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[Amiga]

Since a ban on microtransactions is not likely to ever happen. What are your other ideas on how to limit their damage. Taking into consideration how far laws can practically go.

Here is info on the history of American gaming laws, practically required reading for gamers today:
https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/a-history-of-american-gaming-laws-31222#:~:text=Today, gambling is legal under,allow some form of gambling.

Some info on regulation in other parts of the world:
https://lawahead.ie.edu/micropaymen...hallenge-that-will-change-videogames-forever/

 

[spons]

Regulate lootboxes like gambling, with no advertisements to minors, no role models in ads, and so on.

 

[ParaSeoul]

Loot boxes are gambling. No way around it.

 

[Laptop1991]

Get rid of them!.

 

[kraspkibble]

if it's gambling then restrict those games to 18+ year olds (or whatever age you're allowed to gamble in your country). require proof of age (passport/driving license). offer the option to disable/hide them in game. require confirmations/2fa when purchasing. if someone is found to be under age then ban their account. that's how it works with other kinds of gambling so fair is fair.

personally, i don't have a problem with things the way they are. i am an adult, responsible with my money, and control what i spend. but some people can't do that so i wouldn't mind some regulation. just don't get rid of it altogether.

 

[Hendrick's]

Who are we trying to protect? I'm always for more transparency but keep the government out of it.

 

[jaysius]

The issue is, whenever you talk regulation, you‘re talking about government intervention, no matter how small their intervention is they will charge a fee, this fee will get offloaded on all consumers by the game companies even ones not participating in microtransactions.

The end game of regulation is licensing, that has a fee, if you’re going to call it gambling then the government will demand games be licensed as gambling.

This entire issue is a double edged sword.

 

[mxbison]

I think no regulations makes it much easier to see and avoid those shit games.

 

[LordCBH]

Loot boxes should absolutely be considered gambling. Though I’m happy a lot of games are quickly moving away from them to a more “hey just buy these cosmetics if you want them, the premium battle pass gives you some of them” model.

 

[lughnasadh123]

Kids are the only ones who need protecting from this. The rest simply needs to stop buying them up otherwise they'll continue to persist in some way.

 

[lh032]

as long theres money involve, no regulation will be done.

 

[Wohc]

For kids: New paying system with strict age verification as the only option
For adults: Common sense

 

[ahtlas7]

Tax the crap out of Microtransaction generated $$ along the entire path to consumer at the corporate level. They are not good for humankind, just like cigarettes, so use the same tax logic.

 

[K2D]

Another one: Cap on amount able to spend each month and transparency (I. E. disclose on store front and start up screen) how much you could potentially max spend if there is even such amount (think Diablo Immoral $100,000).

 

[Valonquar]

No form of regulation will work. You only need to look as far as the replusive "Skill Game" shops that pop up all over the place. They will constantly change things just enough to skirt around the law. There's way too much money to be made off fools.

 

[RPSleon]

The only time i enjoy a loot box is if ive earnt it through play. Thats fun. Paying for it should not be allowed.

Any micro transactions should be 100% clear on exactly what you get.

When it comes to spending, fomo and intentionally addictive design should not be allowed within the game It shouldnt be the first thing you see, it shouldnt have notifications and prompts. Some people have a REALLY hard time breaking away from the feeling of getting a good deal.

100% age gated, no child should be able to purchace things that easily. It should require purchace and gifting from an adult. (Email code or whatever)

 

[cormack12]

An incremental freeze out.

Buy 1 pack. Can't buy another for 5 minutes.
Buy 2 packs. Can't buy another for 10 minutes.
Buy 3 packs. Can't buy another for 30 minutes.
Buy 4 packs. Can't buy another for 60 minutes.

 

[nominedomine]

How hard can it be to simply not buy them or play games that include them?

Why do kids have a credit card? I don't understand.

Kids are the only ones who need protecting from this. The rest simply needs to stop buying them up otherwise they'll continue to persist in some way.

Kids need protection from the parents that allow them to get hooked on this stuff.

 

[.Pennywise]

I think people are misunderstanding the deal here., you're just mixing concepts like nothing.

One thing is for these kind of games with lootboxes (boxes, chests, packs, etc) to be labeled as gambling and requiring +18 so they are not *legally* available to kids. Which I'm totally in favour of.

