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 don't read what other write and hurry to jump a gun.

sverek:

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.

tsunami231:

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

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)

Keep on posting dude, you are my entertainment today.

Well, this escalated quickly out of nowhere. Lol

I never mentioned micro transactions, I said gambling...

KissSh0t:

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.

sverek:

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...

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.

Exactly this, 100% agree.

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.

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.

sverek:

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.

KissSh0t:

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

Is it gambling if you buy those lootboxes with iG currency (like Hearthstone's earned gold or OVerwatch's credits)? It can still be harmful to some (kids, weak minded people, idk) even if it just works with iG currency, then pulling you in to put in just a few bucks more... starting off as an entry point to make people less reluctant to use real money and start a microtransaction?

sverek:

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

Therein lies the problem, which is why I was asking if this actually covers Gambling, not just the classification of video games that have Microtransactions.

KissSh0t:

Therein lies the problem, which is why I was asking if this actually covers Gambling, not just the classification of video games that have Microtransactions.

:)

Labeling stuff only helps so much and ultimately the biggest problem is the consumers.

I would have preferred three versions 1. Full version with micro transactions enabled 2.Children's version with micro transactions not included in the game and the ability to make purchases within game removed ( I would purchase this version) 3.Full version with ability to password protect against micro transactions.

Texter:

What's the main demographic of 'whales' anyway?

literal children with their suburban mommys credit card, & 18-24yo dudebro casuals playing sports games.

Let's calm it down people.

vbetts:

Let's calm it down people.

?

How about something that shows how much all the extra content would ultimately cost you. Instead of just $60 you could spend up to $348.37 (for instance) You know, the content that used to be in the base games or was released later as a way to thank the community. Now we get stripped down games with immediately available "extra" content. What a sham.

0blivious:

How about something that shows how much all the extra content would ultimately cost you. Instead of just $60 you could spend up to $348.37 (for instance) You know, the content that used to be in the base games or was released later as a way to thank the community. Now we get stripped down games with immediately available "extra" content. What a sham.

You can write total cost with DLC and items you are guaranteed to get with microtransaction. However, once gamble and RNG kicks in, there no limits. Someone can spend $50 and get desired item, someone might toss $1k without luck.