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

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-49661870

Ban children from gambling in games, MPs say

In-game spending should be regulated by gambling laws and so-called loot boxes banned entirely for children, MPs say.

The industry's UK trade body responded it would "review these recommendations with utmost seriousness".

But the committee of MPs had accused some of those who had given evidence of a "lack of honesty and transparency".

Free video games often encourage players to buy virtual loot boxes, which contain an unspecified amount of items to improve further game-play.

Some games have associated online marketplaces where players can trade or sell these items.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee's inquiry into addictive and immersive technologies heard stories of young adults who had built up debts of thousands of pounds through spending in games. Jagex, the company behind online game RuneScape, admitted players could spend up to £1,000 a week or £5,000 a month.

But the MPs found the industry was reluctant to accept responsibility for intervening when a player was over-spending or even to put a figure on how much was too much.

And some had been "wilfully obtuse" in answering questions about game-play, which MPs needed to know in order to better understand how players engaged with games.

Without naming names, they said they had sometimes found it difficult to get full and clear answers from the gaming industry representatives who had appeared before them, in particular when it came to answering questions about what data they collected, how it was used and the psychology underpinning how games were designed.

Honesty system

"Social media platforms and online games makers are locked in a relentless battle to capture ever more of people's attention, time and money," Mr Collins said.

"Their business models are built on this but it's time for them to be more responsible in dealing with the harms these technologies can cause for some users."

In response Dr Jo Twist, the chief executive of UK Interactive Entertainment, said: ""The video games industry has always, and will continue to, put the welfare of players at the heart of what we do.

"The industry does not dispute that, for a minority, finding balance is a problem.

"This is why we are vocal in supporting efforts to increase digital literacy and work with schools and carers on education programmes."

But Mr Collins said the games industry should contribute financially towards independent research into the long-term effects of gaming.

"Gaming disorder based on excessive and addictive game-play has been recognised by the World Health Organization," he said.

"It's time for game companies to use the huge quantities of data they gather about their players to do more to proactively identify vulnerable gamers."

The MPs also called for both social media platforms and game-makers to establish effective age-verification tools.

Currently both rely on a honesty system and, as a result, there are large numbers of under-age users on social media and playing games.

Loot boxes should not be sold to children and should instead be earned as rewards for game-play, the MPs said.

"Loot boxes are particularly lucrative for games companies but come at a high cost, particularly for problem gamblers, while exposing children to potential harm," Mr Collins said.

"Buying a loot box is playing a game of chance and it is high time the gambling laws caught up.

"We challenge the government to explain why loot boxes should be exempt from the Gambling Act."

There is growing international disquiet about loot boxes, with a US senator calling for them to be banned and the government of Belgium ruling they were in violation of gambling laws.

China has restricted the number of loot boxes players can open each day. Sweden is also investigating them.

Game companies' hubris not doing them any favours. Age verification to be a mandatory feature on future home consoles?

It's great to hear this but I do wonder just how long it'll be before anything is really done about it. The industry will undoubtedly try to take tiny steps such as putting a "Surprise Mechanics" label on game boxes; minor things that have little impact in terms of raising awareness in consumer minds nor in stopping children being indoctrinated with gambling mechanisms via games.

But, hey, it's a step forward.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-49941610

Nothing we didn't already know here, but FUT is called out and it's on the BBC front page just now.

More fuel for the fire.

Definitely feels like public opinion is being pushed to oppose them. Which is great.

Mario Kart Tour, the new mobile game based on the classic franchise, now includes the option to purchase additional racing characters. £39 for the Diddy Kong pack and £20 for the Rosalina pack.

I am - ahem - "surprised" by these mechanics :lol:

.

Me: ‘Good job Nintendo don’t engage in the egregious practices seen elsewhere in the market!’

Nintendo:

No way! You mean Nintendo got into the mobile gaming scene just to screw people over with micro-transactions and make loads of money! I never would have guessed it! :shock:

I almost downloaded Mario Kart Tour the other day but realised that standard MK frustrates me enough and having it handheld form would probably kill me! :lol:

jawafour wrote:

Mario Kart Tour, the new mobile game based on the classic franchise, now includes the option to purchase additional racing characters. £39 for the Diddy Kong pack and £20 for the Rosalina pack.

I am - ahem - "surprised" by these mechanics .

To be fair I’ve been able to unlock a lot of stuff without paying so I think without the grind as an option it’s alright (although mega expensive).

It should be prohibited to those of 18 though, and certainly give you the option to unlock these things naturally along with a purchase. But these prices are insane, but then the games free so you have to make money back somewhere... not sure what the alternative is bar selling the game at £30.00 with everyone included? Would that work? I’m not sure.

Not a chance I’d spend the fees on the game they charge though

gaminglegend wrote:
jawafour wrote:

Mario Kart Tour, the new mobile game based on the classic franchise, now includes the option to purchase additional racing characters. £39 for the Diddy Kong pack and £20 for the Rosalina pack.

