(Loot Box's) Number of child gamblers quadruples in just two years....

[Protean]

Informing people is better than taking away their freedom to choose in a lot of cases, maybe they need to slap a big digital gambling symbol on those games.

You cannot inform people to the point where a skinner's box becomes ineffective. It's something so primal and deeply embedded in our brains. Companies that abuse this shit are as scummy as they get.

The companies are to blame, not the people who experience largely involuntary bodily reactions to stimuli.

[Unholyground]

You cannot inform people to the point where a skinner's box becomes ineffective. It's something so primal and deeply embedded in our brains. Companies that abuse this shit are as scummy as they get.

The companies are to blame, not the people who experience largely involuntary bodily reactions to stimuli.

I think both are at fault when it comes to children, the parents and the company's. Parents need to fucking parent and stop letting technology raise thier kids.

[Temp name]

Oh I am not disagreeing that it is bad for kids, I just think it will happen in steps not all at once. The gaming industry is now the largest entertainment industry on the planet and those TAX dollars are lining gov pockets.

But you are fine with letting kids gamble? It's literal gambling. It needs to not be in children's entertainment, and since AAA gaming companies are being massive twats about it, it's getting legislated. Currently Belgium's version of the legislation is the only thing we have since the industry doesn't want to regulate itself properly

[Evangeliste]

I think both are at fault when it comes to children, the parents and the company's. Parents need to fucking parent and stop letting technology raise thier kids.

If only it was that simple right? The world would have been a utopia hundreds of years ago.

[Temp name]

I think both are at fault when it comes to children, the parents and the company's. Parents need to fucking parent and stop letting technology raise thier kids.

That's just blaming the wrong people. yeah the parents are idiots if they just let the kids play all day, but that's like saying it's the parents fault if a child went to the playground and there was a casino there.
If I buy a game that says it's for ages 12+, I expect there to NOT BE GAMBLING IN IT

[Unholyground]

That's just blaming the wrong people. yeah the parents are idiots if they just let the kids play all day, but that's like saying it's the parents fault if a child went to the playground and there was a casino there.
If I buy a game that says it's for ages 12+, I expect there to NOT BE GAMBLING IN IT

Still, the parents are the main ones to blame since THEY CONTROL THE MONEY lol.

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If only it was that simple right? The world would have been a utopia hundreds of years ago.

Education has systematically failed us as a society and people get shit on for trying to teach other peoples kids so it is what it is.

[Temp name]

Still, the parents are the main ones to blame since THEY CONTROL THE MONEY lol.

Yeah because who's ever heard of a child taking their parents credit card? Completely impossible.

Stop blaming the parents for companies wanting to add gambling mechanics to video games for children

[Sting]

Yeah because who's ever heard of a child taking their parents credit card? Completely impossible.

Stop blaming the parents for companies wanting to add gambling mechanics to video games for children

You're a shitty parent if you leave your credit card free for your kid to take.

[Onikaroshi]

While I can somewhat agree that they're gambling (it's a very grey area) I still don't think it's a good idea to get the gov't involved... whenever they do it's not a good time for gaming....

And it's a slippery slope with things like Hearthstone and maybe even physical TCGs which have always operated on the RNG box concept.

Maybe we just need an ESRB response that forces anything with lootboxes into a T or M rating, that'll probably curtail much of it.

[Jester Joe]

You're a shitty parent if you leave your credit card free for your kid to take.

I often leave my card surrounded by turrets to ensure no one ever sneaks around while I'm sleeping to take it.

Kids aren't stupid, and you shouldn't expect people to actively hide their card to ensure its not found.

[Onikaroshi]

I often leave my card surrounded by turrets to ensure no one ever sneaks around while I'm sleeping to take it.

Kids aren't stupid, and you shouldn't expect people to actively hide their card to ensure its not found.

Must be some asshole kids. I knew that if I had done that as a kid my ass would have been kicked all over town and I wouldn't have seen "fun" for months.

That's actually theft and if your parent's are feeling like it, it can actually be reported if the amount is high enough. Couple nights in Juvie will probably turn most kids around.

