Re: FREE GAME: Black Desert

On Wed, 9 Jul 2025 09:04:36 +0100, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB
wrote:

On 07/07/2025 14:39, Mike S. wrote:

On Mon, 7 Jul 2025 08:08:09 +0100, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:
 

I can't comment on LOTRO but my problems in general with MTX in games is
that it has been shown that for a certain section of gamers there is a
correlation, not causation, between problem gamblers and the likes of
lootboxes but companies still sell them anyway. Next-up is that the game
becomes focused not on what's good for the game experience but instead
how do we get people to open their wallets yet again with the
'psychological warfare' that entails.

 
Gamers chose this. When Turbine changed LOTRO's monetization to free
to play, their profits tripled within six months. Smaller MMOs (like
LOTRO) will not survive on a $15 a month model anymore.

>
The problem is there are a section of gamers who don't 'choose' to spend
the amount of money they do in a real sense but instead are susceptible
to being manipulated and companies are more than happy to oblige them.
>
So take paid lootboxes, personally I don't like them in games at all but
if we must have them is it really that much to ask for users to be able
to set limits on their ability to buy them if they think they need it.
So think there's default limits and if you want to change them down it's
done straight away but if you want to put them up then you have to wait
a day or two before that change is made. Admittedly companies would have
to be forced to do this as we all know that people just love surprise
mechanics.

This would definitely be a sensible thing to do for public health
interests.

Shame it goes against the rules of exploitative capitalism. It would
require a lot of effort to get it passed in the US. Maybe not in the EU
though.

I had not even considered that idea.

--
Zag

What's the point of growing up
if you can't be childish sometimes? ...Terrance Dicks, BBC