Paid content in videogames (DLC, loot boxes, passes, currencies, "surprise mechanics" and - new! - pay more or wait!)

Anything to do with games at all.
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Moggy
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Moggy » Thu Dec 07, 2017 3:26 pm

O Raxmas Tree wrote:
Partridge Iciclebubbles wrote:
O Raxmas Tree wrote:I dont think anyone can object to companies "working to get more customers paying continuously for content”, that just makes good business sense, the problems arise when the system put in place is massively unfair and designed to get people paying at every turn.


Those of us that just want to buy a game and play it will object. I don’t care if it is a good business decision for the developer/publisher, I don’t want to be playing all games on a subscription or microtransaction basis. It suits some games and some game modes, but it will be a sad day if it ever becomes the standard.

Very true, I dont think it should ever become the standard, there are definitely situations where it doesnt suit but I can understand why companies do it and will continue to look for new ways to get consumers to stump up for things. I think a good example of this is Minecraft, I bought the game and never spent a penny on microtransactions, there are skins and texture packs and servers and all kinds of things you can buy in that game but all of it is totally optional, if you want to just mine and craft then everything you need is right there in the game for you. I know Minecraft was incredibly popular before all of that stuff was added in but I think the way it was all handled and made entirely optional is a good example of how optional microtransactions can be done in a way that will not impact the main game.


I’ve never played Minecraft but that sounds reasonable. I’ve never had a problem with companies flogging skins and other cosmetic items.

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Knoyleo
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Knoyleo » Thu Dec 07, 2017 3:29 pm

O Raxmas Tree wrote:
Partridge Iciclebubbles wrote:
O Raxmas Tree wrote:I dont think anyone can object to companies "working to get more customers paying continuously for content”, that just makes good business sense, the problems arise when the system put in place is massively unfair and designed to get people paying at every turn.


Those of us that just want to buy a game and play it will object. I don’t care if it is a good business decision for the developer/publisher, I don’t want to be playing all games on a subscription or microtransaction basis. It suits some games and some game modes, but it will be a sad day if it ever becomes the standard.

Very true, I dont think it should ever become the standard, there are definitely situations where it doesnt suit but I can understand why companies do it and will continue to look for new ways to get consumers to stump up for things. I think a good example of this is Minecraft, I bought the game and never spent a penny on microtransactions, there are skins and texture packs and servers and all kinds of things you can buy in that game but all of it is totally optional, if you want to just mine and craft then everything you need is right there in the game for you. I know Minecraft was incredibly popular before all of that stuff was added in but I think the way it was all handled and made entirely optional is a good example of how optional microtransactions can be done in a way that will not impact the main game.

Are you still able to load your own custom skins? I know you used to be able to, it'd be a shame if that was taken out in order to replace with a paid option.

pjbetman wrote:That's the stupidest thing ive ever read on here i think.
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Rax
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Rax » Thu Dec 07, 2017 3:48 pm

EberKneesUp wrote:
O Raxmas Tree wrote:
Partridge Iciclebubbles wrote:
O Raxmas Tree wrote:I dont think anyone can object to companies "working to get more customers paying continuously for content”, that just makes good business sense, the problems arise when the system put in place is massively unfair and designed to get people paying at every turn.


Those of us that just want to buy a game and play it will object. I don’t care if it is a good business decision for the developer/publisher, I don’t want to be playing all games on a subscription or microtransaction basis. It suits some games and some game modes, but it will be a sad day if it ever becomes the standard.

Very true, I dont think it should ever become the standard, there are definitely situations where it doesnt suit but I can understand why companies do it and will continue to look for new ways to get consumers to stump up for things. I think a good example of this is Minecraft, I bought the game and never spent a penny on microtransactions, there are skins and texture packs and servers and all kinds of things you can buy in that game but all of it is totally optional, if you want to just mine and craft then everything you need is right there in the game for you. I know Minecraft was incredibly popular before all of that stuff was added in but I think the way it was all handled and made entirely optional is a good example of how optional microtransactions can be done in a way that will not impact the main game.

Are you still able to load your own custom skins? I know you used to be able to, it'd be a shame if that was taken out in order to replace with a paid option.

