Wankers... total and utter wankers. A few countries have already told them to get a god damn grip and this 'surprise mechanics' BS is a new low for a company that I honestly thought was incapable of bringing this industry any lower. Also if they have always called them surprise mechanics and not lootboxes then why were they trying to score kudos points with their Fallen Order presentation by telling viewers that it wouldn't contain 'lootboxes'? Does that mean it won't contain lootboxes but it WILL contain 'surprise mechanics'? I restate.. total and utter wankers! My understanding of those products apart from them being a physical object that you could swap if you didn't get the one you wanted, was that they were also produced and released in equal numbers meaning that you had an equal percentage chance of obtaining the 'prize' you wanted. Their wasn't some d*ckhead behind the scenes who could tweak drop rates to increase cash flow because the shareholders are worried that they won't get a brand new ivory ball scratcher next month.
Regardless of how they call them, it exploits the same psychological, down to literal brain chemicals and stimuli 'mechanisms' associated with apprehension and addiction. They could be called "Surprise Mechanics", "Loot Boxes", "Space Bananas", "Yoda's Candy Van" it wouldn't change the fact that the person not knowing what to expect and then clicking the purchase button (either via real money or in-game currencies if any) apprehends something, is of course then usually disappointed / dissatisfied and hence becomes addicting because of the pursuit of a better result. In short, it's addicting. Not only do those companies like EA (and others) absolutely know it, but they actually hire / consult (surely not for free) psychologists to explain to them how to make sure their game (in general, or certain 'aspects' of their games) WILL be an addicting activity. And I'm 100% convinced that even if they don't mention it out loud they must have asked some of those here and there about how to make their loot boxes also one such "fun" aspect of their game. It's just in those big companies' nature and I don't even look for a proof that they're doing it, because of course they're doing it; it's about money. The bigger question would be: What would they not do for money? Exactly. So EA defending them by making them sound better by just changing how they're calling them is nothing short of merely stupid and extremely short-sighted. Also a sign of desperation because News Flash, it generates way too much money for them to just go: "Aaaaah ok F- it, yes it's bad and ok we'll stop doing it and here at EA we really don't want that extra $800 Million in revenue, I mean it's just money after all.". Seriously. Let's be real. They're simply a bunch of sharks that passed through a trail of blood and can't focus anymore. The same as that scene in Finding Nemo where the shark leader loses his crap. They tasted blood and just won't let go.
I was unaware that Kinder eggs cost £50 each, only come with half the ingredients with the rest being add later if you pay more, and the toy inside being just a lump of bland plastic, but you can pay more to add features and colours later on, and everytime you went into the shop the shopkeeper would harangue you to buy another, and another, and another unending. lol
Aren't kinder eggs illegal in America? xD I love what EA said about loot boxes though, it's surprise mechanics!, it's just so funny... it's basically a meme template. An example is like...... it's not Murder, it's just making someone go to sleep permanently forever.
Well said. Related, Penny Arcade nailed the practice nicely with this strip: https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2019/05/13/the-aboxolypse Love that last frame...
I wonder how Rockstar will handle this tbh. The CASINO update is upon us, with roulette and other table games like poker so it's basically gambling. And since you could buy GTA Dollars with RL money, you're gambling with certain chances to lose it all. Gamers love Rockstar games but since the government is involved, that won't make a difference. Interesting times we live in.
and illegal in a number of nations because of the money laundering angle when rl dollars is involved. lest i was told this when i was lobbying for poker in a mmo and was told because of the rmt store of that game poker and other games of chance or potential rigging, are a non starter.
Not entirely on-topic, but it was mentioned in YongYea's latest video on the topic of EA's view on loot boxes (or "surprise mechanics")... and it's really heartbreaking.
they can call it wtf ever they want, and it will not matter you put vegas style skinnerbox money gambling sinks into games kids play and gambling is designed to be ADDICTIVE by its very design. and they want kids to see all that and be pressured to play the game EA and activsion really wants you to play and get a gift card or just borrow your parents debit/credit card and spend big. Yea us idiot adults that fall for it fair game, and in free to play games you can even forgive it. but in full priced triple A games to layer this crap into all their full priced games then lie to parents and consumers and the government about the why they doing it and how dangerous this crap is because $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, fifa players are some of the dumbest people on planet earth on this stuff. But games are too expensive to make well quit making them and stop trying to turn children into atms. yea they gonna get regulated and should this is disgusting.
They're getting wonderful press today 'The kids emptied our bank account playing FIFA' And Jim Sterling is working overtime on the issue these days...the language is NSFW at times, as usual...
Surely in this modern day SJW climate, EA need to amend this strategy? Who knows, maybe the money in outweighs the bad press, but it doesn't feel like it's something that is viable long term
no its not. and it is hurting them FINALLY. but the idea they can be surprised that people see these companies as evil when they treat your customers and their families and CHILDREN as ATMs to be addicted and exploited in order to chase max profits, and wonder why people see you as evil??!! the amount of out of touch is almost universal level.
Seeing EA squirm is quite pleasing, especially when the cause is of their own doing. I guess this is what you get when you are unwilling to self-regulate. Someone in the end does it for you.
