PC game Loot crates for real money, good or bad?

Madeddie

Madeddie

Madeddie

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I release it's quite a debated subject over the last several years, however Mack a Youtuber from 'is it worth a buy' recently made a interesting video on how children are becoming addicted to buying loot crates for real cash which perhaps is on the grey line of gambling however the publishers hide behind the gambling commission rule set as effectively the buyer is getting something (mainly crap) in return . Mack's quite strongly against it and has created a government petition.



Petition
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/201300

Many video game companies in recent years have introduced mechanics which are essentially gambling of which are targeted at children and vulnerable adults. While not currently considers gambling by law they do copy many traits to make them as addictive and can lead to real money being lost/earned.


Seem like this model is becoming more the norm, Personally i'm against in game purchasable loot crates but just wondered peoples thoughts as some may enjoy it.
 
Ohhhh Mack created the petition ehhh ?

We already have a thread discussing this..wake up you at the back of the class! :p
 
Yeah I saw Mack's video on this, it's an interesting one because this has been happening with mobile games for years without there being a big hurrumph about it. I suppose because mobile games are quite such "serious business" compared to console/PC Games, and traditionally rely on micro-transactions to make their money.

I suppose the key difference is that you're paying for an unknown with this, where the loot crate has mystery contents as opposed to most other micro-transactions which is normally just buying in-game currency. It's an interesting grey area.

:edit: @ the petition, I really wish people would do a bit of a proof read before submitting them. If you're going to submit something for Government to debate, the least you can do is put a bit of effort in.
 
No more like gambling than collecting football stickers when I was a child, it's the excitement of seeing what you'll get. Same as footie, pokemon and the plethora of other cards out there. Only difference is it's on a PC.

Personally I don't see the problem, many would say "oh you can't let kids start down that route" but is there any evidence to prove whether or not it actually encourages them to gamble later in life? Heck it could do the opposite by repeatedly showing them how disappointing this sort of thing ultimately is!
 
Halfmad said:
No more like gambling than collecting football stickers when I was a child, it's the excitement of seeing what you'll get. Same as footie, pokemon and the plethora of other cards out there. Only difference is it's on a PC.

Personally I don't see the problem, many would say "oh you can't let kids start down that route" but is there any evidence to prove whether or not it actually encourages them to gamble later in life? Heck it could do the opposite by repeatedly showing them how disappointing this sort of thing ultimately is!
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Thats pretty much how I see it. When I was a kid I used to spend enormous (for a kid then) amounts of money on Panini stickers trying to get the players I was missing for my Panini Football Albums. I guess the next generation used to do similar but on Magic the Gathering cards and whatever that other card game was which was all the rage. I dont really think that there is anything that can be done about it anyway, at most it would just result in 18 certificates on some games and as almost every damn kid I know has 18 rated games, thats pointless.
 
9 times out of 10, any major games, tripple A or popular games streamers are playing have loot crates, with games gearing towards full priced with a very clear pay to win loot box system behind them. It's certainly taken a dark turn. Something will have to be done sooner or later.

As for my self, I liked the Battlefront 2 beta, but hell no am I paying for that game.

It's a joke now, sad time to be a gamer.
 
Real money loot boxes in full price titles is a horrific cancer in the gaming world just now.
The problem is, people will always pre-order anything a marketing department tells them to. It wont go away.

Edit: It really isn't like Panini Stickers, as we weren't buying those with parents credit cards...
The sticker books were cheap, and you knew what you were buying into.
In the loot box instance, you're increasingly paying money to unlock parts of the ******* game that have been carved out. A game that you've paid full rrp for... The only way it could be acceptable, is if you'd got the game key for $1 (or less) from G2A or some other scummy site.
 
It has got out of hand and increasingly loot crates and stuff are taking the place of proper content even in games - its become such a spam and pushed so much it has kind of become meaningless as well - something like that should be rarer and more of a reward :s as well as used to make money from things that should be a part of the game - back in the day games like COH for instance shipped with 100s of costume pieces out the box and only specific high end/rare stuff was limited drops/paid for - now its becoming the other way around with a bare basic limited set shipping with the game :(

Ultimately the industry will end up screwing itself over.
 
Emlyn_Dewar said:
Real money loot boxes in full price titles is a horrific cancer in the gaming world just now.
The problem is, people will always pre-order anything a marketing department tells them to. It wont go away.

Edit: It really isn't like Panini Stickers, as we weren't buying those with parents credit cards...
The sticker books were cheap, and you knew what you were buying into.
In the loot box instance, you're increasingly paying money to unlock parts of the ******* game that have been carved out. A game that you've paid full rrp for... The only way it could be acceptable, is if you'd got the game key for $1 (or less) from G2A or some other scummy site.
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I think its very much the same as Panini stickers. The concept is precisely the same, that someone is paying to gamble blind that what they are buying will randomly have certain items in, the cost is irrelevant, its the concept which people are supposedly against. If someone is against the idea then it doesnt matter whether its 10p or 10 quid as its the idea which is the problem, it doesnt suddenly become ok if its cheap. That is, if it is indeed the concept and not the cost which is the problem of course.

As for using the parents credit card to buy loot crates, well if that is happening then more the idiot the parent. There is no way in hell that I let my kids use my credit card for anything, ever. There is also no way in hell that I succumb to my kids badgering for stuff. Then again I am a different generation to many of the weak willed, wannabe friends rather than parents, of today and understand the worth of saying no.

