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Games with micro transactions will get a label in North America
The American Entertainment Software Rating Board will stamp a logo onto games with microtransactions and/ or other in-game purchases. The In-Game Purchases logo is placed on physical packaging and at download stores.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is an American self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings to consumer video games. The new label is a direct reaction towards the outcry over loot crate systems in games like Star Wars: Battlefront II, Need for Speed: Payback and Destiny 2and have signaled a willingness to legislate them, reports polygon.
The labeling will “be applied to games with in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums with real-world currency,” the ESRB said in a news release this morning, “including but not limited to bonus levels, skins, surprise items (such as item packs, loot boxes, mystery awards), music, virtual coins and other forms of in-game currency, subscriptions, season passes and upgrades (e.g., to disable ads).”
The label will appear separate from the familiar ESRB rating label (T-for-Teen, M-for-Mature, etc.) and not inside it. Additionally, the ESRB has begun an awareness campaign meant to highlight the controls available to parents whose households have a video game console. The label is not designed to warn adult gamers that a game might contain microtransactions; it’s designed for concerned parents buying games for their kids. “Parents need simple information,” Vance said. “We can’t overwhelm them with a lot of detail... We have not found that parents are differentiating between these different mechanics.”
Belgian Minister of Justice Koen Geens wants to ban the sale of games with loot boxes. - 11/22/2017 08:35 AM
Belgian Minister of Justice Koen Geens, hopes to ban the sale of games with 'additional' purchases, if it is not clear what exactly these purchases involve....
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Sony has announced that users of its service, PlayStation Now, will be able to play PlayStation 4 titles on all platforms which support the service. ...
Nvidia Offers Three Games with GeForce GTX Bundle For Oculus - 04/26/2017 07:03 AM
Nvidia is releasing a new game-bundle, there's three games you get for free when you purchae your GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, GTX 1080, GTX 1070 or GTX 1060. However, there's a cacth, the titles are VR ga...
NVIDIA Bundling Indie VR Games With GeForce GTX 1050 and GTX 1060 - 12/07/2016 05:30 AM
Actually you get to choose from three VR titles as the company has announced a new promotion for the GTX 1050, GTX 1050 Ti and the GTX 1060, with free indie videogames available with every purchase....
Smell your video games with GameSkunk - 01/10/2013 02:52 PM
Well, that certainly adds a new dimension. SensoryAcumen showed off its GameSkunk accessory at CES 2013. This gaming add-on promises to be able to let you smell 30,000 different odors to offer a bett...
tsunami231
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#5524131 Posted on: 02/28/2018 09:31 PM
You have to buy item to do gambling, so gambling that involves money, should be covered.
Gambling within game is fine and shouldnt be regulated. (change 4 rare items to legendary, etc)
dont kid your self loot boxes that have random odds in it to get items is "gambling" and either need to be stopped or government is gona put tax on those loot boxes, there is only hand full of states that allow gambling online. and those that do have to pay tax for it, game companies are using "loot" boxes as means to which have random odds getting what you after which is same as gambling, as means to make extra cash off there games, and are NOT being taxed for it.
why you think EA got in hot water for this loot boxes in recent game they keep push the loot boxes farther and farther, which trigger government in to look into if these "loot" boxes are form of gambling.
Not that any of this will stop the behavior, it more profitable to do in game transactions then make quailty game these days. now days most people just shit game out and tack on cash shop with loot box in it and go to bank with it.
You have to buy item to do gambling, so gambling that involves money, should be covered.
Gambling within game is fine and shouldnt be regulated. (change 4 rare items to legendary, etc)
dont kid your self loot boxes that have random odds in it to get items is "gambling" and either need to be stopped or government is gona put tax on those loot boxes, there is only hand full of states that allow gambling online. and those that do have to pay tax for it, game companies are using "loot" boxes as means to which have random odds getting what you after which is same as gambling, as means to make extra cash off there games, and are NOT being taxed for it.
why you think EA got in hot water for this loot boxes in recent game they keep push the loot boxes farther and farther, which trigger government in to look into if these "loot" boxes are form of gambling.
