Part of the Problem

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Errkal** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 8:38 am

Somebody Else's Presents wrote:With SoK admitting to paying for avatars, and Karl being all-in on the microtransaction train, I reckon GRcade will have purchasable avatars within 2 weeks.

Naaa we are going to lock all features like "quote" "spoiler" etc. As well as some threads behind a loot crate system and you need to buy cade crates to get a chance of unlocking the feature.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Saint of Killers** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 8:46 am

HSH28 wrote:I don't agree that 'gaming as we know it' is in decline.

Just to be clear, and apologies if you were already aware of this, I meant it in the sense that that's the prism some people are viewing mtx etc, etc through. I don't necessarily agree with them.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Seven** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 8:54 am

I bought one or two lootboxes in games I enjoy like mass effect - It's not a habit I plan to make but if I enjoyed the game enough I don't mind.

Battlefront 2 way of doing it is gooseberry fool though because there's not much of content unless you pay...

Also I'm all for remasters, if it meant getting rid of older system (or store it). Though Xbox One being having proper BC is good, on PS front I'm hoping for Yakuza PS3 series to be PS4'd

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Tafdolphin** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 10:24 am

I've bought Overwatch loot boxes before, a bundle of 10 no less, and was sorely tempted to do the same during the Halloween event (I mean, did you see that Zarya skin?). I ultimately resisted, but the urge was real strawberry floating strong.

Gemini73 · PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Gemini73** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 11:06 am

Bought plenty of DLC, not bought any loot boxes, but if I'm honest that's more to do with not gaming online all that much than the overall cost or what it may or may not mean for the industry looking ahead. Can't say I'm a huge fan of how the likes of EA and WB are adopting "games as a service", but on reflection I don't have any right to berate players who buy into it either.

So if I'm part of the problem then that would be down to how increasingly indifferent I have become toward the whole scenario.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Preezy** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 11:11 am

I’ve stopped buying (non Nintendo) games at full price or at launch, they all get discounted so heavily and so quickly.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Winckle** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 3:48 pm

Christmas CrackErrkal wrote:
Somebody Else's Presents wrote:With SoK admitting to paying for avatars, and Karl being all-in on the microtransaction train, I reckon GRcade will have purchasable avatars within 2 weeks.

Naaa we are going to lock all features like "quote" "spoiler" etc. As well as some threads behind a loot crate system and you need to buy cade crates to get a chance of unlocking the feature.

No, the real insidious move is to make it so spoilers aren't hidden unless you pay up.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Errkal** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 3:51 pm

Winckle wrote:
Christmas CrackErrkal wrote:
Somebody Else's Presents wrote:With SoK admitting to paying for avatars, and Karl being all-in on the microtransaction train, I reckon GRcade will have purchasable avatars within 2 weeks.

Naaa we are going to lock all features like "quote" "spoiler" etc. As well as some threads behind a loot crate system and you need to buy cade crates to get a chance of unlocking the feature.

No, the real insidious move is to make it so spoilers aren't hidden unless you pay up.

Ooo nice idea, I'll put it forward, can't see why it won't be approved, going to make a mint! Got to fun a golden statue of GG for the GR towers lobby init.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Jenuall** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:43 pm

I don't do loot boxes or any of that nonsense, the one thing I do which I think is arguably harming the industry is buying from "grey market" key resellers.

7256930752 · PostRe: Part of the Problem by **7256930752** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 5:34 pm

Donner wrote:Battlefront 2 way of doing it is gooseberry fool though because there's not much of content unless you pay...

You do realise that is complete rubbish?

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Seven** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 6:28 pm

Maybe so but still doesn't boost my confidence considering the first one lacked content too (on release that is -- considering picking it up when I wait for second game to be GotY'd and on sale)

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **SerialCeler** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:13 pm

We had all these arguments a few years ago when DLC first started to be ‘a thing’. People saying they wouldn’t buy it because it would encourage devs and publishers to hold back content, thin end of the wedge, etc. But DLC has become pretty normalised now, even Nintendo has embraced it.

I would expect the same thing to happen with loot crates and micro-transactions. I don’t like it, but publishers can make money out of it, so it’s here to stay even if there is a long-term cost to the industry.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Lotus** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:22 pm

I've bought DLC a few times, but I never pre-order games, buy season passes, buy loot crates or use micro-transactions.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Lagamorph** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:23 pm

There wasn't the backlash against DLC that lootboxes are getting though. At least with DLC you know what you're getting when you pay for it. The randomised gambling (and it is gambling, no matter how devs and publishers argue it isn't) of lootboxes is totally different to that.

Gemini73 · PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Gemini73** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:50 pm

Lastpostamorph wrote:There wasn't the backlash against DLC that lootboxes are getting though. At least with DLC you know what you're getting when you pay for it. The randomised gambling (and it is gambling, no matter how devs and publishers argue it isn't) of lootboxes is totally different to that.

Until loot boxes fall under gambling with regards to current UK legislation, which they currently do not, then the devs and publishers are quite within their right to state loot boxes are not gambling. The gambling commission's hands are tied and outside of monitoring the situation there is nothing they can really do about it until the law changes.

Not great, but there it is.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Jenuall** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 5:20 pm

Part of the problem with the loot box gambling debate is how it would effect other products if the decision were made to call loot boxes gambling. For example there are hundreds of childrens toys that are currently sold under the same premise - "blind bags" etc. similarly with Panini football stickers etc.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Trelliz** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 6:50 pm

However at least football stickers are physical things which, crucially you can actually trade or swap with others; lootboxes have the appearance of such systems but you're stuck with whatever you get or can turn it into some other currency.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **That** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 9:54 pm

Pokemon card booster packs ARE pretty obviously a form of gambling. That doesn't necessarily make them bad for kids in practice. I think the real difference lies in having to get actual cash from your parents then go to a physical shop if you want Pokemon boosters. I think that process is much less likely to induce a gambling addiction like state in a kid than instant gratification, no parental oversight digital loot boxes.

PostRe: Part of the Problem by **Lagamorph** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 10:05 pm

And look at the various instances of children running up bills of hundreds/thousands on things like Fifa card packs because of credit cards linked to accounts and a child not understanding what's going on, they just think they're playing a video game and pressing a button to get more players.
That kind of thing just doesn't happen with something like a pack of trading cards or stickers bought from the shop and even young children grasp the basic concept that a financial transaction is taking place.

7256930752 · PostRe: Part of the Problem by **7256930752** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 10:20 pm

I'm sure there are a handful of cases that children have run up "hundreds and thousands" on card packs and the like but dont panini stickers, Pokemon cards, etc show that children enjoy the blind box thing? I totally agree that it needs some form of regulation, especially with the odds of getting certain items but maybe there is a middle ground?

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