IMHO Lockboxes are like booster packs in tcg's like MTG. My friends and I used to spend $100 at a time on booster packs and would rush home to open them, very exciting times. The thing is, booster packs in TCG's have been determined to not be gambling by the courts. And yet, simply because Loot Boxes have bells and whistles go off when you open them, suddenly people want to call it gambling. How are lockboxes in Neverwinter any different than booster packs in MTG? You open them for a chance to get an item that may increase the effectiveness of you character, the same way you open booster packs to get cards that may increase the effectiveness of your deck, or simply to own or trade as a valuable commodity the value of which is determined by the players and the market. In both cases you spend real life money, there is chance involved, and an aspect of P2W. Sometimes, you open tons of booster packs and never get the card you want, so you trade for it, or buy it from your local card shop or from an online vendor, just like you would with an item obtained in a lockbox.
It's like people are upset simply because someone took time to figure out how to best market loot boxes, just like companies spend a lot of money on how to create attractive advertisements to sell their products, both are inherently predatory in nature.
I'd also be interested to see some data on where most of the revenue from loot boxes comes from. Is a majority of the income from a few compulsive "whales" with "gambling addictions", or is it from a large number of people who spend a small amount on a few keys or loot boxes? If it comes from a large number of people making smaller purchases, the whole argument that they are designed to exploit a small percentage of people with poor inhibitions is dead in the water.
Kreatyve, I thought you didn't work for Cryptic or PWE. As a forum moderator, how could you validate Xavier's comments? I know you are very protective of Cryptic, which is what a moderator needs to be. But that's quite the blanket statement to say none of what Xavier just posted 4 days ago is relevant to the game today.
If any of what he is saying is true, shouldn't people be made aware of it?
He hasn't worked at Cryptic since Alpha testing. He was an art dev, not a systems design dev. That information is verifiable through his LinkedIn. The game and lockboxes have gone through a great many changes in the 6 years since that guy worked at Cryptic. Therefore, none of what he thinks he knows is relevant today, as it's all changed.
Claiming that none of it is relevant is a little strange though. Did you read through the entire OP?
Pay-to-play: Doesn't apply, since NW is not pay-to-play. (0 for 1)
Sounds and visuals designed to heighten excitement and anticipation: Applies, they even redesigned it recently to be more exciting. (1 for 2)
Low initial investment: Potentially applies, since NW is ostensibly free-to-play and getting enough zen for a key during a sale is reasonable. (1.5 for 3)
High accessibility: Applies, NW literally puts the lockboxes into your inventory and makes them deliciously purple. (2.5 for 4)
Intentionally stingy rewards: Applies. Like famously. (3.5 / 5)
Highly broadcast high-end rewards: Applies. Also famously (4.5 / 6)
So a reasonable reading of the critique suggests that 75% of points might be relevant. Especially since these features are not present in all games.
It's fine to disagree, but being hyperpartisan and dismissive in defense of lockboxes is kind of out of touch with the times. And it's not a good look for the "moderation" team.
Going to need to make that 100%. You misunderstood what he meant by "pay to play". He was not referring to the game as pay to play, but the functionality of the lock boxes. You do indeed need to "pay" to "play" the box. It's a slot machine and you need the key, (handle) to pull, to make it function. They don't give keys out for free, you got to spend money to buy them or get a "free teaser key" 1 per day from VIP (of which you pay for as well).
Having been raised around Vegas and working in the casinos there for years, I can tell you, everything, literally EVERYTHING in there is designed to separate you from your money. From the "free" drinks/food (of which you get served at the gaming table as you bet, the booze makes you bet even more unwisely widening the houses advantage.) To the carpet nauseous decor and lack of clocks and windows. The placement of dining outlets are always well past the gaming floor. The lights/bells/whistles/clanging, the smells even (they pump in more oxygenated air at key times to "perk up" tournament players that are flagging in their endurance.) The restrooms are placed so you have to pass banks of machines to leave, hoping for a last shot at any money you still have. This, and more is tailored to get at your bank roll, but it isn't personally tailored to you, that's the rewards cards function with points earned and spent and tiers of earned rewards.