Not that any of this will stop the behavior, it more profitable to do in game transactions then make quailty game these days. now days most people just shit game out and tack on cash shop with loot box in it and go to bank with it.
sverek
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Posts: 5510
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#5524165 Posted on: 03/01/2018 12:59 AM
dont kid your self loot boxes that have random odds in it to get items is "gambling" and either need to be stopped or government is gona put tax on those loot boxes, there is only hand full of states that allow gambling online. and those that do have to pay tax for it, game companies are using "loot" boxes as means to which have random odds getting what you after which is same as gambling, as means to make extra cash off there games, and are NOT being taxed for it.
why you think EA got in hot water for this loot boxes in recent game they keep push the loot boxes farther and farther, which trigger government in to look into if these "loot" boxes are form of gambling.
Not that any of this will stop the behavior, it more profitable to do in game transactions then make quailty game these days. now days most people just crap game out and tack on cash shop with loot box in it and go to bank with it.
So gambling in Witcher is "gambling"? Cause you gamble your in game money.
Don't mix apples with oranges.
dont kid your self loot boxes that have random odds in it to get items is "gambling" and either need to be stopped or government is gona put tax on those loot boxes, there is only hand full of states that allow gambling online. and those that do have to pay tax for it, game companies are using "loot" boxes as means to which have random odds getting what you after which is same as gambling, as means to make extra cash off there games, and are NOT being taxed for it.
why you think EA got in hot water for this loot boxes in recent game they keep push the loot boxes farther and farther, which trigger government in to look into if these "loot" boxes are form of gambling.
Not that any of this will stop the behavior, it more profitable to do in game transactions then make quailty game these days. now days most people just crap game out and tack on cash shop with loot box in it and go to bank with it.
So gambling in Witcher is "gambling"? Cause you gamble your in game money.
Don't mix apples with oranges.
tsunami231
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#5524187 Posted on: 03/01/2018 03:23 AM
dont be stupid and compare spending real money in game on loot box which have random odds to getting what you want which is gambling online and gambling in witcher that has NO cash shop or loot boxes.
Gambling is not legal in most states and few states it is is taxed, loot boxes at this point are nothing more then online gambling in game that has cash shop that ISNT taxed, and if you think the government isnt gona shut that down or get pieces profiets your crazy.
Gambling in Witcher is gambling? Cause you game in game money.
dont be stupid and compare spending real money in game on loot box which have random odds to getting what you want which is gambling online and gambling in witcher that has NO cash shop or loot boxes.
Gambling is not legal in most states and few states it is is taxed, loot boxes at this point are nothing more then online gambling in game that has cash shop that ISNT taxed, and if you think the government isnt gona shut that down or get pieces profiets your crazy.
sverek
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#5524188 Posted on: 03/01/2018 03:24 AM
You just went full potato, man. Have a nice day.
dont be stupid and compare spending really money in game on loot box which have random odds to getting what you want which is gambling online with gambling in witcher that has NO cash shop or loot boxes.
You just went full potato, man. Have a nice day.
tsunami231
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#5524191 Posted on: 03/01/2018 03:30 AM
your idiot if you think spending really money on loot boxes, from cash shop with items that had random odds getting, is the same and gambling in game like witcher that dont have cash shop, the 2 are not the same plain and simple
your idiot if you think spending really money on loot boxes, from cash shop with items that had random odds getting, is the same and gambling in game like witcher that dont have cash shop, the 2 are not the same plain and simple
sverek
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#5524193 Posted on: 03/01/2018 03:33 AM
your idiot if you don't read what other write and hurry to jump a gun.
your idiot if you don't read what other write and hurry to jump a gun.
tsunami231
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#5524195 Posted on: 03/01/2018 04:10 AM
I read it I stand by you idiot you trying to compare gambling in witcher games that HAVE no cash shop let alone loot boxes, are being the same as game with microtransactions that have loot box with random odds of wining that need to use real cash to get as being the same thing, they are not.
your idiot if you don't read what other write and hurry to jump a gun.
I read it I stand by you idiot you trying to compare gambling in witcher games that HAVE no cash shop let alone loot boxes, are being the same as game with microtransactions that have loot box with random odds of wining that need to use real cash to get as being the same thing, they are not.
sverek
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#5524204 Posted on: 03/01/2018 05:00 AM
I read it I stand by you idiot you trying to compare gambling in witcher games that HAVE no cash shop let alone loot boxes, are being the same as game with microtransactions that have loot box with random odds of wining that need to use real cash to get as being the same thing, they are not.
