Britain UK government considers regulating loot boxes as gambling

[Lanmandragon]

oh I dunno, maybe cus they get lost a bunch and phones have this neat called "GPS" that makes it easier to find them? Or maybe cus sometimes they stop talking and you'd damn well better have a way for them to readily get a hold of you that DOESN'T involve talking. Or maybe because they have a social life? Or a job? And in either case it makes them getting in touch with either of those things, or, you while involved in either of those things, easier.

...Wow, apparently you are more helicopter than I thought.

Man it's almost like literally none of that requires a phone at all. Further it's absolutely hilarious you think that's "helicoptering". When your post literally opens with "you can track them with GPS".

 

[FriedCFour]

You understand nothing of psychology; or the benefits of regulation, when it's done right, for that matter. By your logic, con artists and fraudsters would never be punished, because it's not their fault someone managed to fall for their tricks.

No, because lootboxes aren't fraud. They are advertised as is. Throw money in and you have these chances for these items. Have you thought maybe I do have some understanding of psychology, we just have different principles?

 

[Hlaalu Agent]

No, because lootboxes aren't fraud. They are advertised as is. Throw money in and you have these chances for these items. Have you thought maybe I do have some understanding of psychology, we just have different principles?

I am pretty sure it is fraudulent, you paid for a product and you are not getting the full product.

Unless, you believe that people aren't entitled to the full product that they paid for?

*to be clear, I am only going after loot boxes in paid games right now.

 

[Terthna]

No, because lootboxes aren't fraud. They are advertised as is. Throw money in and you have these chances for these items. Have you thought maybe I do have some understanding of psychology, we just have different principles?

No, because you seem to think your choices are entirely your own; if that were the case, Google wouldn't know what you were going to do before you even think of doing it. Also if lootboxes aren't fraudulent; why do they hide what your chances are of getting what you want?

 

[FriedCFour]

No, because you seem to think your choices are your entirely your own; if that were the case, Google wouldn't know what you were going to do before you even think of doing it

Those dont consecutively follow. Are your choices entirely yours? No, you've got a bunch of factors that can be said not to be yours. But at the end of the day I think it would do people a lot of good if government stopped seeming like the option to turn to take away their choices and freedom for security.

Also if lootboxes aren't fraudulent; why do they hide what your chances are of getting what you want?

I don't know, haven't asked. Some do show chances or at least have readily available third parties for it.

I am pretty sure it is fraudulent, you paid for a product and you are not getting the full product.

Unless, you believe that people aren't entitled to the full product that they paid for?

*to be clear, I am only going after loot boxes in paid games right now.

You paid for the base game, not every last piece of content, actually. You are getting exactly what you paid for.

 

[Hlaalu Agent]

You paid for the base game, not every last piece of content, actually. You are getting exactly what you paid for.

No, it isn't. You paid for a full game, and they effectively withhold content from you, unless you pay extra for content you already paid for. What you are describing is called DLC. Dee-Elle-Sea.

 

[ShadowsOfParadox]

Man it's almost like literally none of that requires a phone at all. Further it's absolutely hilarious you think that's "helicoptering". When your post literally opens with "you can track them with GPS".

That "your kid gets lost sometimes" is literally ME. I have a hard time pathfinding unless I am VERY familiar with the place. It's not helicoptering when it's "the only reason that kid is willing to go anywhere is having the security blanket of KNOWING they can be found again"

 

[FriedCFour]

No, it isn't. You paid for a full game, and they effectively withhold content from you, unless you pay extra for content you already paid for. What you are describing is called DLC. Dee-Elle-Sea.

DLC is withheld content man. Heard of day 1 DLC? You absolutely did not pay for the "full" game. You paid for exactly what was included on the disk at purchase. What you are describing is what you wish things to be, not what it is. You wish they let you pay 60 and gave you everything, but they don't and they are pretty honest about not giving you everything.

 

[CarlManvers2019]

Pokemon Cards.....*remembers ny days of buying Yu-Gi-Oh Booster Card sets*.....yeah that is sort of gambling in that you won’t get specifically what you want for your decks......I was shitty at Yu-Gi-Oh and honestly expected to pull off those combos on the anime

 

[Hlaalu Agent]

DLC is withheld content man. Heard of day 1 DLC? You absolutely did not pay for the "full" game. You paid for exactly what was included on the disk at purchase.

Which does nothing to defeat my point. They do that with content that is on the disk you paid for, and then ask you to pay extra for the content that you already paid for. I mean in what world would Darth Vader not be in a Star Wars game at launch? I am pretty sure that having access to Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywaker or Bobba Fett would be one of the very things people are paying for. It would be absurd that a mainline character would not be readily accessible in a game like this on lunch.

 

[Lanmandragon]

That "your kid gets lost sometimes" is literally ME. I have a hard time pathfinding unless I am VERY familiar with the place. It's not helicoptering when it's "the only reason that kid is willing to go anywhere is having the security blanket of KNOWING they can be found again"

My kids know how to get home from anywhere in town. My ten year old rides around on his bike(which he bought with money he earned) all the time. Anyway this is a derail. Though I fully stand by all my statements.

 

[Terthna]

Those dont consecutively follow. Are your choices entirely yours? No, you've got a bunch of factors that can be said not to be yours. But at the end of the day I think it would do people a lot of good if government stopped seeming like the option to turn to take away their choices and freedom for security.

Self-reliance is a good thing, but I also think it can be taken way too far, towards a "survival of the fittest" scenario. There are times when government involvement is necessary; I don't want to return to the days of the robber barons.