Yeah on the PC nothing has changed, you can still add your own texture packs and character skins. On console its only paid options as far as I know.

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Saint of Killers
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Saint of Killers » Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:48 pm

Bungie want Destiny 2 designers to create ‘player progression behind loot boxes’

...

The basic job description doesn’t sound too bad, and seems to be after someone to simply continue things more or less as they are. (Although the idea that there are now people whose job revolves around working out how little you can get away with in terms of random in-game rewards is a bit disturbing.).

What is of greater concern is the list of responsibilities below, which talk about ‘sustainable player progression’ through Bright Engrams. Which seems to make no sense as Bright Engrams don’t really have anything to do with player progression – at least not at the moment.

...

http://metro.co.uk/2017/12/07/bungie-wa ... s-7139502/

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Knoyleo
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Knoyleo » Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:32 am

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42311533

Skin betting: 'Children as young as 11 introduced to gambling'
By Sian Lloyd

About half a million children and young people gamble every week, a Gambling Commission report is expected to show.
The regulator has warned that children as young as 11 are using so-called skin betting websites, which let players gamble with virtual items as currency.
The items won - usually modified guns or knives within a video game known as a skin - can often be sold and turned back in to real money.
The Gambling Commission is releasing its annual survey on Tuesday.
It is estimated that half of the UK online population - more than 30 million people - play video games.
The Gambling Commission said it had identified third party websites that enabled players to gamble their skins on casino or slot machine type games and then these could later be sold and turned into real-world money.
It said cracking down on the industry was a top priority.


Good.

pjbetman wrote:That's the stupidest thing ive ever read on here i think.
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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Victor Mildew » Sun Jan 28, 2018 3:39 pm

Was out with friends the other night and our god son was watching lets plays etc on his tablet while we chatted. He spent an entire hour watching a series of videos that were nothing more than people opening loot crate sticker pack things in rainbow six :dread: Just pack after pack of these things being opened.

*yells at cloud*

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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smurphy
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by smurphy » Sun Jan 28, 2018 5:25 pm

While it'll probably have less of an effect that I think, I can't imagine what kind of strawberry floated up personality traits growing up with stuff like that will cause.

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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Victor Mildew » Sun Jan 28, 2018 6:55 pm

It's very strange that people can be interested in watching something like that, which to me says there's something compelling enough to sit and watch it, and perhaps addictive enough to keep watching. It's like sitting and watching someone do scratch cards imo, sooner or later they're going to want to have a go.

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Alvin Flummux
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Alvin Flummux » Sun Jan 28, 2018 7:06 pm

Good news?


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Tomous
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Tomous » Sun Jan 28, 2018 8:12 pm

Ad7 wrote:It's very strange that people can be interested in watching something like that, which to me says there's something compelling enough to sit and watch it, and perhaps addictive enough to keep watching. It's like sitting and watching someone do scratch cards imo, sooner or later they're going to want to have a go.


I agree. It desperately needs proper legislating, I think the fact that it’s addicive enough to just watch people doing it says that.

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BID0
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by BID0 » Mon Feb 26, 2018 2:54 pm



That guy from Hawaii is really nailing these guys :lol:

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Trelliz
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Trelliz » Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:28 pm

The Netherlands declares some loot boxes are gambling

The gaming authority did not reveal the four games it found to contravene its Betting and Gaming Act, but that didn't stop Dutch broadcaster NOS from naming and shaming FIFA 18, Dota 2, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Rocket League.

As a result, the gaming authority demanded publishers and developers modify loot boxes with "addiction-sensitive" elements. That is, they must remove "almost winning" effects, visual effects and the ability to keep opening loot boxes quickly one after the other. They must also implement measures to exclude vulnerable groups or demonstrate the loot boxes on offer are harmless.

What if the companies in question do not comply? The gaming authority said from 20th June 2018, it may "instigate enforcement action against providers of games of chance with loot boxes that do not adhere to this norm". This action includes fines or a ban.


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jawa2 wrote:Tl;dr Trelliz isn't a miserable git; he's right.
Gemini73

PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Gemini73 » Thu Apr 19, 2018 6:00 pm

So, er, no more FIFA for the Dutch?