Another entirely different thing is, regulate how these lootboxes work. Which I'm not in favour.
Why should they be regulated in the first place?
Let's see, people who spend 3, 4 or even 5 digits on this are grown up people and do with their money what they please.
Moreso, why do you ask for some 'special betting regulations' when they don't even exist? I mean, did anyone went to a Cassino? Do you think there's a sign in every slot machine telling you the % of winning? Does the croupier tell you how much chances do you have compared to the house on the Black Jack table? Does one guy comes up to you and tell you that you can't spend more on the roulette or that you need to wait 1 hour to make another bet? LOL

Even if they get considered gambling, all the gaming companies need to do is up the PG13 rating to M or AO depending on the country and call it a day. They won't lose all that money from the whales.

And btw, Microtransactions =/= Gambling/Lootboxes.
I can buy a skin directly through microtransaction and no % of winning anything is involved whatsoever. Stop switching terms like they are the same please.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Another thing people conveniently overgo when discussing wether X or Y should be regulated is the aspect of a collective moral inherited by national law. It can be, from a purely logical standpoint, completely fine to allow people to sell themselves into slavery. Or to rape a woman if she's your wife. That doesn't necessarily mean it's OK to do so / have it be legal. That's the main reason many countries on this planet have prostitution be illegal. The majority population finds it repulsive and disgusting. That's why it's prohibited. Not for reason or logic. A true democratic institution. I think many would agree that preying on the weak, vulnerable and children is something that shouldn't be tolerated by society.

 

[Fahdis]

Is there an option for sealing your wallet and throwing it in the sea? That might work.

 

[brian0057]

Don't engage with them. Simple as.
And kids that do engage with them need better parents.
Apparently, this is really hard for some people. Especially the whole parenting thing.

 

[ReBurn]

I would not play games that take advantage of me.

 

[Kenpachii]

Total ban on them only way.

 

[Unrivaledx88]

No, keep them how it is, yall gotta stop bitching, buy if you want you not being forced.

Same thing with alcohol and alcoholics, yall gonna ban ppl from buying how much alcohol they can buy?

And same with weed, would yall want to be limited on how much weed yall can buy?

Like what.. everyone spends what they can. I love how ppl are mad companies are making money off selling cosmetics in the game stores. Who cares?? Take care of your wallet.

**Some dummies will argue against this and say what does weed and alcohol have to do with micro transactions

Im just saying some ppl like to spend money on the games they play like you like to spend money on your drugs and alcohol

Plus restrictions gets the goverment involved. Just leave it how it is

 

[CeeJay]

I voted all of the above. Greater transparency and extra steps to make it more difficult for minors to purchase are all moves in the right direction.

 

[Akt]

Just like with everything else in life.

You either let others use you, or you don't.

 

[CLW]

Simple AO 21+ to buy/play due to gambling and boom problem solved as most loot boxes will be GONE

 

[yurinka]

I think it's retarded a total ban or to consider loot boxes gambling because you don't earn real money from these games. And the ones where you can earn real money (like poker or casino games) are already properly regulated as gambling.

But I think they should be more transparent showing real pricing instead of using fictional currencies, that they also should include the % of each item included there, that should be for people over 18 years old and that should have a 2 steps verification.

And well, obviously this would only apply for paid loot boxes, not the random rewards you get by playing as happens with loot boxes you get for playing, the crate boxes you break in Super Mario or the loot items that enemies randomly drop in games like Diablo or Destiny.

 

[MagiusNecros]

Ban them and make people play the game to acquire "free loot boxes" or "gacha rolls" by completing game objectives, content or dailies without paying loads of money to have an advantage over everyone else with a subscription service instead.

Ergo kill the whales.

But then there goes their profit and the mobile market dies out pretty quickly.

 

[Deerock71]

The rest will take care of itself.

 

[KungFucius]

No, keep them how it is, yall gotta stop bitching, buy if you want you not being forced.

Same thing with alcohol and alcoholics, yall gonna ban ppl from buying how much alcohol they can buy?

And same with weed, would yall want to be limited on how much weed yall can buy?

Like what.. everyone spends what they can. I love how ppl are mad companies are making money off selling cosmetics in the game stores. Who cares?? Take care of your wallet.

**Some dummies will argue against this and say what does weed and alcohol have to do with micro transactions

Im just saying some ppl like to spend money on the games they play like you like to spend money on your drugs and alcohol

Plus restrictions gets the goverment involved. Just leave it how it is

Anyone who says A is like B and anyone who thinks differently is stupid is a total fucking asshole. Even moreso when the 2 are not the same. Gambling and loot boxes can take 1000s of dollars away from someone in an instant. That is the point, they are exploitative and the companies want that. Alcohol and Weed companies do not target children and cause them to spend 1000s. But yeah don't regulate stuff because that is bad and stupid right? We should let the kids get drunk and smoke some weed if they want to. I mean shit if it is equal shouldn't the same rules apply? Boot up PSN and order some beers.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Amiga your forgot to add: "Do nothing. I am responsible for my actions."

