2 ms·
I think Overwatch is a bad example because you can't turn the loot into real money. Valve's games are a better example because you can sell the loot directly th
by ng12 8y ago
I think Overwatch is a bad example because you can't turn the loot into real money. Valve's games are a better example because you can sell the loot directly through Steam -- in some cases for hundreds of dollars.
- dharmab 8y agoOverwatch is also a bad (good) example because the developers have a policy where only cosmetic items are available through the loot boxes, while all gameplay features are free for everyone. Many other loot box games offer items that increase player power or change gameplay in loot boxes. For example, the prerelease version of Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) had a backlash because of items such as "Deal 30% more damage with ship blasters." Other games may have items such as "Deal 20% more damage, but reduce health by 30%" which open up additional strategic options.
- zeta0134 8y agoRight, Overwatch is a relatively tame example where it starts to feel potentially manipulative. I forgot about the Battlefront scandal, that's a bit more obviously bad. Again here, the presence of random boosts isn't inherently a bad thing, but making them purchasable is already questionable ("pay to win") and putting them in real-money loot boxes is certainly sketchy ("pay to win but only sometimes")