IT'S FINALLY HERE!
(Well... in two more days)
If this doesn't break 'gambling' EU laws, then surely Rusty's Baseball can release now too...?
Eh, it's kind of a fine line. One one had, I don't think it does because you're not winning real money. In essence, it is gambling because you're spending real money for chances at the crane game. It has some of the monetary and psychological factors of gambling. This, like Real Deal and Sub Wars, indulges in some pandering to get your money with a cartoon animal. To me, it seems desperate, more so since Badge Center is free advertising for Nintendo games (like, the rabbit will point out new releases when you start the game).
I spent a little more time with Nintendo Badge Center and I guess another way to look at is it you're getting a special weekly 3DS theme with a chance to get an assortment of custom icons for ~$2. However, Rusty's Real Deal Baseball, it's still crystal clear what you're getting in the end vs. Badge Arcade which is a chance game. The haggling in Real Deal is programmed and set with a minimum ... the entire game has a tangible minimal cost and clearly tells you what you get. The way the crane games are stacked more or less guarantees you'll get something on the first try + varying conditions after that. The game has a luring quality where the free plays aren't enough or if you're set on a particular icon.
Sure, there's free plays each day and the app itself is free. People will acknowledge what and play it without spending any money on it. Others won't. I love the idea of having icon packs and decorating the home screen but think Nintendo's execution is low. I get it. The company needs to adapt and create new revenue streams to complete in mobile. I'm just surprised people aren't a little peeved or upset. This, to me, is about as Konami'd as you can get without rattling a pachinko machine.