As mentioned by a user in the Q&A session, Apple has put in place new rules regarding loot box mechanics in games, namely that the odds need to be clearly and openly shown prior to purchasing a box:
Quote:
"Apps offering “loot boxes” or other mechanisms that provide randomized virtual items for purchase must disclose the odds of receiving each type of item to customers prior to purchase."
https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/
In a different game (from Disney), the (often laughable) chances of receiving a specific item are clearly shown already.
CG's answer in the Q&A was inadequate to say the least ("discussing with Apple what that means to this game"). It's pretty simple: Show the odds for every item. Period.
Edit:
Everybody knows why CG is reluctant to show the odds.
However, this reluctance is a good sign of bad (predatory?) business practices.
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Of course they are.
But the fact that packs can be bought for crystals F2P players receive via arena payouts / make-goods does not necessarily mean that it is OK to not tell P2P players the odds of their "investment".
As I said in my edit above: Reluctance to show the odds clearly is a clear sign of predatory practices.
In every lottery, in every gambling scenario, the odds are either known or can be calculated.
Not so much in this game (and many other video/mobile games).
Pretty much all casino games have well-known odds.
Slots machines usually have around 95% payout rate (which should be defined by law).
So the chances of winning are pretty much known (you lose 5$ for every 100$ you bet).
Also, there's only one item you can win (money), so the win/lose structure is way simpler than in games like SWGOH.
Regardless, I definately applaud Apples initiative in the matter - Philosophically I feel that the moral thing to do is to provide transparency so people can make educated decisions - If a product, virtual or not, is a good product, transparency should not hinder it
Exactly.
I would even go as far as putting it this way:
....transparency WILL not hinder it.
This is not a good sign regarding CG's confidence in the products they sell.
CG has stood upon a tradition long established by trading card games like magic, basketball cards and so on and so forth...
While tradition is an argument in the lines of “everybody else does it”, that does not make it more okay or right morally - I would quote the abolishment of slavery and such historical instances, where people have justified their actions with traditions, and change has been met with resistance from people in positions of power.
Thus - now that an initiative to end this tradition/practice has been put forth, I can understand why CG would reserve time to consider it, regardless of my own belief in the matter, it is reasonable that it takes some time to adjust
Edit: my point is that I do not agree that it clearly shows malicious intent to take reasonable time to consider/adjust
Thanks for your input, @Emmant ! Very well received! Chapeau!
Is that correct or am I misunderstanding something?
It’s not 100% clear, which is why the answer in Q/A states they are looking into how it affects swgoh I suppose.
“Apps offering “loot boxes” or other mechanisms that provide randomized virtual items for purchase must disclose the odds of receiving each type of item to customers prior to purchase.”
(Apple -
https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#business)
However, statements go further
“In one sentence, Apple enacted a massive change that impacts the biggest iPhone games and iPhone game makers: "Apps offering 'loot boxes' or other mechanisms that provide randomized virtual items for purchase must disclose the odds of receiving each type of item to customers prior to purchase."
Many of the top games on the iPhone, from "Hearthstone" to "Clash Royale," use loot boxes.
You either earn them through play, or you outright pay real money for them, and they give you a randomized shot at earning beneficial virtual items. In "Hearthstone," that means packs of cards you can add to your deck - maybe you've got a 5:1 shot at getting a "rare," especially powerful card. But maybe the game doesn't tell you.
Now, under Apple's new rule, the game must tell players "the odds of receiving each type of item" and it has to do that before purchase” (businessinsider.com)
Otherwise every company will sell VC to sell loot boxes exclusively (like swgoh)
But this remains to be seen
Companies have responsibilities to investors and so taking any action that could potentially hurt sales would never be welcomed.
If CG disclosed tomorrow that the odds of 330 shards dropping on a single purchase was 100,000 to 1 for example, this may not put off players who typically max out characters but it would likely put off players who buying a couple of packs on the off-chance.
I concur with you - but then maybe the easy strategies are to tweak pricing or drop chances to the point where they are perceived by the consumer to be a worthwhile investment/gamble
There are plenty other ways to pace a game than obscure low drop rates (if that is the case)
If the product is good enough people will buy it
If that was the case they might loose out on some whale money who spend all they have to for 7* but they would probably gain more repeat business from less spending customers, although this is pure speculation since I (we) don’t have access to the demographics of the revenue streams
first, thanks for opening this discussion.
i think it‘s only fair to know our chances.
*330 shards...
1%?
0,01%?
0,001%
...
*upgrading speed secondary mods...
do they have really the same chance as others to climb?
(my experience makes me NOT BUY the mod-store mods, because they don‘t climb with the same possibility or rng hates me)
*rng in the raid-awards
there are player, who make a top3-rank and got no full gear piece 4 times... ;-)
why should i play nearly an hour in haat, if a guild-member posts his full piece for rank 14 and i got only.....
btw we never saw a full gear12 material since our first territory battle... frustrating with the time!
what‘s the problem with showing us the chances?
total easy!
if the chances are bad and we don‘t buy cards, mods, ... then they have to change them.
so what?
nobody will quit the game if his chances are better but i‘m sure some player will leave if they got only bad odds for his crystals/dollars/euros...
I will be honestly surprised if 3 months from now there is anything palpably different from a player's perspective about this game. At least any differences that are seen in a positive light. I realize that may sound a bit harsh, but I've played this game since launch. If I had a nickel for every "we hear you" and promises to do better, I could buy a vault.
In game guild: TNR Uprising
I beat the REAL T7 Yoda (not the nerfed one) and did so before mods were there to help
*This space left intentionally blank*
I hope you are wrong but well.... History.
Remember those dev updates that happen every Friday, till they just decided to stop and not tell anyone why.
We have had dev Q&A before that just stopped
We had a reliable schedule for EP/Yoda events (every other month) that just stopped.
These things just stopped happening with no communication as to why. So.... Yeah.... History.
You applaud apple in leaving a possible loop hole?
Apple is a business just like any other and they now about use and provide loopholes.
Had Apple new policy defined the word "purchase" to include virtual, in game and real/hard currency I might give them credit. However all Apple did was leave them and others a loophole, most likely on purpose, and get the consumers hopes up.