All of that is slightly insidious, yes. And that is why the gambling age is 21+. it is hoped that you are engaging in informed consent behavior, but even then, they recognize that there are those that have addictive personalities and governmental entities have required casinos to fund and advertise at least to a minimal extent, outreach programs to help these people.
Where is this for the MMO gambling addict? There aren't any. Were is the regulations and oversight to insure that under 21 minors aren't developing gambling habits as their brains and personalities are still forming? There aren't any. In fact they are doubling down. They make you sign "I agree" to not sue you buttons, to try and indemnify themselves. They study specific single whale player's and the trends of others mass player bases, to tailor the experience even beyond what casinos do to get at their money, they prey well beyond what state sanctioned gaming does on people, then refuse to help these victims of addiction and even seek to insulate themselves from legal consequences....ever notice video game companies all end in LLC? L.imited L.iability C.orporation. What does that mean? It's a legal structure enacted to limit the legal exposure of the companies officers. They know very well that some function of the company they run, is "grey" area and has a potential of being sued into the ground. By enacting LLC, they insulate themselves from complainants going after their personal wealth.
Bernie Maydoff bilked people out of 100s of millions of dollars. His company was a LLC. When he finally got caught and the government tried and put him in jail, they attempted to find assets to liquidated for $ to help with his victims and help them to at least partially recover. Shouldn't all his assets be subject to seizure to satisfy his compensation debts? He made a living from ill gotten gains, his children and wife lived a life of privilege from all that stolen money. But his assets were protected by the LLC, his company was dismantled and sold off, any company bank accounts seized. But when they tried to go after his personal cash the lawyers argued that it was unfair to toss his wife and sons out in the cold and take that money, that her not being proven to be part of his conspiracy she should get to keep it, she got to keep it. Thanks LLC.
All of that is slightly insidious, yes. And that is why the gambling age is 21+. it is hoped that you are engaging in informed consent behavior, but even then, they recognize that there are those that have addictive personalities and governmental entities have required casinos to fund and advertise at least to a minimal extent, outreach programs to help these people.
Where is this for the MMO gambling addict? There aren't any. Were is the regulations and oversight to insure that under 21 minors aren't developing gambling habits as their brains and personalities are still forming? There aren't any. In fact they are doubling down. They make you sign "I agree" to not sue you buttons, to try and indemnify themselves. They study specific single whale player's and the trends of others mass player bases, to tailor the experience even beyond what casinos do to get at their money, they prey well beyond what state sanctioned gaming does on people, then refuse to help these victims of addiction and even seek to insulate themselves from legal consequences....ever notice video game companies all end in LLC? L.imited L.iability C.orporation. What does that mean? It's a legal structure enacted to limit the legal exposure of the companies officers. They know very well that some function of the company they run, is "grey" area and has a potential of being sued into the ground. By enacting LLC, they insulate themselves from complainants going after their personal wealth.
Bernie Maydoff bilked people out of 100s of millions of dollars. [...snip...]
Yeah, sorry, but some people are simply way, waaaay out of touch with reality here. There is a thing we use in real discussions about real topics. We call them 'facts'. Facts are about real things.
Non-facts? Fake facts? Made-up BS to support your need to feel like an SJW on a white horse?
They're things like "a legendary mount is a necessity of life", or pointing out that the sort of "I accept these terms" buttons that virtually every web business uses are some sort of conspiracy, or that gaming companies are "studying specific single whales" (hearsay from a biased individual isn't 'facts'), or that a global corporate standard operating practice (forming an LLC) represents a sneak dodge, or that selling game currency to individuals who actively sought out the game, downloaded it, played it, and chose to pay for it, is equivalent to running an illegal scam that ruined peoples' lives and savings, or that selling a legal product for a reasonable price online is comparable to being a crack cocaine dealer.
All those things are distortions, exaggerations, made-up BS, emotional fear-mongering, drum-beating and delusions.
When you use them, you are holding up a giant sign that says "I have no actual valid points here, so I have to resort to arm-waving and screaming in order to convince you I'm right."
Thanks for shooting yourself down, guys, saves me a lot of trouble.
They study specific single whale player's and the trends of others mass player bases, to tailor the experience even beyond what casinos do to get at their money, they prey well beyond what state sanctioned gaming does on people, then refuse to help these victims of addiction and even seek to insulate themselves from legal consequences....ever notice video game companies all end in LLC?
