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So a bill recently got proposed to ban loot boxes and microtransactions...

Cloud273·5/12/2019, 7:54:04 PM·2 votes·1,315 views

What do you guys think about this? I don't completely agree with everything in this bill. I think it's great they're trying to get rid of them in "kids" games (whatever that means), but this should really apply to all games IMO. Just because a game isn't a kids game doesn't mean we want to deal with this crap. Like, just because you buy an adult rated game (a FULL PRICE adult game I might add) that shouldn't mean people should be allowed to put loot boxes or microtransactions in it. Also, this shouldn't apply only to "pay to win" stuff. This should apply to everything. If I spend $60+ dollars on a game I shouldn't have to pay extra to get cosmetics if I want them. Warframe is FREE and you can get anything you want for free in that game, so why the f*ck should cosmetics cost so much in a FULL PRICE game?

https://www.businessinsider.com/loot-boxes-gambling-illegal-2019-5#hawley-said-that-loot-box-systems-encourage-addictive-behavior-in-children-and-that-game-developers-should-face-legal-consequences-for-their-actions-2

18 Comments

Quality Content5/14/2019, 7:06:50 AM3 votes

It was only a matter of time before the law started catching up. Publishers have gotten away with what is essentially unregulated gambling because current gambling definitions were never made with video games in mind. It is a legal loophole that was being quietly exploited until EA just had to stick their entire fucking arm into the cookie jar.

SkillChampsONLY5/12/2019, 7:56:08 PM3 votes

100% a good thing, games that offer p2w services ruin the experience for themselves, and those around them

Project Xayah5/14/2019, 6:54:13 AM2 votes

Ultimately, I think lootboxes and micro-transactions should be condemned more often than not. The fact of the matter is that they are designed to generate profit off of the addiction of a small percentage of users. Their primary and fundamental purpose is, always has been and always will be, profit, at any cost, just like the industries do with alcohol, tobacco and gambling, all of which are regulated (while lootboxes/micro-transactions are NOT). Ultimately, this kind of shit is contributing to the trashy state of the gaming industry because legislation just hasn't caught up with the modern era of "virtual products and services".

If you care in the slightest about being a decent person, and/or about being provided with decent quality goods and services, then you should care about this kind of legislation.

Audhulma5/14/2019, 8:32:09 AM1 votes

No matter what happens with this, the players/consumers are the ones who get screwed.

The industry won't regulate itself because some of the most powerful people in it are greedy fucks that don't understand what "too far" is, and the government isn't going to pass anything because lobbying still isn't illegal for whatever stupid reason. Worse yet, if the government does eventually manage to get legislation passed to regulate the industry on this subject, it'll set the precedent for them to interfere even further on other aspects of the industry later on.

The government is bad at almost everything it does, as soon as it gets entrenched in the gaming industry we're all going to need a new hobby.

Darkdemon6535/12/2019, 8:39:23 PM1 votes

The government should fuck off.

boricCentaur15/12/2019, 8:12:24 PM1 votes

Hmmmm I don't like it because of the reason. Any bill that say protects children from anything media related is just bs in my opinion.

If children weren't the reason I probably would be ok with everything but lootboxes since I actually like them in games like league. I really don't think there as much as a problem as people are saying.

But you know what fuck mobile games. I hope this passes.

Jamaree5/12/2019, 8:35:48 PM1 votes

I’m fine with lootboxes and dlc as long as they are reasonable and there are options to just hard buy the things you want