Germany might BAN Loot Boxes and Sweden is thinking abauth it

[Logwyn]

Wondering if Sweden's government will stop the marketing done by casino and gambling websites as well then, so as to not be massive hypocrites.
Out of 8 commercials, 5 or 6 can be by casino/betting companies during prime time.

And I'll add... stopping the Swedish Lottery and German the German Lottery... Both are gambling!

[Kithelle]

If it's so bad then just don't buy them.
idgi

It's always popular to point the finger at someone else...you blew 200 dollars on virtual loot and you didn't get what you wanted? Why blame yourself when you can blame someone else!

[RobertoCarlos]

Never said I was against a restriction.

Well if all loot boxes games come with an 18+ only age restriction then thats ok with me too. Businesses will not want to include them in their games if it cuts off such a big market.

[Krekal]

classifying loot boxes as gambling isn't banning lootboxes

[Onikaroshi]

classifying loot boxes as gambling isn't banning lootboxes

You can't even ban loot boxes, you can ban directly selling them, but you can't really ban them.

[Yunru]

It's always popular to point the finger at someone else...you blew 200 dollars on virtual loot and you didn't get what you wanted? Why blame yourself when you can blame someone else!

The problem is they are designed to be flashy and stuff like a casino.
http://www.businesspundit.com/10-mos...-you-gambling/

Near misses -- some lootboxes use this
Psychedelic carpets -- not carpets, but some lootboxes look similar (they have pretty looking skins)
Mild, looping, hypnotic music -- Some games have music, but most of them have npcs talking back to you like a dealer
Maze-like internal layouts -- Generaly designed game UI that is hard/anoying to find a button to get out of screen and some games usualy have your keybind directly to lootbox open place
Stimulating lights and noises -- Yeh...each time you open up a box they get flashy as heck

Here are a few videos so you get the idea:






(and yes youtubers who make those videos are part of problem --- looking at you Overwatch players)

[Aggrophobic]

And then such companies will go "FINE. We won't sell our games in all of Europe." And it will manipulate the players against the government while the corporation sits back, watches, and preps their next game's launch to have lootboxes for when the government inevitably crumbles against public backlash.

Haha!
You serious? Oh, no that won't happen.

[GreenJesus]

its a fucking SKIN. It adds generally literally nothing to the gameplay other than "i feel i look cooler now"-factor.

I remember in the good old days when "skins" were included in the game and were unlocked by playing it.

[SL1200]

nothing wrong with micro transactions but the gambling element really should be removed. i have no problem with a skin costing 5 euro etc etc but the gambling is a problem that needs to be addressed.

I don't like them but I'm over the micro transactions, can't stand in the way of something so profitable for the game companies.

[StrawberryZebra]

No, Microtransactions are pretty shit too, especially when it's like $20 to buy a skin on something.

Done well, Microtransactions can be a positive for both the players and the developers. Look at games like LoL, it's a model that both for both parties. Hearthstone too is a model that works for everyone.

Paying a small amount of cash to unlock cool things in free to play games is totally fine as far as I'm concerned. It's a fair and sustainable business model which doesn't expolit the consumer and still provides income for the developers.

The important thing is to keep them transparent. You pay £X, you recieve Item Y. It's entirely up to you to decide if you think item Y is worth the cost.

Done poorly, you get $75 Horse Armour and the dubious honour of being the butt of all jokes everytime Microtransactions are mentioned.

its a fucking SKIN. It adds generally literally nothing to the gameplay other than "i feel i look cooler now"-factor.

For some people, that is a big part of their play experience. They want to stand out from all the other Lucio's, Ryu's and Teemo's out there and make the character their own. I'm not one of them, but I get it. I don't think we should be excluding them from our games just because cosmetic items add no gameplay.

At the same time, I also don't think companies should be exploiting them simply because cosmetics aren't gameplay and are an easy option to monetise without causing massive upsets.

Don't understand the problem with lootboxes. They voluntary, nobody is forcing you to buy them.

This is, as always, the argument of cowards and trolls. It ignores the multitude of issues lootboxes have and offers nothing more than a casual dismisal of the problem. Them being optional is completely irrelevent when it's their mechanics that are under scrutiny.

Honestly, if you have nothing to add to the discussion you're better off just staying out of it.

[Alteiry]

Wondering if Sweden's government will stop the marketing done by casino and gambling websites as well then, so as to not be massive hypocrites.
Out of 8 commercials, 5 or 6 can be by casino/betting companies during prime time.