MMOs need to return to the subscription-based model and abandon microtransactions as a primary means of monetization.
City of Heroes appeared to have implemented a viable non-exploitave F2P model but since the game was shut down about a year later that would seem not to be the case. This "experiment" needs to end, through federal legislation if necessary.
Seriously? Do you guys even think at all before you go full SJW? First of all, Neverwinter is subscription based, and microtransaction, and is still not overly profitable.
Second of all, if subscription-based was generally viable, MMOs would not have left that model in the first place.
Thirdly, because a small percentage of players have trouble managing their own behaviour, and spend perhaps more than they should on a game, for various reasons (not all of them exploitation by risk-taking/payoff seeking behaviour) is absolutely no reason whatsoever to remove the option from the majority of players who are capable of managing their own behaviour responsibly. If you need to target someone, target the people who can't control themselves.
You don't like the system buddy? Then vote with your feet, not mine.
Not all games have removed the subscription model from their design. DCUO, ESO, WoW, and FF all have subscription models in play.
The subscription models still works and have a place in games. The thing is though micro transaction is where most companies, even those with subscription models tend to generate revenue. I know for ESO many players simply buy the sub as it nets them 200 more market place currency each month than if they bought the currency out right for the same price. Micro transactions for many companies now include a Lockbox type award; however some of the Lockbox items are only styles and have no or very small impact to game play. This is where NWO fails; they place some nice items in the LB. Twisted weapons once were in the LB when those were still BiS for players; Legendary mounts, legendary tools, etc... all of these items can impact the game play for players vs. ESO where most of the items from the Lockbox/crates are style based and those that are not styles have only a small impact to the actual game when played.
I am fine with micro transaction being in games. I am fine with Lockbox items being in game but the items in the Lockbox should be styles only and not impact game play such as character builds, which is a big issue for NWO and many other F2P games.
MMOs need to return to the subscription-based model and abandon microtransactions as a primary means of monetization.
City of Heroes appeared to have implemented a viable non-exploitave F2P model but since the game was shut down about a year later that would seem not to be the case. This "experiment" needs to end, through federal legislation if necessary.
Seriously? Do you guys even think at all before you go full SJW? First of all, Neverwinter is subscription based, and microtransaction, and is still not overly profitable.
Second of all, if subscription-based was generally viable, MMOs would not have left that model in the first place.
Thirdly, because a small percentage of players have trouble managing their own behaviour, and spend perhaps more than they should on a game, for various reasons (not all of them exploitation by risk-taking/payoff seeking behaviour) is absolutely no reason whatsoever to remove the option from the majority of players who are capable of managing their own behaviour responsibly. If you need to target someone, target the people who can't control themselves.
You don't like the system buddy? Then vote with your feet, not mine.
Not all games have removed the subscription model from their design. DCUO, ESO, WoW, and FF all have subscription models in play.
The subscription models still works and have a place in games. The thing is though micro transaction is where most companies, even those with subscription models tend to generate revenue. I know for ESO many players simply buy the sub as it nets them 200 more market place currency each month than if they bought the currency out right for the same price. Micro transactions for many companies now include a Lockbox type award; however some of the Lockbox items are only styles and have no or very small impact to game play. This is where NWO fails; they place some nice items in the LB. Twisted weapons once were in the LB when those were still BiS for players; Legendary mounts, legendary tools, etc... all of these items can impact the game play for players vs. ESO where most of the items from the Lockbox/crates are style based and those that are not styles have only a small impact to the actual game when played.
I am fine with micro transaction being in games. I am fine with Lockbox items being in game but the items in the Lockbox should be styles only and not impact game play such as character builds, which is a big issue for NWO and many other F2P games.
Keep in mind a couple things here: Legendary items are not 'locked' behind lockbox paywalls. You can buy them on the AH. You can farm them in events and dungeons. You can upgrade your companions to Legendary. You can buy keys using in-game currency without spending a dime! You can buy VIP subscription with in-game currency and get free keys!
Seriously, you guys keep trying to turn "ZOMG! There are things you can pay money for that give you nice things!" into some sort of brain-washing, life-destroying conspiracy.
