In the latest scrutiny over the biggest modern gaming controversy, lootboxes, the United Kingdom's Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee has called both Epic Games and Electronic Arts into Parliament in order to discern whether lootboxes should be outlawed. With both companies publishing some of the largest video game franchises that include lootboxes as a major mechanic--Fortnite and FIFA, respectively--the Committee has begun an investigation into whether lootboxes are harming consumers. During the meeting, which was held on June 19th, Scotland's National Party MP claimed that studies and evidence showed that lootboxes have a close link to gambling. In response, EA's Vice President of Legal Affairs, Kerry Hopkins, made a few comments in the defense of lootboxes in video games, saying, "We don't call them lootboxes. They are instead referred to as surprise mechanics."

Hopkins continued her statement by stating the following, "We do agree with the UK gambling commission, the Australian gambling commission, and many other gambling commissions that they aren’t gambling, and we also disagree that there’s evidence that shows it leads to gambling. Instead, we think it’s like many other products that people enjoy in a healthy way, and like the element of surprise."

In attempts to further explain EA's stance on preventing lootboxes from being considered gambling, especially towards minors, Hopkins then said "People enjoy surprises, it's been a part of toys for years, like in Kinder Eggs or Hatchimals. [...] Lootboxes are actually quite ethical and quite fun, quite enjoyable to people".

Regardless of EA's own stance on the subject, it appears that smaller European countries do not agree, with Belgium and the Netherlands having outlawed lootboxes, resulting in the removal of those elements from their Belgian and Dutch releases, such as Blizzard and 2K removing the option to pay real money for lootboxes in Overwatch and NBA 2K18. Even in the United States, the Senate has put up a bill that, should it manage to be passed, would also ban pay-to-win microtransactions.

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[NumberXIIIEdwin]

Fifa has lootboxes? A game, that is SOCCER (or FUTBAL for the european friends) have "SURPRISE MECHANICS"

In Fifa you can buy "card packs" (aka, loot boxes) that give you player cards for the Ultimate Team mode, which you then use to fill out your team's roster in that mode. As far as I can tell, it's basically a gacha-type game mode where the best players are locked as the rarest cards with no guarantee that you'll get them.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

In Fifa you can buy "card packs" (aka, loot boxes) that give you player cards for the Ultimate Team mode, which you then use to fill out your team's roster in that mode. As far as I can tell, it's basically a gacha-type game mode where the best players are locked as the rarest cards with no guarantee that you'll get them.

I never ever actually played or owned a fifa game, but i didn't think any of them would actually have lootbox material

Also never heard of Kinder eggs.

 

[NumberXIIIEdwin]

I never ever actually played or owned a fifa game, but i didn't think any of them would actually have lootbox material

Neither have I honestly, just knowledge I picked up working at GameStop a few years back. But EA will shove lootboxes into anything, just look at the Battlefront II debacle.

 

[MiiJack]

Chary, you forgot to mention they also compared it to LOL Surprise.

 

[DANTENDO]

Kerry Hopkins I'd rather change my name by deed poll to Dan the kinder egg than buy a fkin loot box

 

[Willgheminass]

I would have loved to hand Hopkins a live feed footage of herself when she said this and see inside herself what her place was in all this. Oh wait, she can't.

 

[anhminh]

They mean surprise as in "surprise motherfucker!"

 

[DANTENDO]

Also never heard of Kinder eggs.

I'm surprised at tht

 

[SG854]

I don’t see how it’s the companies fault that kids steal their parents credit cards.

That’s the parents responsibility to raise their kids. What the hell are the parents doing letting their kids fuck them over and do nothing about it.

There is Federal Law that protects from unauthorized purchases, The Truth Lending Act and they are only responsible for $50 in purchases made to their accounts.


There is protections beyond Federal Law in Zero Liability Policies many card companies have and they’ll let you off the hook for the entire amount.


