Hawaii and Belgium Cracking Down
November 22, 2017 5:05PM
edited November 2017
So this just dropped today:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2017/11/22/state-legislators-call-eas-game-a-star-wars-themed-online-casino-preying-on-kids-vow-action.html
As a vessel for Star Wars and a subsidiary of EA, how do you, Capital Games, respond to these allegations that "loot boxes" are classified as gambling by a State legislator? I would argue that the loot boxes in SWGOH, the ones for character shards of 5-330, could fall into this category.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2017/11/22/state-legislators-call-eas-game-a-star-wars-themed-online-casino-preying-on-kids-vow-action.html
As a vessel for Star Wars and a subsidiary of EA, how do you, Capital Games, respond to these allegations that "loot boxes" are classified as gambling by a State legislator? I would argue that the loot boxes in SWGOH, the ones for character shards of 5-330, could fall into this category.
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Howdy, Stranger!
Replies
https://powerup-gaming.com/2017/11/22/victorian-gambling-authority-loot-boxes-gambling/
With BF2 loot boxes there are things you want but nothing is guaranteed - you get get nothing you want - there is no guarantee of a certain item (like 5 shards). therefore this is a gamble.
Ultimately I think SWGOH is different than BF2 and is not considered gambling, although it does walk a fine line.
Meh.
What about nodes counting as loot boxes though?
You can pay money to get a random reward from a node which you are not guaranteed to get what you want.
One could go far as to argue that buying crystals to farm gear is also gambling regarding the poor RNG for needed pieces of gear that you are farming. But its a stretch.
Like I say this game walks a fine line with BF2.
If Belgium sets a precedent in Europe then the UK adopts that line of thinking, it is possible that Canada (that closely follows British law) will follow as well.
As with Hawaii - who knows what effect that will have on the US.
Its an interesting theory for sure as to what will happen ultimately regarding BF2 and its knock-on effect onto other games, like SWGOH.
This is unfortunately the wrong way to go about addressing the addicting problem these games have. They're trying to tie it into something that already has legal standings, but it doesn't quite fit. This is something new and needs to be handled in a different way.
I prefer a free market...im weird like that.
100% agreed
Good for you - but not everyone is as conservative as you are. I am the same as you. I am not a gambler.
I hate going to the casino because I have to be willing to literally throw away whatever amount I use to gamble with.
Say I spend 1000 crystals on a pack to get 350 shards but I could get only 5 then I am not buying that pack because I have to be happy spending 1000 crystals for 5 shards. That's the way I look at it.
That's what the casinos are for.
Children don't have the capacity to think about these loot boxes from an adult and logical perspective.
Even as an adult myself I despise the way how gaming has evolved to make money - particularly in this instance of loot boxes or with this game: chromium packs.
When Mass Effect 3 came out EA purposefully cut a character that was designed to be in the game out of the game and then made that character purchasable as DLC. I was livid I am already paying for this game now I am paying for content that was deliberately cut out of the game to squeeze me for more money?
I am a huge Mass Effect fan and wanted to experience the last installment of that trilogy in its entirety - of course I bought the content.
I can see back then, as horrible as EA's tactics were, at least I spent money on something I know I was getting in return - a purchase.
With these loot boxes people are spending money for something they want on a chance of getting it - that's a gamble.
I know you didn’t mean it this way, but I honestly think this is the first time anyone has described me as conservative in any context :P
Anyway, my point is that wveryone thinks they’re special when, in fact, they’re average. The most typical experience is your experience. Folks always worry about how ‘weaker minds,’ or whatever, are being exploited and bilked out of their money, when in truth people are by and large doing fine and, if spending at all, are doing so with eyes wide open.
It is most common towards senior citizens who have a lifetime of experience to know better than to be taken for a ride - but their minds are not always there, or they are too trusting, or certain costs/charges are explained to them in a confusing way.
The same goes for children and people with disabilities.
At the end of the day people can be exploited. Introducing a gambling element helping people develop a gambling psych or behaviour is not ok. Especially in video games aimed at children.
The fact that some people argue that the whole BF2 loot box thing is not gambling proves that they don't get it and are being exploited - just like those senior citizens etc. It is simply a system that should not be used in a star wars game, but could be welcomed in a game about Las Vegas.
If people are unable to protect themselves then the law needs to step in and protect them.
That's the way the world works - not my rules. And with the world becoming so increasingly liberal with human rights and political correctness - everyone is meant to be happy even if that upsets other people - because you can't please everyone. More control of governments, media and law are enforcing more and more of these rules and controls over the general public. Is that right? certainly not all of it, but some of it is justified. Gambling in a video game, especially those games targeting children and impressionable minds, is certainly not good and should be controlled.
If games want to make extra money from certain DLC or whatever, then it should be available at a cost - a purchase, not a gamble. If anything this actually benefits players and not the game designers as much.
Would you rather pay $30 for a full 7* VS Han or Chewie or throw away $100 on a chance of getting them at 7*?
That's my 2 cents - sorry I didn't mean to call you conservative, lol
$30 for a 7*, sure. $30 for 1/2 of a 4* unlock (starck pack) or more (i.e. $80+) absolutely not. Besides the gambling aspect I find all their pricing kind of ridiculous no if not predatory. Gotta catch them all games are inherently addictive for many people and they prey on that.
Personally I think they should drop all prices by about 70% and change the weighting on the 3-330 shard packs to make it possible or even probable to get more than 5 shards. Maybe a curve or parabola instead of a sharply descending line?
Given how many more people would be willing to part.with the smaller sums (often without thinking about it) they'd probably make at least as much.