News flash: Monster loot drops are RNG-based, and they are accompanied with flashy graphics and dramatic noises! Are they now 'gambling'?
Dungeon chest drops are RNG-based, and give cool rewards you really want! Are they also now 'gambling'?
Opening a pack of bubble gum and hoping you get your favorite players baseball card is RNG based! AND INCLUDES GUM! Is that 'gambling'?
Seriously guys... gambling is spending money on games of chance in order to win money. Playing a game that has an RNG factor is not gambling, even if they draw a picture of a slot maching right on the bloomin' box.
There are people as deluded as Randy "we dont have microtransactions, but we sell cosmetics" Pitchford in here.
If you pay real money for the chance at a prize, its gambling, end of story.
Can someone buy a legendary mount? Sure for 25 million AD. Can someone earn a million dollars sure probably just over their entire lifetime. If you dangle the chance at earning that expensive prize for the low low cost of keys (lottery tickets) you encourage gambling. Loot boxes days are numbered and companies are fighting tooth and nail for them because they are much more lucrative than selling items directly.
There are people as deluded as Randy "we dont have microtransactions, but we sell cosmetics" Pitchford in here.
If you pay real money for the chance at a prize, its gambling, end of story.
Can someone buy a legendary mount? Sure for 25 million AD. Can someone earn a million dollars sure probably just over their entire lifetime. If you dangle the chance at earning that expensive prize for the low low cost of keys (lottery tickets) you encourage gambling. Loot boxes days are numbered and companies are fighting tooth and nail for them because they are much more lucrative than selling items directly.
That's your opinion, but the courts have determined that booster packs for trading card games and packs of baseball cards are not gambling. You pay real money for a chance at certain cards, and yet, not considered gambling by law. There are "casinos" in my area that operate legally because, even though they slot machines, and card games, they are not considered gambling. What they do is, you walk in, buy tokens with real money, and then use the tokens to play games, win or lose more tokens, and you can use the tokens to buy snacks and drinks, _but_ you cannot exchange your tokens for real life money, again, legally, not considered gambling.
MMOs need to return to the subscription-based model and abandon microtransactions as a primary means of monetization.
City of Heroes appeared to have implemented a viable non-exploitave F2P model but since the game was shut down about a year later that would seem not to be the case. This "experiment" needs to end, through federal legislation if necessary.
Seriously? Do you guys even think at all before you go full SJW? First of all, Neverwinter is subscription based, and microtransaction, and is still not overly profitable.
Second of all, if subscription-based was generally viable, MMOs would not have left that model in the first place.
Thirdly, because a small percentage of players have trouble managing their own behaviour, and spend perhaps more than they should on a game, for various reasons (not all of them exploitation by risk-taking/payoff seeking behaviour) is absolutely no reason whatsoever to remove the option from the majority of players who are capable of managing their own behaviour responsibly. If you need to target someone, target the people who can't control themselves.
You don't like the system buddy? Then vote with your feet, not mine.
Not all games have removed the subscription model from their design. DCUO, ESO, WoW, and FF all have subscription models in play.
The subscription models still works and have a place in games. The thing is though micro transaction is where most companies, even those with subscription models tend to generate revenue. I know for ESO many players simply buy the sub as it nets them 200 more market place currency each month than if they bought the currency out right for the same price. Micro transactions for many companies now include a Lockbox type award; however some of the Lockbox items are only styles and have no or very small impact to game play. This is where NWO fails; they place some nice items in the LB. Twisted weapons once were in the LB when those were still BiS for players; Legendary mounts, legendary tools, etc... all of these items can impact the game play for players vs. ESO where most of the items from the Lockbox/crates are style based and those that are not styles have only a small impact to the actual game when played.
I am fine with micro transaction being in games. I am fine with Lockbox items being in game but the items in the Lockbox should be styles only and not impact game play such as character builds, which is a big issue for NWO and many other F2P games.
Personally, I don't have a problem with F2P games putting game play changing items in lockboxes, it's no different than a trading card game. If you pay a monthly sub or upfront, or a combo of both, adding items to lockboxes that are game changing is just being greedy. And in NW, legendary mounts are game play changing, but they are in no way a necessity to win. They give 5k more stats than epic mounts, allow you to move faster while mounted, and have a combat power that you can only activate once per minute and usually isn't very powerful. In Neverwinter, legendary mounts are a commodity, a luxury, they are in no way needed to complete content or even to compete in PVP. At the end of the day, legendary mounts are little more than fancy skins and status symbols, they really don't impact your performance more than a few %.