Under Federal Protection FTC ordered Apple to pay $32.5 million to reimburse parents for unauthorized app purchases made by their kids.


Even with these protections it’s still not the companies fault that you have poorly raised kids and you do nothing to stop them, or teach them life lessons.



But instead people are going to make excuses and say they got our kids addicted so it’s not out fault. You don’t understand psychology and addictions and the teenage mind. My kids wanted to be cool with all those Fortnite skins, he’s a victim. They are susceptible to addictions can’t you see! The Science let’s me off the hook. It’s never our fault, it’s that rap music and violent video games that makes them do bad. Had nothing to do with me. But let me rush to take all the credit when they get good grades and win competitions, that was all me and my parenting.

 

[the_randomizer]

I don’t see how it’s the companies fault that kids steal their parents credit cards.

That’s the parents responsibility to raise their kids. What the hell are the parents doing letting their kids fuck them over and do nothing about it.

There is Federal Law that protects from unauthorized purchases, The Truth Lending Act and they are only responsible for $50 in purchases made to their accounts.


There is protections beyond Federal Law in Zero Liability Policies many card companies have and they’ll let you off the hook for the entire amount.


Under Federal Protection FTC ordered Apple to pay $32.5 million to reimburse parents for unauthorized app purchases made by their kids.


Even with these protections it’s still not the companies fault that you have poorly raised kids and you do nothing to stop them, or teach them life lessons.



But instead people are going to make excuses and say they got our kids addicted so it’s not out fault. You don’t understand psychology and addictions and the teenage mind. My kids wanted to be cool with all those Fortnite skins, he’s a victim. They are susceptible to addictions can’t you see! The Science let’s me off the hook. It’s never our fault, it’s that rap music and violent video games that makes them do bad. Had nothing to do with me. But let me rush to take all the credit when they get good grades and win competitions, that was all me and my parenting.

Maybe companies should learn to include their games all the fucking content instead of milking it out with bullshit lootboxes.

 

[Xzi]

I don’t see how it’s the companies fault that kids steal their parents credit cards.

It's not. It is their fault for targeting children with gambling mechanics in an attempt to get them hooked young, however.

 

[Localhorst86]

Goddamnit, If EA and Epic were real persons, I'd punch them in the face.
Sorry, I meant "incentivice different behavioural reactions by applying a dexteral force towards their facial features via an ethical surprise mechanic"

 

[jeffyTheHomebrewer]

Aren't kinder eggs illegal in the U.S?

Not anymore, I'm pretty sure. everytime I'm near a walmart checkout there's always at least two.
(Also, iirc last month I saw a TV commercial for the peppa pig ones. Eugh!)

 

[Localhorst86]

Not anymore, I'm pretty sure. everytime I'm near a walmart checkout there's always at least two.
(Also, iirc last month I saw a TV commercial for the peppa pig ones. Eugh!)

Are you sure that's Kinder eggs? AFAIK they are still banned in the US. However, "Kinder Joy" is not. Its also in the shape of an egg, but the egg is split into two plastic shells, one containing a toy, the other containing a chocolate-milk cream that you use a spoon to eat

 

[Veho]

"No your honor, I didn't beat my wife. It was just a string of surprise high fives."

 

[Localhorst86]

"No your honor, I didn't beat my wife. It was just a string of surprise high fives."

"with a chair?"

 

[jeffyTheHomebrewer]

Are you sure that's Kinder eggs? AFAIK they are still banned in the US. However, "Kinder Joy" is not. Its also in the shape of an egg, but the egg is split into two plastic shells, one containing a toy, the other containing a chocolate-milk cream that you use a spoon to eat

Oh, I thought they were the same thing.

 

[DarkCoffe64]

Scraping the bottom of the barrel

 

[MarkDarkness]

Epic and EA can walk hand in hand for their dishonest scummy behavior...

 

[Bimmel]

Also never heard of Kinder eggs.

You what? How can this be?

I remember shaking those eggs in public when I was little. Good times.