Games with micro transactions will get a label in North America
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fantaskarsef
So I guess 90% of the games sold will now get that sticker. 😀
moeppel
Far too lightweight in my opinion.
I'd have loved an 'odds-disclosure' at the very least if not outright making all titles containing microtransaction 'M for Mature' or 18(+) by default.
Texter
What's the main demographic of 'whales' anyway? 40-something gamers? Those guys will be glad the ESRB has their best interests at heart...once they've decided on the actual logo...
KissSh0t
And this covers games with gambling?
sverek
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)
XP-200
So how does this work for digital version. lol
Ricepudding
Shouldn't games with this also be rated "Adult" since you need to be 21 to gamble in America... or they trying to gloss this over with a band-aid... we already know the games that come with micro-transactions. the issue is they're gambling within games made for a younger audience
Who buys games digitally these days :P ... most likely might have a tag, think most Steam games have tags on them stating this
Calmmo
A group created by the very same publishers that have created this situation is making quite possibly the most softball / least business impactful decision to mitigate any potential legal blowback? Color me surprised, i never knew their only reason for existing was to protect the corporate interest of their founders.
fantaskarsef
Does this ESRB rating in any way protect the user? Except if parents are buying anything for the kids? Is it enforced in stores?
moeppel
Well, I don't know how it works in the states, quite frankly. Germany has the USK but I can't imagine lobbying taking place from the side of publishers. I don't even know how much of an actual impact the USK has to begin with, outside of potentially indexing some titles entirely.
Ultimately, as an 'older gamer' by now I'd much rather return to the times where games were in fact finished products (safe for actual add-ons/expansions) - if need by through legaslation/law by applying at the very least equal rules that casinos have to abide by.
Given the propsed (and evidently) non solution by the ESRB leads me to believe they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them but even then there's hope that politics may pick up up on the subject regardless of what the ESRB (and our USK) may choose to do now or the near future.
Naturally Ubisoft, EA and Activision Blizzard will dread the day they'll have to make actual fun to play games again involving any sort of creative work in the process.
ubercake
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.
Phill-7
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.
TheDeeGee
That'll teach 'em!
The Laughing Ma
Jim Sterling did a good video on this. To sum it up a way too late milk toast solution that doesn't fix or resolve a god damn thing. The example he used was that the Witcher 3 would have this same ESRB rating logo as Battelfront 2 and the 'paid for content' in those two games couldn't be more different. He also mentioned what worth does this rating system have when, as we have seen with Battlefront 2 this 'paid for content' can be added / removed post release, i.e post rating.
What a massive and utter waste of time.
[youtube=wRJ9sJLfKU8]
BangTail
Like that is going to change a damn thing.
Pathetic, but not surprising.
Money talks.
Neo Cyrus
Gambling laws should outright apply to loot boxes and anything of the sort.
tsunami231
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
So gambling in Witcher is "gambling"? Cause you gamble your in game money.
Don't mix apples with oranges.
tsunami231
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
You just went full potato, man. Have a nice day.
