Loot boxes and gambling.

Kahina · November 2017

Belgium calls for a ban on loot boxes in Europe.

http://www.pcgamer.com/belgium-says-loot-boxes-are-gambling-wants-them-banned-in-europe/?utm_content=buffere78bc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=buffer-pcgamertw

Meanwhile, in Australia ...

https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/11/victorias-gambling-regulator-loot-boxes-constitute-gambling/

The USA, where most of these profits flow to, appears to be fine with it. But it doesn't matter really. The cracks are appearing.

Yagorn · November 2017

Kahina wrote: »

Belgium calls for a ban on loot boxes in Europe.

http://www.pcgamer.com/belgium-says-loot-boxes-are-gambling-wants-them-banned-in-europe/?utm_content=buffere78bc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=buffer-pcgamertw

Meanwhile, in Australia ...

https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/11/victorias-gambling-regulator-loot-boxes-constitute-gambling/

The USA, where most of these profits flow to, appears to be fine with it. But it doesn't matter really. The cracks are appearing.

https://www.cinemablend.com/games/1729979/france-is-the-latest-country-to-look-into-loot-boxes

https://kotaku.com/hawaii-wants-to-fight-the-predatory-behavior-of-loot-1820664617

France and Hawaii too.

Hawaii is a state of America so you could say America is taking steps towards it too.

Furian · April 2023

Hope they ban them in the US too. Im not a big fan of big government, but loot boxes are utter trash and a slap in the face to the community.

Yes, I know I necro'd a 5 year old thread, but apparently, they still haven't got the memo.

I come back every year or so to play, but once I see loot boxes are still around, I just move on.

Danikat · April 2023

There was a review of gambling legislation in the UK which included considering whether loot boxes should be included (which would make them regulated like other kinds of gambling), but I'm not sure if it was finished before our government collapsed into stupid in-fighting and got changed a few times, it might have been forgotten.

Also this is why Microsoft created their policy on loot boxes (that anything in them will be earnable in-game) and why ZOS subsequently introduced endeavours - it's an effort to show the industry is self-regulating to discourage legislation. That and noticable shifts in public opinion. At one point microtransaction-driven 'live service' games were being held up as the future of the whole industry. Now games like Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League are being re-worked to take all that stuff out, and both Jedi Fallen Order and the upcoming Survivor used the absence of any kind of DLC or additional purchases as a selling point.

An MMO is different of course, because they're expected to get continuous updates and need to fund it somehow, but it wouldn't surprise me if they're also looking for different way to do that.

sparxys · April 2023

Danikat wrote: »

There was a review of gambling legislation in the UK which included considering whether loot Iboxes should be included (which would make them regulated like other kinds of gambling), but I'm not sure if it was finished before our government collapsed into stupid in-fighting and got changed a few times, it might have been forgotten.

Also this is why Microsoft created their policy on loot boxes (that anything in them will be earnable in-game) and why ZOS subsequently introduced endeavours - it's an effort to show the industry is self-regulating to discourage legislation. That and noticable shifts in public opinion. At one point microtransaction-driven 'live service' games were being held up as the future of the whole industry. Now games like Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League are being re-worked to take all that stuff out, and both Jedi Fallen Order and the upcoming Survivor used the absence of any kind of DLC or additional purchases as a selling point.

An MMO is different of course, because they're expected to get continuous updates and need to fund it somehow, but it wouldn't surprise me if they're also looking for different way to do that.

I'd like for them to get rid of the loot boxes if that means more earnable mounts, skins, and general collectibles.

It would be lovely to have various zone specific mounts sprinkled throughout the world, that you could get for simply completing achievements in the overworld.

I mean finishing Caldwell's Gold is not really that rewarding, sure the style motif is alright and the hat is okay, but for the time you have to put in that quest it would be so much nicer to have a few mounts from completing zones from the base game.

I'd like to get a guar from completing Morrowind quests, maybe a wolf or bear for Skyrim, cammelles for Alikir, and stuff like that.
They don't have to be fancy or anything, but players should be able to get more mounts from playing, not only recoloured horses and extremely hard to get Trial mounts.

ZOS_Phoenix · April 2023

Greetings,

We've closed this thread given its age and given that some information may be out of date. If you wish to continue discussing this topic please create a new thread. Thank you for your understanding.

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ZOS_Phoenix