4 ms·

EA: Loot boxes “surprise mechanics” that are “ethical and fun”

14 points by close04 7y ago

pssflops 7y ago
"Surprise Mechanics" sounds like when you find your car on cinder blocks. The disingenuous language doesn't remove the predatory nature of the practice.
- sidlls 7y ago
  There is a direct connection between the ascendence of this kind of "predatory" model and people expecting to pay indie-level prices for AAA level features.
  - silversconfused 7y ago
    And that connection's name is Electronic Arts!
    - sidlls 7y ago
      The model was driven by consumer behavior. EA would have been just fine shipping packaged console and PC discs for decades. But consumers wanted more even as they wanted to pay less, so whale-supported DLC is what they got: and it's hugely profitable. Assuming you don't use "loot boxes" or play games like this on principle there are still thousands who do play, and pay (even as they complain).
      - silversconfused 7y ago
        Blaming the customers for how you exploit them is kinda bassackwards.
Shivetya 7y ago
The strategy I have seen used by a very large Free to play companies o is to stuff the boxes with at minimum the equivalent of the price on the box. They put the random item people want but emphasize the loot box has at minimum an amount of goods equal to what was spent. From SWTOR to WOT/WOWS this is so common as to be an obvious attempt to claim no gambling it taking place. Now of course since the price of the included items is totally up to the company selling them the only counter would be require buyers to trade the same within game to other players. SWTOR actually does allow many items to be bought and sold among players for in game currency however most games do not and that is where the abuse is rampant. So just like how the odds are not displayed in all regions it would take some regulation to either end the boxes altogether or force them into permitting players to trade items at will without perceived loss of value
DanBC 7y ago
This is a baffling move from EA. They could have had minimal light touch regulation. By denying the reality of lootboxes they're forcing the hand of the regulators. Europe will happily pass laws to restrict loot boxes and then impose a tax on them.
xg15 7y ago
The bit about addiction seriously enrages me. Maximizing "Player Engagement" is how the F2P business model works. It's one of the prime metrics that guide game design and set the worth of your game to investors and advertisers. You can't say "well, car accidents will always happen" if you get paid 40h/week to drag people onto the road.

14 points by close04 7y ago

"Surprise Mechanics" sounds like when you find your car on cinder blocks. The disingenuous language doesn't remove the predatory nature of the practice.

sidlls 7y ago
There is a direct connection between the ascendence of this kind of "predatory" model and people expecting to pay indie-level prices for AAA level features.
- silversconfused 7y ago
  And that connection's name is Electronic Arts!
  - sidlls 7y ago
    The model was driven by consumer behavior. EA would have been just fine shipping packaged console and PC discs for decades. But consumers wanted more even as they wanted to pay less, so whale-supported DLC is what they got: and it's hugely profitable. Assuming you don't use "loot boxes" or play games like this on principle there are still thousands who do play, and pay (even as they complain).
    - silversconfused 7y ago
      Blaming the customers for how you exploit them is kinda bassackwards.

Shivetya 7y ago

The strategy I have seen used by a very large Free to play companies o is to stuff the boxes with at minimum the equivalent of the price on the box. They put the random item people want but emphasize the loot box has at minimum an amount of goods equal to what was spent. From SWTOR to WOT/WOWS this is so common as to be an obvious attempt to claim no gambling it taking place. Now of course since the price of the included items is totally up to the company selling them the only counter would be require buyers to trade the same within game to other players. SWTOR actually does allow many items to be bought and sold among players for in game currency however most games do not and that is where the abuse is rampant. So just like how the odds are not displayed in all regions it would take some regulation to either end the boxes altogether or force them into permitting players to trade items at will without perceived loss of value

DanBC 7y ago

This is a baffling move from EA. They could have had minimal light touch regulation. By denying the reality of lootboxes they're forcing the hand of the regulators. Europe will happily pass laws to restrict loot boxes and then impose a tax on them.

xg15 7y ago

The bit about addiction seriously enrages me. Maximizing "Player Engagement" is how the F2P business model works. It's one of the prime metrics that guide game design and set the worth of your game to investors and advertisers. You can't say "well, car accidents will always happen" if you get paid 40h/week to drag people onto the road.