Either way, loot crates are here to stay. People raged about DLC when that first came onto the scene, now though its begrudgingly accepted and became the norm, people raged about paid Early Access when it first came onto the scene, now though its begrudgingly accepted and became the norm. Loot crates (designed to make the companies money, just as DLC and EA were) will also have people raging, then will be begrudginly accepted and become the norm. The 2 things about gamers that have remained the same in 30+ years of gaming is that they will whine about something and they will, in the end, at some point, even if in a sale, buy anyway. We can moan all we want about them, but they arent going anywhere and to be quite honest, if Witcher 4 came out with loot boxes, I still wouldnt hesitate one tiny bit to immediately buy the game and everyone in every game company knows that full well.
 
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Tombstone said:
People raged about DLC when that first came onto the scene, now though its begrudgingly accepted and became the norm, people raged about paid Early Access when it first came onto the scene, now though its begrudgingly accepted and became the norm.
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While some did rage about the entire principle - most people were unhappy that (paid) DLC was mostly content cut from the original game, most people came around to the concept of DLC if its in addition to what feels like a properly fleshed out game, significantly adds to the game and is reasonably priced. Like wise with "early access"/beta testing people largely accept it when it seems like they actually have some input and improvements/lessons are learnt from the testing/early period - what people don't accept and still don't accept is when it feels like the game has been artificially delayed to make extra money from an "early" period.

Increasingly developers who do these kind of things in a bad way will only end up hurting themselves - people might moan and put up with it 1-2 times but increasingly people aren't being fooled thrice.
 
By that time though, the developers have made millions from the EA and gamers have spent millions buying it all. ARK and Star Citizen are two titles which spring to mind as examples of just how much money gamers , despite complaining, will throw at a concept that they dont agree with in principal. Perhaps I am too cynical, but experience teaches me that people will complain loudly but nothing will change ultimately and despite the complaints , overall, things will continue as before.

Indeed, I used to be one of these people. I would moan about exactly what you mention , then buy it anyway because ultimately I really really wanted to play the games. Nowadays, I just accept that I will play the games anyway, hunt around for the cheapest method of buying the game in question and forego my complaints and just focus on having fun before moving to the next title.
 
Tombstone said:
but experience teaches me that people will complain loudly but nothing will change ultimately and despite the complaints , overall, things will continue as before.
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Sadly that is all to often the case. Maybe its more the company I keep but after Star Citizen and 1-2 other games I've seen people become a lot less accepting of it - quite a few people I know for instance jumped on the first SW: Battlefront game - pre-order and all the extras - couple I know spanked something like £150 before the game was even out, etc. but aren't even buying Battlefront II - saying they'll maybe pick it up when the price drops, etc.
 
Rroff said:
Sadly that is all to often the case. Maybe its more the company I keep but after Star Citizen and 1-2 other games I've seen people become a lot less accepting of it - quite a few people I know for instance jumped on the first SW: Battlefront game - pre-order and all the extras - couple I know spanked something like £150 before the game was even out, etc. but aren't even buying Battlefront II - saying they'll maybe pick it up when the price drops, etc.
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I think it helps though that Battlefront 2 isnt widely regarded in a positive way in terms of its gameplay. Imagine if Witcher 4 or some other very highly regarded title was the example..people would still snap the game up regardless.
 
I think the chopping up of the game to sell it in little bits takes the ****, If the Witcher 4 has loot boxes then i will steer clear, Companies should not be rewarded for ripping you off and if you feel that there is no problems with loot crates then you are indeed part of the problem you might as well walk around with a sign on your back that say's "Sucker".

The first time i noticed it was getting bad on the Dead Space 3 game were you could get gold ammo for a cost. This is a single player game that is full price.

What would people say if they cut parts of a book out and sold those bits as extras and the main book becomes a pamflet but you can buy the rest to make the book complete.
 
Lets be honest here this has been going on for YEARS! its not just PUGB - They are just jumping on the easy money train..... Look at all the FREE apps on the IPhone store! All of them get you to a level where " if you want to be the best you have to invest" Moto......... Also look at FIFA Games FUT Points system......... again if you want the best players you pretty much need to spend some big money....


Even back in the 80s as a kid I would spend loads of money on stickers! I never completed a book lol but I spent most of my pocket money on them.. companies will always try and get money from us...
 
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rs155 said:
I think the chopping up of the game to sell it in little bits takes the ****, If the Witcher 4 has loot boxes then i will steer clear, Companies should not be rewarded for ripping you off and if you feel that there is no problems with loot crates then you are indeed part of the problem you might as well walk around with a sign on your back that say's "Sucker".
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If nothing more, that shows that you have willpower and unwavering principals. I do not. Witcher 3 was one of the greatest gaming experiences I have had in 3 decades of gaming, I know without doubt that if Witcher 4 came out I would buy it no matter whether it had lootboxes. There would simply be no way that I will be able to deprive myself of playing the follow up to one of the greatest ever. I am weak like that :)
 
I'm happy to pay for digital content. I've bought a couple of dlc cars on Rocket League because I play it so much and they're nice to have.

The problem I have with the pervasion of loot boxes is now we are being expected to pay money for a chance to win an item that we have no idea if we are going to get.

What's worse is that, with the state of Star Wars Battlefront 2, you are now expected to purchase loot boxes to gain access to weapons and abilities that have a game changing effect. People accept pay to win in free to play mobile games, that comes with the territory but not in a full price AAA game.
 
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