Multiplat Loot Boxes, Gambling or Not?

May 29, 2011
24,933
38,735
SA
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
Sturt
This video highlights more reasons to hate on EA. They are a cancer on the videogame industry. I implore my fellow videogame fans to boycott EA's games.

 
It’s gambling, but then so was basketball card collecting craze in the 90s and the “inserts” with odds per packet.

Agree, but trading cards were mostly aimed at kids at the oldest - in the very young teens with no disposable income. Some hardcore nagging of the parents back in the day.
 
Agree, but trading cards were mostly aimed at kids at the oldest - in the very young teens with no disposable income. Some hardcore nagging of the parents back in the day.

Many a birthday present wasted on a box of cards... :'(
 
It’s gambling, but then so was basketball card collecting craze in the 90s and the “inserts” with odds per packet.
But with cards you're buying something physical, and you can trade as much as you want without the central IP owner also clipping the ticket on every trade.
 
But with cards you're buying something physical, and you can trade as much as you want without the central IP owner also clipping the ticket on every trade.

Of course there’s a difference, but that difference doesn’t mean that loot boxes isn’t a form of gambling. The point is that you get something for your money, but you take a chance on the value of that something.
 
Agree, but trading cards were mostly aimed at kids at the oldest - in the very young teens with no disposable income. Some hardcore nagging of the parents back in the day.
and we used to have these bad boys aimed at kids as well

Fags.jpg

I also remember a chocolate "cigar" at my local milk bar, forget it's name

these days trading cards have been replaced by other blind purchases, collectable toys that you don't know what you are getting until you open.

In the case of those I don't think they are sold to hook kids onto casino's they are just sold because gambling behavior works on people of all ages

that's the thing, loot boxes are getting looked at because there is no physical object and people build up big $$ with nothing to show, most of these collectable toys are worth * all as well but you can sell them on eBay and you have a bit of plastic so people worry less, though they shouldn't
 
Of course there’s a difference, but that difference doesn’t mean that loot boxes isn’t a form of gambling. The point is that you get something for your money, but you take a chance on the value of that something.

True, but I suppose there are other considerations like access. Digital goods are instant, come out of credit cards rather then cash at a shop.

I suppose online gambling vs gambling at the race track or TAB.

If you got plastic toys whenever you bet at the pub.

OK it’s not such a great analogy.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
https://hexus.net/gaming/news/industry/122051-belgian-govt-opens-criminal-investigation-ea/

Today there are reports that Belgium's Gaming Commission has opened up a criminal investigation via the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office, and EA might be faced with going to court. Specifically it has been observed that EA has kept its Ultimate Team card packs in FIFA 18 and upcoming release 19 and has given no indication that it will make changes to comply with the law in Belgium.
 
Feb 7, 2010
40,371
36,182
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Green Bay Packers, Stanford

Hawker_85

Team Captain
Sep 28, 2015
544
1,015
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Gambling or not, they are a cancerous growth hanging off the side of the gaming industry that needs to be excised.
 
Feb 7, 2010
40,371
36,182
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Green Bay Packers, Stanford
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/artic...ot-boxes-are-pscyholgocially-akin-to-gambling

'Video game loot boxes are psychologically akin to gambling'
Zendle and Cairns' investigation found the more severe an individual's gambling addiction, the more they typically spent on loot boxes, suggesting the results support claims that loot boxes are "psychologically akin to gambling".

The report added that "these results also suggest that there is a serious risk for loot boxes to cause gambling-related harm".

In particular, the report suggested, loot boxes could act as a gateway to problem gambling among gamers, and provide gaming companies with an unregulated way of "exploiting gambling disorders among their customers".

it was recommended that games containing loot boxes carry parental advisories and a description that clearly state the presence of "in-game gambling content".

Additionally, restricting the sale of games that contain loot boxes to players of the legal gambling age should be given "serious consideration".



Lets see if they act on this. I wonder how EA would act if Fifa got slapped with a R rating, or 2K with NBA.
 
Sep 30, 2011
14,366
23,410
Freo
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Whoever is playing WC
Good, they need to protect kids from this crap. Games can be addictive enough with people's time, you don't want to also hitch your wallet to the same addiction.
Firstly I wouldn't rely on the senate getting this right as the enquiry is most likely being driven by religious zealots and most senators won't have much understanding of the nuances of gaming.

Also, If they stop loot boxes for games in Aus I'm sure the likes of EA will gouge us more for games.

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk
 
If they stop loot boxes for games in Aus I'm sure the likes of EA will gouge us more for games.

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk
That's not a reason to allow it but it's a pretty good reason for me to not buy a game from EA
They price gouge already, what game companies do should be illegal and/or the games should be 18+ that allow it.

There is no regulation at the moment it's about time that changed
 
That's not a reason to allow it but it's a pretty good reason for me to not buy a game from EA
They price gouge already, what game companies do should be illegal and/or the games should be 18+ that allow it.

There is no regulation at the moment it's about time that changed
I'm no fan of loot boxes but I'm even less of a fan of government regulation especially when they're likely to * it up.

We already live in enough of a nanny state.

Far better targets would be fast food advertising and the proliferation of sports betting advertising and banning or limiting that but I have a feeling that their are too many political snouts in the gambling and fast food lobby pockets for their being enough political capital to effect change.

Gaming is an easy target.

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk
 
Sep 30, 2011
14,366
23,410
Freo
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Whoever is playing WC
Firstly I wouldn't rely on the senate getting this right as the enquiry is most likely being driven by religious zealots and most senators won't have much understanding of the nuances of gaming.

Also, If they stop loot boxes for games in Aus I'm sure the likes of EA will gouge us more for games.

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk
Plenty of games make good money without micro-transactions. They just take a lot of time and creative energy, they are also a bigger risk. The suits would rather just back in the low risk, high reward world of micro transactions where they go hunting for moby dick.

Consumers need to band together make it a losing strategy but I will gladly have a bit of support from the government when some of these mechanics are a form of gambling. WA doesn't have pokies so we pay higher prices in pubs and clubs but it is something i'd rather pay for in some way personally rather than the families of those affected by it in a massive way.
 
Back