Console Makers, Publishers Agree to Disclose Loot Box Odds for "Ethical Surprise Mechanics"

[lexluthermiester]

Will Nintendo need to disclose what the odds are of getting a mushroom VS star VS flower when jumping / head butting a brick in Mario?

No because you're not paying anything for them on a per instance basis. With loot boxes you do.

 

[Renald]

I don't agree.
...

But that has no place in video games in my opinion. And if it does end up in videogames, the least they can do is disclose odds and prevent children, with their squishy, unformed brains, from getting hooked on a vice before their time.

I think this is why you don't agree.
This kind of trading took place in many games : WoW, Guild Wars, Aion, most MMORPG to be simple. Most of the time, they force some people to play 15 to 17 hours a day, to get loots and sell them, because in-game money is can be sold on ebay. Bots or real human being, it doesn't make a dent in what it does : it create a market for "objects", cosmetic or not, and damage the game equilibrium.

You're not detached from the fact that it's your hobby. It's not linked to video-games, horses, cards, lottery or anything you can bet on (you can even bet the name of a British baby).
The fact that you said "has no place in video games", is because you're attached to it, and these gamblers are somehow ruining your game experience (less content, more skin, display bug, etc.) ; and you should, it's a normal reaction.

I know a lot of people who have played hundred hours in a game, only to trade and be rich (in-game). They just knew the odds, hours to trade for having maximum benefit, and such things.


Your mixing so many thing that's it's only a cliché in the end :
- dumb kid having no idea how statistics works (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binomial_distribution#Example)
- people playing with credits instead of having the money
- you telling us that it's the game purpose

Sure kid are dumb. That's quite a definiition in many cases, that's what parents are suppose to deal with.
Sure some people have clinical issue, playing with money they don't own. But some very rich people, and I've crossed many (dentist, real-estate agent, etc.), which you can't blame for spending some money on something they like. To continue in a cliché : why do you think many people buy fancy cars, fancy dress, wear make up or hair-styling substance, and so on ? Because they like to be seen.
Then your telling it's beginning to be core gameplay and I must disagree : sure, it's taking to much space in the game, more than the gameplay in some games (Fornite ?), and sure they spend to much time on it.
But it's not affecting the gameplay as far as I know. Being purple instead of blue does change the gameplay ? no


Yes it's a freaking mess.
Yes they exploit addiction.
Yes I would like to have a magic wand and remove all of that garbage.
But they won't.

Disclosing the odds is going to make it worse. That's the topic, not whether loot boxes are good or not.


Imagine a kid :
"Ohh, I want this skin, but it's 1$ I don't know if I will have it." "I can't test 100 times, too bad I'm keeping my money and try here and there"

Now it's :
"Ohh, I want this skin, but it's 1$, and the odds are 1/20" "So let's spend 20$, I'm sure I'm going to have it, it's like buying a cool T-shirt"
20$ after :
"Ohh no, I don't have it, let's spend one more dollar !"
21$ after :
"Ohh no, I don't have it, let's spend one more dollar !"
"Ohh no, I don't have it, let's spend one more dollar !"
"Ohh no, I don't have it, let's spend one more dollar !"
"Ohh no, I don't have it, let's spend one more dollar !"

And the addiction begins. Kevin 14 y/o.

 

[Vario]

The fact that you said "has no place in video games", is because you're attached to it, and these gamblers are somehow ruining your game experience (less content, more skin, display bug, etc.) ; and you should, it's a normal reaction.

The issue for many is that the actual core gameplay such as plot, characters, level, balance, art design, etc of most modern games have been reduced in quality due to the content creation being refocused on microtransaction gambling. Companies generate more revenue from gambling than they do from selling quality games. It was bad during free to play / pay to win, but it has become worse now that it is free to lose / gamble to win. I personally have lost interest in playing games.

 

[ypsylon]

Well from my personal experience. Playing World of Warships and of course Ethical Surprise Mechanics is very strong in this one. Who the heck created that (ridiculous) euphemism? Should get at least Pulitzer or even Nobel in literature.

