We've arrived at gaming's next phase: Loot Boxes

Grand Conde

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Loot boxes aren't inherently the problem. It's the way they are used that can be a problem.

Obviously the way they are used in shadow of war is problematic. Though I'd like to know what the "true" ending is and how you really get there.

A lot of these things get overblown cause people like being outraged.

Agreed. The issue is whether or not content is blocked behind these microtransactions. Valve and Blizzard have purely cosmetic microtransactions with add interest for the player but the likes of Ubisoft and EA are and will continue to take advantage.
 

5010

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I can't stand crates. I mostly deal with them in Rocket League. Opened about 80 crates before I realized I was burning money. :francis:
 

winb83

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Blizzard games arent Pay 2 Win or anything hidden behind micro transactions/loot boxes. They are all cosmetic and not needed to further your progress in any of the games.

Other companies may put PAy 2 Win items in or cinematics/endings behind pay walls. Not blizzard though, so not sure why you keep bringing them up.
It's not about pay 2 win. It's about them inserting gambling like mechanics in games that have nothing to do with gambling to target people who have addictive personalities and become addicted to gambling. These developers are purposely trying to trip people up in an addiction cycle because they can get away with it. It needs to be called out.

This stuff is right in there with crap like Payday loans in that it deliberately targets certain types of individuals who fall victim to this type of stuff.

Some of these games are games that children and teens have access to. At the very least any game that lets you pay money into a gambling system like this should be rated M.
 

MeachTheMonster

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Skip the grind? Buy a game to play it then have the developer make the gameplay tedious enough to encourage you to pay more money to skip the gameplay you bought the game to play.

They don't put these microtransactions in the game hoping you don't spend real money on them. The fact that you can earn it in the game is to encourage you to spend real money. They make it very annoying and time consuming to earn ii the game so you'll get sick of it and pay to skip that.
Gaming has always had "the grind" especially in RPGs, Racers and even platformers where you'd have to go back and replay levels for collectibles or points.

Only difference is now there's the option to pay your way in and skip the grind.

It only matters that the games progression feels fun and fair without spending more money. Some games do a good job at this. Some games don't.
 

GoldenGlove

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:comeon:

Loot Boxes for the most part aren't unlocking anything besides costume and gun skins. If you buying that, then that's cause you want to look fly in the digital world. shyt corny.

Siege has this now, but you don't have to buy it, and you're not missing out on anything from a gameplay standpoint if you don't get them, so...

:manny:

2K on the other hand... that's bullshyt
 

firemanBk

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It's not about pay 2 win. It's about them inserting gambling like mechanics in games that have nothing to do with gambling to target people who have addictive personalities and become addicted to gambling. These developers are purposely trying to trip people up in an addiction cycle because they can get away with it. It needs to be called out.

This stuff is right in there with crap like Payday loans in that it deliberately targets certain types of individuals who fall victim to this type of stuff.

Some of these games are games that children and teens have access to. At the very least any game that lets you pay money into a gambling system like this should be rated M.
Yes, I agree. I've been saying for a while loot boxes that you can purchase should change a game to an M rating.

Again, I hate them but as long as they post the odds and only allow them in M rated games, with "Gambling" as a rating criteria, I am 100% fine with them being in games. As it stands now they're fukking garbage and should not be legal
 

The Mad Titan

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Miss the op's point completely brehs.

Doesn't matter if its cosmetic or effects game play. 1st and foremost it pretty much encourages gambling and is a trigger that a lot of people have problems with. There is a reason mobile and freemium games make so much bread. Its the addictive loot box pay to win/get items.

It also discourages putting everything in a game. Why do that when you can release the bare minimum and follow up with loots boxes/creates/tokens with a percent chance to win an item? If only 1000 people drop 100 on a loot box thats 100,000 dollars brehs.

I don't think yall understand how much money this model generates.


Now lets say you do that monthly and you have an average of just 500 people spending 100 on a loot box. that's 50 thousand a month... on stuff that could have been in the game from jump or thats created with the sole purpose of being "RARE" and that's not counting all the people that won't spend 100 on a box but don't mind dropping 5/10/20/50


Its really mobile gaming fault, tank wars, candy crush, marvel puzzle quest.....etc etc It was just a matter of time before console adapted this almost fully.
 
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daze23

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I don't particularly like loot boxes, and won't buy them. but I don't think they're "gambling"
 

ahomeplateslugger

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lol at exploiting ppl's gambling problems. if they have a gambling problem then they're gonna get their fix somewhere else. developers are trying to maximize their money and if ppl love a game enough to pay for a DLC or cosmetics stuff then why blame them? loot boxes for overwatch is all cosmetic and are all unlockable anyway. stop playing the victim and defending bad habits of consumers.
 

winb83

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Yes, I agree. I've been saying for a while loot boxes that you can purchase should change a game to an M rating.

Again, I hate them but as long as they post the odds and only allow them in M rated games, with "Gambling" as a rating criteria, I am 100% fine with them being in games. As it stands now they're fukking garbage and should not be legal
They don't post the odds. We don't even know if the odds differ for boxes purchased with real money vs odds for boxes purchased with in-game money.

Everything happens in a black box we can't see into. I get that gamers get defensive about video game companies but these are obviously predatory practices. There's nothing innocent about any of this and when we as gamers give these companies an inch they go for the mile.
 
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