[Jester Joe]

Must be some asshole kids. I knew that if I had done that as a kid my ass would have been kicked all over town and I wouldn't have seen "fun" for months.

That's actually theft and if your parent's are feeling like it, it can actually be reported if the amount is high enough. Couple nights in Juvie will probably turn most kids around.

Personally I wouldn't quickly write it off like that.

While kids aren't stupid, they can be stupid sometimes.

Even a kid who normally wouldn't do that ever could be peer pressured by their "friends" into it.

Either way, punishment is definitely something that would happen, but my point was more that they're making it sound like it's impossible for a kid to sneak to steal something.

[Onikaroshi]

Personally I wouldn't quickly write it off like that.

While kids aren't stupid, they can be stupid sometimes.

Even a kid who normally wouldn't do that ever could be peer pressured by their "friends" into it.

Either way, punishment is definitely something that would happen, but my point was more that they're making it sound like it's impossible for a kid to sneak to steal something.

But then again, that really goes for anything, not just loot boxes. Mom won't let you buy that game? Steal the card and buy it yourself. Credit card theft by children can't really be used an argument honestly.

It's like "must be 18" on porn sites.

[mojojojo202]

They just need this when you load up any games with those mechanics "WARNING gambling like addictions can occur when continually purchasing randomized digital mystery content. Studies have show that the same effects and patterns seen in the brains of gambling addicts are present in many who repeatedly purchase these micro-transactions." Pretty simple I think and very fair.

Surely it would be significantly more effective to simply ban the deliberately and knowingly manipulative methodology by which these companies exploit vulnerable people?

[Temp name]

You're a shitty parent if you leave your credit card free for your kid to take.

So you always keep your wallet on your person? I know I don't. My parents didn't either. I literally don't know anyone who does

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But then again, that really goes for anything, not just loot boxes. Mom won't let you buy that game? Steal the card and buy it yourself. Credit card theft by children can't really be used an argument honestly.

It's like "must be 18" on porn sites.

But even then, kids have an allowance. Should they be allowed to use that on gambling?

[Dhrizzle]

Right, but simulated gambling isn't a problem and no one is saying it is. I think we agree on this, I just don't understand why you're bringing it up here, as no one is suggesting that chance mechanics should be removed from video games. The issue is purely related to companies using those mechanics to monetize said games.

The problem is people have decided to tackle this from the "think of the children" aspect and are saying that video games are using dopamine-releasing mechanics that are potentially addictive and could lead to real-life gambling issues. That means it goes beyond the fact money is being spend and regulators might look at any sort of RNG mechanic designed to keep people playing and could lead to unhealthy behaviour, stuff like RNG loot.

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But you are fine with letting kids gamble? It's literal gambling. It needs to not be in children's entertainment, and since AAA gaming companies are being massive twats about it, it's getting legislated. Currently Belgium's version of the legislation is the only thing we have since the industry doesn't want to regulate itself properly

That depends on the local laws. In the UK it would not be considered gambling as the prizes are not cash or readily converted to cash. Personally I would have liked to see the matter tackled using consumer protection laws and claim predatory marketing tactics against children, unfortunately people seem to prefer convincing law-makers that video games can be harmful and addictive and can cause a spillover into real-life behaviours.

[blankfaced]

There's already tons of mystery box toys on the physical market. Are those not considered gambling? What makes video game loot boxes any different? We're okay with child gambling as long as it results in a physical product?

https://www.amazon.com/slp/blind-boxes/wh6zxxsgzpdy3gn
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tcg+boost...f=nb_sb_noss_2
Mystery toy boxes are all over the internet.

[Unholyground]

Yeah because who's ever heard of a child taking their parents credit card? Completely impossible.

Stop blaming the parents for companies wanting to add gambling mechanics to video games for children

Parents need to be blamed too though, they need to take personal responsibility for what thier crotch goblins are doing offline and online.

[Ozyorkbourne]

It should be there though, not everyone is retarded.

"Only retards get addicted". Is this bait or do you have a hole in your head?

[Unholyground]

"Only retards get addicted". Is this bait or do you have a hole in your head?

I have several holes in my head.