I worked in child care and a couple of the children used to stop breathing because they were trying to get attention.........they would stand in front of me really angry because they did not get what they wanted and stare at me while holding their breath!!

The first time i freaked out.......but then I realised what they were doing so I let them do it while I supervised, the whole time saying "Babe, you can stop breathing but eventually your body will tell you to breath.......so lets get this over and done with and sit with everyone else while we eat lunch" After a while, it worked and they even stopped doing it at home with their parents.

I have never heard of it as a game as such........I have seen kids have competitions in holding their breathe and timing it........but nothing as serious as what you are talking about.........terrible