imaginations in a visionary way.

However, Mr. Qi worries if people overindulge in the game, and focus too intensely on the exciting fantasy world, they may be prone to develop some mental problems.

But he adds that the Manslaughter game may also serve to fill people¡¯s real life inner emptiness.

The China Youth Daily report says the game originated in Silicon Valley.

The game closely resembles a game called Mafia or Werewolf.