And this covers games with gambling?
You have to buy item to do gambling, so gambling that involves money, should be covered.
Gambling within game is fine and shouldnt be regulated. (change 4 rare items to legendary, etc)
Keep on posting dude, you are my entertainment today.
I read it I stand by you idiot you trying to compare gambling in witcher games that HAVE no cash shop let alone loot boxes, are being the same as game with microtransactions that have loot box with random odds of wining that need to use real cash to get as being the same thing, they are not.
Games with micro transactions will get a label in North America
And this covers games with gambling?
You have to buy item to do gambling, so gambling that involves money, should be covered.
Gambling within game is fine and shouldnt be regulated. (change 4 rare items to legendary, etc)
Keep on posting dude, you are my entertainment today.
XP-200
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#5524207 Posted on: 03/01/2018 05:30 AM
Well, this escalated quickly out of nowhere. Lol
Well, this escalated quickly out of nowhere. Lol
KissSh0t
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#5524218 Posted on: 03/01/2018 06:43 AM
I never mentioned micro transactions, I said gambling...
I never mentioned micro transactions, I said gambling...
sverek
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#5524241 Posted on: 03/01/2018 08:53 AM
Well in that case pretty much all RPG will be gambling. Since they all have crafting scenarios where you gamble your in-game items for a better one. Is RNG also gambling? Cause I hate to miss when I had 95% accuracy.
I never mentioned micro transactions, I said gambling...
Well in that case pretty much all RPG will be gambling. Since they all have crafting scenarios where you gamble your in-game items for a better one. Is RNG also gambling? Cause I hate to miss when I had 95% accuracy.
KissSh0t
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#5524245 Posted on: 03/01/2018 08:57 AM
I mean gambling, using money to gamble in a video game...
Well in that case pretty much all RPG will be gambling. Since they all have crafting scenarios where you gamble your in-game items for a better one. Is RNG also gambling? Cause I hate to miss when I had 95% accuracy.
I mean gambling, using money to gamble in a video game...
fantaskarsef
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#5524246 Posted on: 03/01/2018 08:59 AM
The ESRB means well, but many parents these days find it's very convenient to use any video games their child wants to play (independent of any ESRB rating system) to:
1) Shut the kid up.
2) Give parents endless amounts of time to catch up on social media and get their nails did.
3) Know where your child is at all times (glued to the TV or PC).
Really, the biggest problem with micro-transactions is for adults with addictive personalities and the fostering of addictive personalities in children. Is it really different than states selling lottery tickets and telling people to "Gamble Responsibly" while offering an 800 number to help you with your gambling addiction?
This is a token action the ESRB is taking in cooperation with the gaming companies employing micro-transactions to say "see we're doing something about this so it doesn't need gambling regulation".
The ESRB can't parent the children. The ESRB is adding yet another label for parents - who never look at what they are buying their kids or their kids are buying - to ignore. For the parents who are involved, they evolve with the technology and stay in touch with what their kids are doing.
Exactly this, 100% agree.
There has to be a big banner "Pay-to-Win Title". I take it as an abuse to pay for a game to be able to pay much more.
Not every lootbox contains any in game advantages. Overwatches lootboxes can be bought with real money or ig currency, they have random drops, but they are only offering visuals, no better stats, no new abilities. So no they're not pay2win just becaus they got lootboxes / gambling / micro transactions in there. Other games do, like EA's crap lineup soon will in each and every game. Battlefront does have pay2win, Battlefield too (as you can buy shortcut bundles with are not gambling though), but Battlefield loot crates do offer visuals as well as sometimes pieces for weapons that don't really add any ig advantage (two new melee weapons). All of those would get the same sticker on the box... doesn't make much sense tbh.
So gambling in Witcher is "gambling"? Cause you gamble your in game money.
Don't mix apples with oranges.
Exactly, don't mix it all up.
For the gaming as pictured in game (Geralt plays Gwent, common RPG quest ideas like playing dice in Kingdom Come Deliverance or practically any other RPG, or similar stuff) might get a warning INSIDE of the usual ESRB / USK (Germany and partially, Austria) rating. Then you'd need an extra sticker to show you can gamble for real money, more or less "meta game gambling" to various degrees.