Also...I don't know...monitor what your kids spend.

Apple Ask To Buy

 

[Goalus]

They should not be regulated in any way.
Whoever spends money on them and thereby enables them in the first place should be punished though. And losing the money just spent on an otherwise useless digital item is a good punishment.

 

[Swift_Star]

They should not be regulated in any way.
Whoever spends money on them and thereby enables them in the first place should be punished though. And losing the money just spent on an otherwise useless digital item is a good punishment.

Thankfully, that’s not how the world works. People should and are protected from their own stupidity and from greedy exploitative corporations. I’m all for regulations.

 

[UltimaKilo]

Stop buying games that use this gimmick, and it will disappear.

 

[Daytonabot]

Whenever the government tries to fix something, they wind up doing something stupid like COVID "relief" that was the gasoline for the current inflation explosion. Congressmen don't understand much, so they inevitably write laws with gaping loopholes that often make things worse. The free market is the only way to solve this. If consumers reject microtransactions, then they'll be gone, and we'll have $100 AAA games. If consumers don't, then the market has spoken.

edit: Transparency is always good though. Let consumers make informed decisions.

 

[bitbydeath]

Just outlaw it all together, no muss, no fuss.
Govt issue fine $100000000000000000 any company that tries otherwise.

 

[BigBooper]

I don't think strict regulations are appropriate, but some would be useful. Ban loot box purchases for minors. Show percentage chance of winning each prize.

Beyond that, let adults waste their money however they want.

 

[AmuroChan]

The only area I would regulate is purchases by minors. There should be some sort of verification by the parents/legal guardian.

When it comes to adults, they should be able to spend their money however they want. Just like I don't care if a rich person wants to buy a private jet or luxury yacht, I don't care if he/she wants to drop $10K on in-game purchases.

 

[kiphalfton]

Not even worth talking about, since nothing has been done to regulate far more damaging things. Just accept we live in a shit society where consumers are the whipping boy.

 

[M1chl]

You tax that shit into oblivion, basically like alcohol or gambling and you are set. Also you make sure that company which is putting this shit into games gets ZERO tax exemption.

Done, new roads, less whales.

 

[NahaNago]

Just put it to where you have to double verify that you are the adult purchasing the lootbox. Restriciting a whole game to 18+ because of something that children shouldn't be able to buy without a debit or credit card just seems weird. I don't really care if an adult is going to spend a $20,000 on a game.

Plus parents of these kids should be aware of what is bein purchased with their own debit and credit cards.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Micro transactions give games a spark and require lots of preparation.

 

[Amiga]

Amiga your forgot to add: "Do nothing. I am responsible for my actions."

We can also remove traffic lights, they are so annoying.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Wong quote, my bad!

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

We can also remove traffic lights, they are so annoying.

yeah, ok, sounds reasonable, etc etc

 

[reinking]

How hard can it be to simply not buy them or play games that include them?

Why do people simply not smoke? Not drink and drive? Wear seatbelts? Some people do stupid shit at their own expense. Corporations should not have free reign to take advantage.

 

[01011001]

1: in game/fantasy currencies that can be bought with real money are either forbidden or always have to also state the local legal currency next to them at all time

2: the game has to allow you to buy any arbitrary amount of currency, not a set bundle or value.

3: loot boxes that you can buy with real money should make any game automatically an AO rating or should be subject local equivalent to gambling laws

4: as soon as someone underage buys an MTX the publisher has to refund all of it without question if the parent finds out and didn't allow it

5: to make sure a child can't "sneak in" in the first place any transaction has to go through an SMS or email verification

6: Taxes put on them, the money gathered by them should be used for charities and institutions that help gambling addiction or addiction in general

 

[newtypepilot]

1) age restriction. It's mindblogging that sports game from EA and 2k can be rated E even though they are just glorified casinos
2) Any purchases using real money must have 2FA. Every time you make a purchase, it'll clearly display how much you've spent cumulatively on that game.
3) odds must be clearly stated for all gacha, lootboxes, or rewards that are random drops. And games with these mechanics must be labeled as such in addition to the "microtransactions" tag
4) not limited to buying in-game currency in bundles or whatever set amount. You can buy how many you want.