ESRB and PEGI say Loot Boxes Aren't Gambling and Activision Patents Ways to Keep Us Spending

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Joe Chip

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Published on October 21, 2017 1:27:02 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8-d2-DlmRI

Game:

Doom (2016)

Duration: 14:57

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10

So the ESRB and PEGI have both come out and stated that Loot Boxes aren't gambling, which seems to be missing a more important point. Which is: are they harmful?

Meanwhile, Activision has issued a patent which is designed to match players in game so as to maximise the purchasing of microtransactions and loot boxes.

Can the gaming industry get any more cynical at this point?
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UK Petition requesting that loot boxes and microtransactions are debated in the House of Commons:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/201300


Articles cited in this video:

ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) response as reported by Kotakui:

https://kotaku.com/esrb-says-it-doesnt-see-loot-boxes-as-gambling-1819363091

PEGI (Pan European Game Information) response as reported by wccftech:

http://wccftech.com/pegi-loot-boxes-cant-define-gambling/

Activision Patent:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/9789406

article discussing the Activision patent:

https://charlieintel.com/2017/10/17/patent-reveals-activision-uses-matchmaking-encourage-players-buy-microtransactions/

Further reading on how videogames companies intend to keep us playing and paying:

Engaget Article from 2010 on gaming addiction

https://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/15-minutes-of-fame-psychologist-and-games-researcher-john-hopso/

Articles cited in above piece:

Behavioural Game design (2011):

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3085/behavioral_game_design.php

5 Creepy Ways Video Games Are Trying to Get You Addicted:

http://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted.html

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