In such a model W3 would have the first (a remark noticing that inside the game world you gamble, but not for real money), but not the second (new) sticker.
Battlefront 2 would have no remark on the content rating, but indeed one for the "new" gambling sticker, just like Battlefield1 and Overwatch, for instance.
Games like Hearthstone or Gwent would get both stickers as you basically are playing a randomised game that pretty much is the same as playing poker or some other card game; then getting the second sticker too for "loot boxes" (card packs / kegs).
Sounds pretty logical to me, only that as long as it's not enforced in any way, like not selling to minors like alcohol / cigarettes, it's all just hot air and babble because it's useless to even spend 1$ on the design of the new logo. Just a PR stunt unless it's enforced, same as with any rule / law.
The ESRB means well, but many parents these days find it's very convenient to use any video games their child wants to play (independent of any ESRB rating system) to:
1) Shut the kid up.
2) Give parents endless amounts of time to catch up on social media and get their nails did.
3) Know where your child is at all times (glued to the TV or PC).
Really, the biggest problem with micro-transactions is for adults with addictive personalities and the fostering of addictive personalities in children. Is it really different than states selling lottery tickets and telling people to "Gamble Responsibly" while offering an 800 number to help you with your gambling addiction?
This is a token action the ESRB is taking in cooperation with the gaming companies employing micro-transactions to say "see we're doing something about this so it doesn't need gambling regulation".
The ESRB can't parent the children. The ESRB is adding yet another label for parents - who never look at what they are buying their kids or their kids are buying - to ignore. For the parents who are involved, they evolve with the technology and stay in touch with what their kids are doing.
Exactly this, 100% agree.
There has to be a big banner "Pay-to-Win Title". I take it as an abuse to pay for a game to be able to pay much more.
Not every lootbox contains any in game advantages. Overwatches lootboxes can be bought with real money or ig currency, they have random drops, but they are only offering visuals, no better stats, no new abilities. So no they're not pay2win just becaus they got lootboxes / gambling / micro transactions in there. Other games do, like EA's crap lineup soon will in each and every game. Battlefront does have pay2win, Battlefield too (as you can buy shortcut bundles with are not gambling though), but Battlefield loot crates do offer visuals as well as sometimes pieces for weapons that don't really add any ig advantage (two new melee weapons). All of those would get the same sticker on the box... doesn't make much sense tbh.
So gambling in Witcher is "gambling"? Cause you gamble your in game money.
Don't mix apples with oranges.
Exactly, don't mix it all up.
For the gaming as pictured in game (Geralt plays Gwent, common RPG quest ideas like playing dice in Kingdom Come Deliverance or practically any other RPG, or similar stuff) might get a warning INSIDE of the usual ESRB / USK (Germany and partially, Austria) rating. Then you'd need an extra sticker to show you can gamble for real money, more or less "meta game gambling" to various degrees.
In such a model W3 would have the first (a remark noticing that inside the game world you gamble, but not for real money), but not the second (new) sticker.
Battlefront 2 would have no remark on the content rating, but indeed one for the "new" gambling sticker, just like Battlefield1 and Overwatch, for instance.
Games like Hearthstone or Gwent would get both stickers as you basically are playing a randomised game that pretty much is the same as playing poker or some other card game; then getting the second sticker too for "loot boxes" (card packs / kegs).
Sounds pretty logical to me, only that as long as it's not enforced in any way, like not selling to minors like alcohol / cigarettes, it's all just hot air and babble because it's useless to even spend 1$ on the design of the new logo. Just a PR stunt unless it's enforced, same as with any rule / law.
sverek
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#5524247 Posted on: 03/01/2018 09:00 AM
To gamble using money you have to perform microtransaction.
Be it purchasing in-game points, in-game key for lootbox or anything else so you can START a gamble.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtransaction
I mean gambling, using money to gamble in a video game...
To gamble using money you have to perform microtransaction.
Be it purchasing in-game points, in-game key for lootbox or anything else so you can START a gamble.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtransaction
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Gambling laws should outright apply to loot boxes and anything of the sort.