I don't know, haven't asked. Some do show chances or at least have readily available third parties for it.

Always because either they are mandated by government regulation to do so, or someone crazy and skilled enough to hack the game posts the data online.

 

[FriedCFour]

I mean in what world would Darth Vader not be in a Star Wars game at launch? I am pretty sure that having access to Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywaker or Bobba Fett would be one of the very things people are paying for. It would be absurd that a mainline character would not be readily accessible in a game like this on lunch.

A really shitty game you shouldn't buy would do that. Its not dishonest to do it, just a garbage move from a game you shouldn't buy and are not in any way entitled to have designed or made to your exact specifications using the force of government to do so.

 

[Hlaalu Agent]

A really shitty game you shouldn't buy would do that. Its not dishonest to do it, just a garbage move from a game you shouldn't buy and are not in any way entitled to have designed or made to your exact specifications using the force of government to do so.

I am pretty sure that is the definition of dishonest? Do you really want me to start tossing dictionary definitions at you? I am pretty sure that would just cause us to rapidly descend into pointless sophistry.

And I am pretty sure wanting what you paid for is not that. It is wanting what you paid for, to be what you paid for, and not being forced to pay twice. And now you are trying to call wanting to have what you paid, for as "entitled". Really.

 

[FriedCFour]

And I am pretty sure wanting what you paid for is not that. It is wanting what you paid for, to be what you paid for, and not being forced to pay twice. And now you are trying to call wanting to have what you paid, for as "entitled". Really.

Yes, because that information was available to you pretty freaking early that they were doing dumb shit with the game. You didn't pay for that. If I sold you a 60 dollar game that was a menu screen and you used lootboxes to unlock each checkpoint of each level, the full $60 dollar game is the menu screen. You know it, the information is available, but you dislike how the game is structured and want the game they made and you want it structured how you want and not how they want. Yes, I find that feeling entitled to a product.

 

[Cherico]

It is gambling but I don't have a problem with gambling.

 

[Terthna]

Yes, because that information was available to you pretty freaking early that they were doing dumb shit with the game. You didn't pay for that. If I sold you a 60 dollar game that was a menu screen and you used lootboxes to unlock each checkpoint of each level, the full $60 dollar game is the menu screen. You know it, the information is available, but you dislike how the game is structured and want the game they made and you want it structured how you want and not how they want. Yes, I find that feeling entitled to a product.

What about someone who didn't know in advance? Perhaps they just don't follow online gaming news media, and maybe they have a relative who likes Star Wars and video games.

 

[Hlaalu Agent]

Yes, because that information was available to you pretty freaking early that they were doing dumb shit with the game. You didn't pay for that. If I sold you a 60 dollar game that was a menu screen and you used lootboxes to unlock each checkpoint of each level, the full $60 dollar game is the menu screen. You know it, the information is available, but you dislike how the game is structured and want the game they made and you want it structured how you want and not how they want. Yes, I find that feeling entitled to a product.

And what do you mean available? And where? Is it in the game's marketing? Do they say they are selling the product like this? Or are they advertising it, in such a way that it isn't apparent? And really, you are assuming that someone will be able to find the information or that it is available. Frankly you are making a lot of assumptions, all of which are convenient for your argument.

No, you dislike that you have be scammed into paying multiple times for the same thing. It is not at all entitled, in fact it is the correct and rational response by a normal human being. And actually you are entitled to a product, because you fucking paid for it. Because that is how the market should, especially a free one, work a person pays for a product or service and then they receive it. And really, all it seems to me like you are doing here is digging yourself deeper. Since you are saying that if people aren't informed of someone's duplicity, it is their fault for being duped. And you know not the person duping people.

And if you did that, I'd just get a refund from the distributor and explain your scam. And then laugh in your face, or use customer protection laws and/or my bank to force the issue. Either I get my money back or I get it back and you'd be in trouble. Though that is just me, and how I would react to such a case of dishonesty.

 

[Lightershoulders]

Of course it is. Its using the power of government to come in and handle something saying people are too impotent to handle their own issues and need bureaucrats invited in to be able to get them to stop spending their own money in ways that they apparently can't help themselves. We need to regulate everything because the lowest common denominators of society are too bad at managing themselves and their own lives so we have to make it so no one is allowed to do something. People with addictive personalities and no self control will, inevitably, ruin their lives and spend all their money on something. I am deeply opposed to regulating things to try and protect them because it is an inevitability and their responsibility to deal with, not for society to be molded around them to protect them. It's the same logic that gets us gun control, hate speech restrictions, knife control, licenses for everything, all that bullshit and my principles don't change just because they want to make something I personally detest illegal. The bar to legally ban something or severely regulate it remains extraordinarily high because I believe in the ability of people to be responsible and that it is on them to bear the consequences of their own decisions and actions.

Ah, well I seriously do not agree with this, and you have made it perfectly clear nothing will change your mind.

No point in arguing with a wall.

Seriously though, I still haven't gotten a satisfying answer as to why lootboxes are awful but like Magic isn't.

This is because nothing would satisfy you.

Its a joke fam.

Nothing you have posted so far in thread was a joke, or even funny. Why should we believe for a second you are being truthful in this regard?

 

[Largo]

Always because either they are mandated by government regulation to do so, or someone crazy and skilled enough to hack the game posts the data online.

I'm fine with certain small regulations like that on lootboxes. But there's a big difference between those regulations and what people on the internet cry for. Because the "Pay $60 for the game" has become the One True Model for which people are supposed to pay for video games, and anything else is blasphemy.