Gemini73

PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Gemini73 » Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:17 pm

Loot boxes and skin gambling to earn £35bn in revenue by 2022

Analysts predict growth in random digital loot despite consumer unrest

Loot boxes and skin gambling will earn $50bn (£35bn) annually in global consumer spending by 2022, according to Juniper Research. The earnings are an increase on just under $30bn (£21bn) this year.

The market intelligence and analysis company also called for regulation on skin gambling. "Juniper strongly recommends regulation for skin trading and gambling, in an attempt to both prevent youth participation and remove malicious actors who run sites which steal skins or short-change users." This follows findings from the Gambling Commission that 11% of 11-16 year olds in the UK had engaged in skin gambling.


While Valve has taken measures against on third-party websites who operate casino-style betting for skins, the Steam Community Market allows users to sell in-game items to others for money, with Steam taking a 5 per cent cut of these transactions.

With over six billion items traded on the skins market, Juniper believes that Steam is responsible for the majority of trades. "Steam makes money from these transaction” said Juniper, “hence the reluctance to shut the practice down."

The financial success of loot boxes and skin gambling comes in spite of significant consumer backlash, that has seen a number of AAA developers back away from the practice.

For instance, Monolith Productions, developers of Middle-Earth: Shadow of War recently announced that it would be removing all microtransactions from the game, after critics argued that the loot boxes were gratuitous and undermined the series’ unique Nemesis system.

And EA is only now reinstating microtransactions to Battlefront II in a cosmetic-only format, after pulling them from the game soon after launch after an outcry from players.


https://www.mcvuk.com/business/loot-box ... ue-by-2022

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Peter Crisp
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Peter Crisp » Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:45 pm

Saint of Killers wrote:
Bungie want Destiny 2 designers to create ‘player progression behind loot boxes’

...

The basic job description doesn’t sound too bad, and seems to be after someone to simply continue things more or less as they are. (Although the idea that there are now people whose job revolves around working out how little you can get away with in terms of random in-game rewards is a bit disturbing.).

What is of greater concern is the list of responsibilities below, which talk about ‘sustainable player progression’ through Bright Engrams. Which seems to make no sense as Bright Engrams don’t really have anything to do with player progression – at least not at the moment.

...

http://metro.co.uk/2017/12/07/bungie-wa ... s-7139502/


Every time I think about maybe going back into Destiny 2 (I bought the game and season pass so I've paid for the future update) they come out with something like this that just makes me remember why I uninstalled it. Destiny 1 was a great game and a bunch of us on here had a fabulous time playing it but Destiny 2 is not even a shadow of its former self.

There's no sense of accomplishment from doing activities (the raid is boring as strawberry float and I can't even be bothered to try the raid layers as the rewards are a strawberry floating joke) and the weapons and new abilities are gooseberry fool. If the Aim of Destiny 2 was to free up space on the servers by having nobody playing it then they've succeeded spectacularly.

They think having an RPG system of levelling where the way to level is by random engrams is a good idea :fp: .
The dev team is so far up its own backside it can't hear the cries of fans no matter how loud they shout and now they all left so well played Bungie, you had a $1B franchise and you strawberry floated it up.

Vermilion wrote:I'd rather live in Luton.
Gemini73

PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Gemini73 » Wed Apr 25, 2018 4:40 pm

Now Belgium declare loot boxes illegal

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018 ... re-illegal

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Trelliz
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Trelliz » Wed Apr 25, 2018 5:08 pm

I look forward to the hand-wringing response from EA et al.

jawa2 wrote:Tl;dr Trelliz isn't a miserable git; he's right.
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Fade
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Fade » Wed Apr 25, 2018 6:15 pm

Can somebody explain to me how trading cards or blind boxes are any different to loot boxes in video games?

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Tomous
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by Tomous » Wed Apr 25, 2018 6:28 pm

Fade wrote:Can somebody explain to me how trading cards or blind boxes are any different to loot boxes in video games?


The biggest difference is with trading cards you still have a tangible item you can sell/trade if it’s something you don’t want.

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OrangeRKN
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PostRe: Paid content in videogames (DLC, season passes, micro transactions and loot boxes)
by OrangeRKN » Wed Apr 25, 2018 7:57 pm

They don't (by limitation of being physical items) amplify "success" or "failure" in what you receive with audovisual effects.

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