2K Calls Upon Belgian Gamers to Lobby Government Reps Over Loot Boxes - Call the government to allow MTXs

[The Last Stand]

https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news...ers-to-lobby-government-reps-over-loot-boxes/

Spoiler: Article

NBA publisher 2K has asked its audience in Belgium to get in touch with government reps in the region in order to allow loot boxes in the region.

In a post on its website, the publishing giant explained that its upcoming NBA 2K19 would not feature loot boxes in that country after Belgium deemed these to be illegal earlier in April of this year.

2K titles aren't the only ones affected, either. Games from Valve and Blizzard have also had to omit loot boxes.

Conversations with the Belgium Gaming Commission are on-going, 2K says, but the company has called upon gamers to add their voices into the mix. And we know that this audience never takes things too far.

"The Belgium Gaming Commission (BGC) has stated that games which include some 'loot box' style mechanics violate gambling laws in Belgium," 2K wrote.

"While we disagree with this position, we are working to comply with the BGC's current interpretation of these laws. As a result, we made some local changes to the MyTeam mode. These changes are necessary for the purposes of the BGC's interpretation of the Belgian Gaming Act. Specifically, we will be able to buy and buy coupons (not earned) currency / VC.Gamers are still able to acquire myTeam points. We will be continuing conversations with the BGC in order to explain our view. If you agree, we recommend that you contact your local government representative. We will keep the community posted on any developments. We apologise for any inconvenience."

2K has also released a statement about the lack of loot boxes in the Netherlands, too.

This follows a conversation around the world about the use of loot boxes in video games following a number of releases at the end of 2017 being far too aggressive with their implementation.

Star Wars Battlefront II was the source of the biggest scandal, but Middle-earth: Shadow of War and Forza Motorsport 7 also came under fire.

Of course they disagree, it affects their bottom line. I've never seen such business ignorance.

 

[Bassomatic]

The EU, brings in millions of Africans, but tries to outlaw stupid video game choices.

How many people have lootboxes raped, or murdered?

Also why can't people spend money on stupid things?

 

[Doctor Professor Timon]

My vote on it is:
If there's something in your game that someone wants, do what TERA did.
Pay X amount for the item you want. Much higher than a loot box.
Or pay much less for a loot box that has a chance of the item you want.

Making everything people want in your game gambling is just a bad business practice.
Would you rather pay 20 bucks for a skin?
Or a dollar for a loot box that has 20 chances of said skin, but also has a bunch of knick-knacks you can use as part of a 'whomp whomp' moment. Like medallions or emblems.

 

[The Fool]

The EU, brings in millions of Africans, but tries to outlaw stupid video game choices.

How many people have lootboxes raped, or murdered?

Also why can't people spend money on stupid things?

Are you really saying companies should be able to scam people out of hundreds of dollars?
Sometimes shithole countries make good decisions. Lootboxes are gambling, no discussion. They need to be labeled as such.
And nobody's saying what people can't blow their money on. They're saying these companies can't and shouldn't entice people to blow their money on things they don't need. Nobody needs gambling in their life.

 

[CIA Nigger]

Lootboxes suck anyhow. At least with microtransaction DLC (also dumb) you'd get some stupid weapon or skin, not just some chance at getting it.

 

[Bassomatic]

Are you really saying companies should be able to scam people out of hundreds of dollars?
Sometimes shithole countries make good decisions. Lootboxes are gambling, no discussion. They need to be labeled as such.
And nobody's saying what people can't blow their money on. They're saying these companies can't and shouldn't entice people to blow their money on things they don't need. Nobody needs gambling in their life.

It's not a scam, you know what you are doing, you are gambling.

Anyone who spends money on vidya to me is a fool and this is doubly that. But my own tastes don't effect my feelings on this. If you are willing to gamble on this, horses etc why not?

I wouldn't be against refining it so you get SOMETHING ergo skipping gambling, or pay walling it to a system of all of nothing to 18+ that's only fair and reasonable.

Now in regards to the first, that can get into a long debate about values and what gambling is, but let's not derail this. But frankly I'd like to have that chat.

What I'm saying is, the people should be allowed a free market, and with migration and many other crisis, bad vidya should be well on the cabose of the train of things to fix in Europe.