The Swedish Supreme Court recently clarified the law making it clear broadcasting companies operating in Sweden are forbidden from advertising for gambling sites in the country. They haven't changed the law, but merely clarified it - this essentially means these broadcasting companies have been illegally advertising for casino sites for years. The big question is whether there'll be any legal repercussions for this or if these broadcasting companies will get off with just a slap on the wrist.

[Graeham]

I hope they're banned.

I have no issue spending money to purchase cosmetic items in a game. I do, however, have issues with game companies thinking it is fine to sell a box that only has a chance of giving me what I desire. Letting me buy an item directly is far more efficient and less dubious overall.

We might also see less awful mobile games with questionable loot mechanics if the laws change.

[Vapo]

I remember in the good old days when "skins" were included in the game and were unlocked by playing it.

yea back when games didnt receive new content 3 years down the line. Or had lots of DLC/Expansions that separated the playerbase. Cosmetic microtransactions are one ,if not the best, way to monetize your game and keep the playerbase as whole, extending its lifespan. However, putting them in lootboxes is gambling and not wanted.

And games like CoD4 had maybe 10 skins total? nowadays games have dozens if not hundreds. Upkeeping servers etc isnt exactly free so you either do cosmetic microtransactions, paid DLC(that separates playerbase) or let the game die instead of supporting it.

[Kithelle]

snip

I know exactly what they are and I've even unlocked a few in couple different games I play...but I have never once used my rent money or emptied my bank account going after the grand prize because I can control myself.

It's like walking into a casino and complaining that you lost...not the casino's fault you ran to the ATM multiple times because you thought you could get the jackpot.

[Collegeguy]

I'm for it. All shitty companies that impose gambling on kids to beef their bottom-line should be punished.

[Elba]

This is, as always, the argument of cowards and trolls. It ignores the multitude of issues lootboxes have and offers nothing more than a casual dismisal of the problem. Them being optional is completely irrelevent when it's their mechanics that are under scrutiny.

Honestly, if you have nothing to add to the discussion you're better off just staying out of it.

What's wrong with their mechanics? I find the random chance exciting. Also, it's just cosmetic shit. You don't need skins or sprays or mounts to play the game. Again, nobody is forcing you.

See! I called it! "What we really need is someone to compare lootboxes to buying a candy bar at the supermarket. Just dont buy it! that easy! Never mind kids and people with addiction issues being taken for a ride for unlimited profits."

Your line of thinking is ridiculous and doesn't account for people who have addiction issues or are too young to realize fully what they are doing.

Video games target kids remember, or are we allowed to sell whatever we like to them?

People should have more self control. Children should not have access to the funds to buy them if the parent's disapprove.

[StrawberryZebra]

What's wrong with their mechanics? I find the random chance exciting.

It is quite literally the first paragraph of the article that was linked in the OP. Lootboxes may violate German law about promoting gambling to children. Yes, I know what constitutes "Gambling" is something people will argue over until they are blue in the face, but that is why lootboxes are being examined more closely by the USK in the context of other digital purchaces and advertising restrictions.

If anything comes of this investigation is something we will have to wait and see.

For what it is worth, the items in the lootboxes are also irrelevent to the discussion. "It's just cosmetic!" is not a counter argument anymore than "No one is forcing you to buy them!" is.

[Saphyron]

I remember in the good old days when "skins" were included in the game and were unlocked by playing it.

Technically unless you are a weak minded person you can unlock every single skin in overwatch by playing.

[Highwhale]

I remember in the good old days when "skins" were included in the game and were unlocked by playing it.

Those days are gone. Sad but true. Current gaming community used to pay and getting such things without gaming effort. Just look how people whine about unlocking Allied Races in WoW.

Developers and publishers who favor them (with their own agenda like lootboxes) doesn't help.

For example look at older Resident Evil games where people were unlocking bonus costumes and items by completing game several times under different conditions. Hell I even remember some Resident Evil 5 costumes that were buyable but still required game to be cleared atleast once.

[kail]

Sounds like government overreach to me. Don't like how game does their micro transactions? Ban it. Guess people hate when they are on the losing side of the market.

- - - Updated - - -

I remember in the good old days when "skins" were included in the game and were unlocked by playing it.

Because of tech limitations. If it we're possible back then, micro transactions would exist back then.