Sorry won't explain everything -as it would simply take too much time and space- for those who don't play WoWs. Take ships in early access when new line is released. You can unlock mission for 4 ships (right now there is French DD arc running). As you move up from Tier 5 to 8, chance of obtaining the mission for a ship drop dramatically. For first ship it's in the region of 3% and oh well most folks should get at least one (emphasis on word: -most-). Gaining additional missions is border line impossibility. There are people who spend $$$/$$$$ to get all ships in early access but it was proven time and time again that unlocking that final ship requires well over 200 containers (each cost 2.7 Euro). Of course there are folks who won millions of doubloons (in game currency) in Ranked and Clan Wars. I have nothing against about spending that to buy containers (or getting 5th early access ship - Mogador for 30000 - cough, cough, madness, cough, cough, it'll be for (free)XP & credits in 2 months time). I have nothing about people spending cash to get this illusory ships - their money. It just shows beautifully how to exploit people desires. While I've returned to WoWs about 3 months ago I leaned alot in previous stint where not to spend (and man I was sucked bad, overspend by the -long-tonnes, I had to leave).

In last two years there were multiple ship lines released, it's obvious that RNG got progressively worse. While majority of players could unlock for example 3 or 4 French BB last year from free containers for doing game missions, with UK DDs 7-8 months later it was just ridiculous - many folks presented proofs of buying well in excess of 200 containers and not getting all 4 ships.

Wargaming certainly noticed that they've lost close to half of player base in space of last 8 months (catchphrase: CV re-work) so they adjusted chances accordingly. Instead 38-40k people (on EU server) at peak weekend times pre CV-rework, there is now like 23, 24k, 25k sometimes folks.

Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #10: GREED is Eternal.
The End.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #10: GREED is Eternal.

 

[spectatorx]

Nobody should negotiate with terrorists and lootboxes are an act of terrorism towards gamers' money. Just remove all paid lootboxes from games and make them free or gainable by playing games.

 

[erixx]

My only experience with this is Battelfield boxes after achievements and they... suck monkey balls.... I only get the free or achievement boxes. Can't understand why somebody would care about getting paid weapons skins and once in a long while a weapon upgrade. The worst of all is the time lost unboxing!

 

[bug]

I say, now that each major publisher runs their own stores, just take this to the next level: for $60, you get a 5% chance to buy Infinity Blade, 2% chance to buy Fortnite ... or a 50% change to be the owner of the original Unreal Tournament (which is probably the better game anyway).

 

[xorbe]

One of the most heartbreaking things I ever saw was a dude buy a scratch-off, the glowing appearance of hope as he scratched it, and then the look of despair on his face afterwards.

 

[lexluthermiester]

One of the most heartbreaking things I ever saw was a dude buy a scratch-off, the glowing appearance of hope as he scratched it, and then the look of despair on his face afterwards.

Gambling is a foul thing, no matter it's form.

 

[bug]

Gambling is a foul thing, no matter it's form.

I'm sorry, but that's just like blaming the mirror for showing you're ugly or blaming the booze because you're drunk.
This is all about character. Which is why I don't have a problem with lootboxes' existence, but with their indiscriminate presence in games aimed at kids.
Edit: I have the same problem with p2w in every form.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I'm sorry, but that's just like blaming the mirror for showing you're ugly

Not the greatest comparison...

blaming the booze because you're drunk.

...but this is. Booze is an age restricted thing as is all real-life forms of gambling.

with their indiscriminate presence in games aimed at kids.

Excellent point.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #10: GREED is Eternal.

 

[xorbe]

Who is going to check and enforce that the published drop rates are correct?

 

[bug]

Who is going to check and enforce that the published drop rates are correct?

There are already people that compile drop rates lists for various items in games. If the published numbers were way off, they'd notice.

 

[xorbe]

There are already people that compile drop rates lists for various items in games. If the published numbers were way off, they'd notice.

I'll have to take your word on that one, I'm not familiar with it.