 

[The Fool]

It's not a scam, you know what you are doing, you are gambling.

Anyone who spends money on vidya to me is a fool and this is doubly that. But my own tastes don't effect my feelings on this. If you are willing to gamble on this, horses etc why not?

I wouldn't be against refining it so you get SOMETHING ergo skipping gambling, or pay walling it to a system of all of nothing to 18+ that's only fair and reasonable.

Now in regards to the first, that can get into a long debate about values and what gambling is, but let's not derail this. But frankly I'd like to have that chat.

What I'm saying is, the people should be allowed a free market, and with migration and many other crisis, bad vidya should be well on the cabose of the train of things to fix in Europe.

The issue I personally have is that this isn't ordinary gambling, this is gambling in your own home, where you have comfort and cash to lead your mind to want to gamble more. Not even only that, but gambling directly injected into a form of media that (poorly) masquerades itself as being a complete experience, only to lie to the customer and tell them everything they've seen about the game needs to be gambled at to get. Lootboxes are heavily based on psychological conditioning like this. Psychological reasoning is one thing the government is meant to stop. People are stupid, not just some people, most people are stupid as hell, and need the government to hold their hand and tell these people to stop doing it. Many laws to prevent these sorts of scenarios are already in place as-is for these reasons. Lootboxes are a new vector for greedy people to manipulate and siphon money out of people specifically so they don't have to create new or innovative products to please the market. If we didn't regulate this kind of shit then the market would fall fast into dystopic late-stage capitalism where everyone gets rewarded for scamming people and nobody gets rewarded for proving genuinely useful products.

I agree the EU's fucking useless though. It's why I didn't care so much about this happening in the first place, it's the EU.

 

[Bassomatic]

The issue I personally have is that this isn't ordinary gambling, this is gambling in your own home, where you have comfort and cash to lead your mind to want to gamble more. Not even only that, but gambling directly injected into a form of media that (poorly) masquerades itself as being a complete experience, only to lie to the customer and tell them everything they've seen about the game needs to be gambled at to get. Lootboxes are heavily based on psychological conditioning like this. Psychological reasoning is one thing the government is meant to stop. People are stupid, not just some people, most people are stupid as hell, and need the government to hold their hand and tell these people to stop doing it. Many laws to prevent these sorts of scenarios are already in place as-is for these reasons. Lootboxes are a new vector for greedy people to manipulate and siphon money out of people specifically so they don't have to create new or innovative products to please the market. If we didn't regulate this kind of shit then the market would fall fast into dystopic late-stage capitalism where everyone gets rewarded for scamming people and nobody gets rewarded for proving genuinely useful products.

I agree the EU's fucking useless though. It's why I didn't care so much about this happening in the first place, it's the EU.

Online casinos are a growing field, I don't know Europes rules but in NA they are becoming more and more a thing, so no matter your feelings this is just a fact it's happening.

People should be allowed to spend money how they wish, if they fall for a bad rate of return, maybe we should talk about taxes as well. I don't have to buy a loot box though.

No, loot boxes exist because weak people who just gotta have it. I see no problem making money on people's sin. If vidya players felt this was unfair they could just stop. But they don't.

 

[Anonymus Fluhre]

They could fix this issue by making any game that has lootboxes be Adult rated and force places to control buying them. That way game publishers can't bitch. They want their gambling to be put into a game, well now it's age gated.

 

[Intelligent Calcium]

GAMERS RISE UP

 

[RadicalCentrist]

People should be allowed to spend money how they wish, if they fall for a bad rate of return, maybe we should talk about taxes as well. I don't have to buy a loot box though.

No, loot boxes exist because weak people who just gotta have it. I see no problem making money on people's sin. If vidya players felt this was unfair they could just stop. But they don't.

Then why are Ponzi schemes illegal? Campaign contribution limits? How's the NAP working out for you?

Saying this shit while being a TRUE and HONEST supporter of a site that plays kick the autistic and bully the troon -

 

[Coolio55]

They could fix this issue by making any game that has lootboxes be Adult rated and force places to control buying them. That way game publishers can't bitch. They want their gambling to be put into a game, well now it's age gated.

