BEIJING - AN ONLINE game in which players can torture and kill corrupt officials is proving to be a roaring success, state media said yesterday.

The game was set up by a Chinese local government to teach people about the perils of graft.

Incorruptible Fighter, developed by the government of east China's Zhejiang province, was launched just over a week ago.

It is so popular that it is being redesigned to accommodate more players, the China Daily said.

The game, which lets players get ahead by killing officials by means of 'weapons, magic or torture', has been downloaded more than 100,000 times, the Southern Metropolitan Daily said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE