Loot boxes. Any gamer know what that means. FREE STUFF! Or is it? So, for some games you can purchase loot boxes and/or get them from completing objectives in the game. In Overwatch, you get them when you level up, get so many arcade wins, or buy them with your hard earned cash. Loot boxes can be found in other games like FIFA, Counterstrike: Global Offensive, Gears of War 4, Hearthstone, League of Legends and many more. So, are they harming people? What about kids?
This is the new controversy in the U.S. However, it isn’t new around the world. Earlier this year, Belgium declared loot boxes to be gambling and therefore illegal. There are hefty fines, and jail time, that can be given. These fines can be doubled if they include the kids using these boxes. And they aren’t the only ones. Fifteen countries in Europe are looking at these boxes as gambling and now the FTC here at home is investigating as well.
The problem seems to be they are comparing loot boxes to slot machines. You have a chance to get something great or to get something worthless. While lots of loot boxes are purely cosmetic, some games do allow their loot boxes to give weapons or other things that can improve a player’s performance. Does this really seem like gambling to you? I think it’s a close line because of being able to buy the boxes with hard earned cash, but other than that I don’t see an issue.
I think there should be a difference made between the loot boxes in games like Overwatch and mobile games. I can see where mobile games are causing a problem because people are not regulating how their kids use their mobile games and are getting “addicted” to loot boxes on them. Honestly, if you don’t give a kid your credit card number to purchase them – why are you worried about a gambling addiction? I think this shouldn’t all be on the gaming industry, but also on how kids aren’t being regulated by their parents.
But.. Not my business! So onward!
So far, all the FTC has said is that they are going to investigate. They won’t reveal anything else. What does this mean? It means they will look into it and it will most likely result in some proceedings where all sides get to bring forward their case to the FTC. This may end up in rules governing loot boxes, a ban, or hopefully nothing. Right now we have to wait and hope that the games with loot boxes explain them well when queried.
It is possible that if the gaming industry itself were to come up with some rules and regulations on loot boxes, then governments wouldn’t have the need to do this. For now, all we can do is sit and wait. I will keep you up-to-date as more information comes out!
me, you probably have heard of the Fallout series. It starts with Fallout 1 that takes place in 2161 and the following games go all the way to 2287 in Fallout 4. Well, this time Bethesda is taking us back in time to 25 years after the bomb drops – in 2102. Only, it’s not just a prequel, it’s also a multi-player game! Fallout 4 takes us to the doors of the bomb shelters opening for the first time after the bombs drop and we can play with our friends in this new/old world that is the largest dynamic world in Fallout history.
on an island, on another planet, full of dinosaurs. Be prepared to craft your own clothes, shelter, hunt for food, and survive the carnivores. This new DLC takes us back to where it all began, Earth. It’s hard to tell just how much time has passed because Earth is now a wasteland full of mutants, but it’s obvious this is the future because of the technology – and the new dinosaurs. Not only do we have mutated dinosaurs here, but also technological creatures to worry about. Not to mention, those mutated dinosaurs that have turned corrupted. These will always hunt you down if they see you, plus, they get pack mentality and can raid your base for the element you have gathered.
decide they don’t want us taming the tech creatures. This is going to be the hardest planet to survive on yet, but you can always make it easier by taming yourself a Titan. Yes, a Titan. There are two confirmed so far – the Frost Titan and the Forest Titan; that are tamable! For a peak of what’s to come check below. If you don’t own Ark at all then you have to buy the base game ($49.99) first, but if you have it then Extinction is $45.99 (there is also a bundle). I would absolutely recommend this game for anyone who likes survivals. I have all the Ark’s and have not been disappointed yet. I mean there are mods upon mods to make the world what you want and even other maps and whole other play styles. Can be great for role-play as well.