That is such an evil choice tbh.
(But totally fair, that's what makes it even more genius)

Companies are constantly trying to ensure their lootbox shooters are available for all the kiddies to buy. That's why stuff like OW and Fortnite have no gore.
Now imagine they all get an immediate AO rating.

The mass corporate butthurt would be glorious.

(Sucks if you're a kid and just want to play TF2 though )

 

[Night Terror]

Online casinos are a growing field, I don't know Europes rules but in NA they are becoming more and more a thing, so no matter your feelings this is just a fact it's happening.

People should be allowed to spend money how they wish, if they fall for a bad rate of return, maybe we should talk about taxes as well. I don't have to buy a loot box though.

No, loot boxes exist because weak people who just gotta have it. I see no problem making money on people's sin. If vidya players felt this was unfair they could just stop. But they don't.

kids play these games
we shouldnt be allowing games to have gambling in them when kids regularly play these games and are impressionable
not only is there the risk of them stealing mommys debit card and spending over a thousand pounds on ingame loot but gambling shouldnt be normalised at such a young age

 

[Eryngium]

The EU, brings in millions of Africans, but tries to outlaw stupid video game choices.

How many people have lootboxes raped, or murdered?

Also why can't people spend money on stupid things?

But then who will play their fifa and nba games?

 

[KimCoppolaAficionado]

Online casinos are a growing field, I don't know Europes rules but in NA they are becoming more and more a thing, so no matter your feelings this is just a fact it's happening.

People should be allowed to spend money how they wish, if they fall for a bad rate of return, maybe we should talk about taxes as well. I don't have to buy a loot box though.

No, loot boxes exist because weak people who just gotta have it. I see no problem making money on people's sin. If vidya players felt this was unfair they could just stop. But they don't.

As @Night Terror points out, this stuff is marketed towards children; it's illegal for anyone under 18 to gamble in the EU and US. Of course, given your line of argument so far, I fully expect you to argue that we should let casinos to bait kids into wasting their money because they're weak.

 

[XYZpdq]

they could also fix it by just selling you the game and fucking off with a bunch of extra bullshit that's either worthless crap or should have been in the game to start with

 

[ThePurpleProse]

they could also fix it by just selling you the game and fucking off with a bunch of extra bullshit that's either worthless crap or should have been in the game to start with

Even then, there's a middle ground, Warframe while not perfect it does get a lot of money without doing shady shit, so clearly there's a way of selling useless garbage without fucking up the people that play your game.

 

[AnOminous]

I wouldn't be against refining it so you get SOMETHING ergo skipping gambling, or pay walling it to a system of all of nothing to 18+ that's only fair and reasonable.

They're NOT doing that, though. That just makes it pure gambling, but marketed to kids.

I don't see why actual gambling of the sort adults do should be illegal and there should be some magic excuse for games for kids. Legalize it all or fuck off.

Belgium sucks and should be nuked but they're more or less making the right call on this one.

 

[Leadlight_]

The EU, brings in millions of Africans, but tries to outlaw stupid video game choices.

How many people have lootboxes raped, or murdered?

Also why can't people spend money on stupid things?

Microtransations are bad for all gamers regardless of whether or not they "spend money on stupid things". It's a tactic that, as a result of its unregulation, allowed for more aggressive in-game marketing and has begun to affect the casual gaming community through things like featurelocks to try and encourage people who don't "spend money on stupid things" to do so.

 

[The Last Stand]

It's not a scam, you know what you are doing, you are gambling.

In the case of NBA 2K18, it IS a scam and outright gambling. Paying VC (virtual currency) to level up AND buy game winning animations? It's pay-to-win in its simplest form. On top of that, they release the same sports game year after year. And people buy it. Methods like that are entering into other games, blocking behind things that used to be standard in gamings behind paywalls while delivering an inferior product at times.

pay walling it to a system of all of nothing to 18+ that's only fair and reasonable.

Why should monetization be prioritized over quality and fun? It's a bad business practice.

No, loot boxes exist because weak people who just gotta have it. I see no problem making money on people's sin. If vidya players felt this was unfair they could just stop.

People have spoken out against bullshit monetization in their games before. Star Wars Battlefront II, Warframe, this EU law about loot boxes, NBA 2K and other sports games, Dungeon Keeper, etc.