I am - ahem - "surprised" by these mechanics .

To be fair I’ve been able to unlock a lot of stuff without paying so I think without the grind as an option it’s alright (although mega expensive).

It should be prohibited to those of 18 though, and certainly give you the option to unlock these things naturally along with a purchase. But these prices are insane, but then the games free so you have to make money back somewhere... not sure what the alternative is bar selling the game at £30.00 with everyone included? Would that work? I’m not sure.

Not a chance I’d spend the fees on the game they charge though

They did that with Mario-alright not £30, but they sold it at a set price and made a lot less money as a result.

Tomous wrote:
gaminglegend wrote:
jawafour wrote:

Mario Kart Tour, the new mobile game based on the classic franchise, now includes the option to purchase additional racing characters. £39 for the Diddy Kong pack and £20 for the Rosalina pack.

I am - ahem - "surprised" by these mechanics .

To be fair I’ve been able to unlock a lot of stuff without paying so I think without the grind as an option it’s alright (although mega expensive).

It should be prohibited to those of 18 though, and certainly give you the option to unlock these things naturally along with a purchase. But these prices are insane, but then the games free so you have to make money back somewhere... not sure what the alternative is bar selling the game at £30.00 with everyone included? Would that work? I’m not sure.

Not a chance I’d spend the fees on the game they charge though

They did that with Mario-alright not £30, but they sold it at a set price and made a lot less money as a result.

I can see that. There’s a massive psychology difference in buying a game for a platform, or an piece of software against a mobile game/app that we haven’t seemed to have solved: I know companies do sell a lot regardless and micro transactions but I think it’s common to thing £10 on my phone? Nah. £20 physical copy/download on the Xbox/PS4 store? Yeah that’s fine.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare developer insists Infinity Ward is not working on loot boxes

Always liked that meme :lol:

twitter.com/jason_koebler/status/1189173501292351493

omfg. They levelled up:

(Games use bots, on the quiet, to make you feel good and thus keep you engaged and spending, and are used as advertising by kitting them out in paid DLC.)

The world needs way more bots for local play so this is a little bit nonsense - but yes you should clearly be able to tell the difference

CTR remake does the whole "randomised outfits" thing and I hate it because they are mostly ugly. I just want the classic designs!

OrangeRKN wrote:The world needs way more bots for local play so this is a little bit nonsense - but yes you should clearly be able to tell the difference

He does address the need for bots in some games, its the idea that companies are hiding the use of bots, deliberately conflating them with human players, to increase investment that's the issue. I remember coming across this in PLUNKBAT mobile. I was super happy after winning my very first match before learning that it had been entirely against bots, something the game never told me. Apparently the first ten matches are like this, with human players slowly added until the bots are removed entirely. It gives you that sense of success that keeps you playing by, essentially, letting you cheat without telling you that's what's happening.

That and he talks about the use of them as advertising mannequins, without telling the player this is what's happening, which reminds me of that old Activision scheme of matchmaking players based on cosmetics, specifically trying to showcase paid-for items to lower level players.

NHS chief says loot boxes are "setting kids up for addiction" to gambling

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020 ... o-gambling

Gemini73 wrote:NHS chief says loot boxes are "setting kids up for addiction" to gambling

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020 ... o-gambling

The mealy-mouthed response from Ukie boil my piss:

The games industry takes its responsibility to players very seriously and acknowledges that some people are concerned. That is why on the 10th January we launched our Get Smart About PLAY campaign, which is designed to help parents and carers manage play online and in the home. It shows that it is already possible to manage, limit or turn off spend in games with the help of family controls, providing practical guidance on how to do so at www.askaboutgames.com.

If they really cared, then why are all these things not turned off by default and you have to opt into them instead? Because it would make them less money, that's why. People shouldn't need warning or teaching about how to stop their games trying to take all their money. This is another way of looking like you're doing something while actually doing nothing. I say bring on whatever ham-fisted and over-complicated regulation that particularly this government will implement, as the industry has had plenty of time to do the right thing and have clearly shown they aren't willing to do so, so sod 'em.

It's true that the industry as no intention to self regulate, but they'll be the first to cry foul if and when the government bring the hammer down because " think of the children"

strawberry float this.

Well, here’s some bullshit: fighting game Dead or Alive 6 has, in a recent update, introduced a new form of microtransaction, in which players are charged real money to change a character’s hair colour. Then charged again to change it back.

The move went live in the recent 1.60 update, whose big deal was that it was going to allow for all kinds of customisation options, and is only an issue for PlayStation 4 users (the only platform this update will be released on), not anyone playing on PC or Xbox One.

Cast these greedy banana splits into the darkest abyss.

Charging to change hair colour.

strawberry float off.

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

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