Elderscrolls team are smart to use lockbox (crates) are only for fluffs and cosmetic, and you pay for it, and open and dont like it, and you can trade in for shards and get what you want later. those are very minor gambling, those items in crates are very useful, there is nothing "powerful" in any crates.
so, NWO use top prizes to draw as a bait, and the odd of getting it is extremely low and always get the junks.
STO is harder to get those "elite" ship players want, i won a few ships but not what i wanted. i dont get those that many since it only stack up to 20 items, inventory managements are still hassle and timesink to clean up what is outdated. NWO allow any lockbox up to 999 a stack.
folks that spending alot, they want to be "Gucci Crowd" and flaunting and said "We are the elite and you are nothing!" so, it mean some game are becoming toxic with the gap get wider for the "Haves and Havenots", i see reason why ESO is avoiding "elitism' in crate boxes. and all players can get any elite items thru by craftings or grinding for rarest drops. in here with cryptic, they used carrot bait, and then switch by nerf later in months, players are not happy with cryptic's tactic. it will be the downfall due to greed.
Tbh, my biggest problem with NW isn't lockboxes, it's wards. I know you can buy wards on the AH, but at the end of the day someone had to buy them from the Zen store. The reason why I think wards are more of a concern is because items that drop in lockboxes, while nice, are not going to make or break your gameplay. Wards on the other hand, are absolutely needed to rank up enchantments and gear which are needed to successfully complete content.
As was stated in the youtube video, a single law can't possibly cover every game, every game is different with regards to lockboxes. Where do you draw the line on "needed to complete content"? If you're honest with yourself, you could go on playing NWO with never ever opening a lockbox, or ever getting VIP, and still do really well in the game. NWO is so far away from putting items in loot boxes that are required for players to win, that complaining about it makes you look like a pansy, plain and simple.
you can't save people from themselves. if they need professional help their friends and family will have to be the ones to drive that. complusive spending is going to happen one way or another if someone is prone to it. imo it's not a lot different than someone spending 1000 a month on shoes or clothes. it's all equally valueless. you can't tell people how to spend their money. the lockbox system is doable for getting out addictive or alternatively ocd behavior without spending a dime. it's great for me. I love the lockbox system and I've never spend a dime of real money for one.
Here is the problem, it doesn't matter if anyone agrees or disagrees with a law. Most states in the US passed a seatbelt law. This law was put through without a vote. How can you not get a vote on a law? It is pushed through under common good of the people or "General Welfare". Which states; The concern of the government for the health, peace, morality, and safety of its citizens. Notice I bold the key word here?
The first clause of Article I, Section 8, reads, "The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States." This clause, called the General Welfare Clause or the Spending Power Clause, that is a power reserved to the states through the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution.
So you don't even get to vote on a morality law. Isn't it clever how they sneak that stuff in there? So I am in agreement, we don't need to be regulated by the government to this degree, but there it is in the laws. Personally I could care less of who wears a seatbelt or who gambles, but this is just the facts as I present them to you. I wouldn't mind them pulling out the loot boxes, but it worries me more about what they would replace there to monetize the games. Maybe they would revert to adware and data mining, something that both YouTube and Facebook are very fond of using.
Comments
It's like people are upset simply because someone took time to figure out how to best market loot boxes, just like companies spend a lot of money on how to create attractive advertisements to sell their products, both are inherently predatory in nature.
I'd also be interested to see some data on where most of the revenue from loot boxes comes from. Is a majority of the income from a few compulsive "whales" with "gambling addictions", or is it from a large number of people who spend a small amount on a few keys or loot boxes? If it comes from a large number of people making smaller purchases, the whole argument that they are designed to exploit a small percentage of people with poor inhibitions is dead in the water.
All of that is slightly insidious, yes. And that is why the gambling age is 21+. it is hoped that you are engaging in informed consent behavior, but even then, they recognize that there are those that have addictive personalities and governmental entities have required casinos to fund and advertise at least to a minimal extent, outreach programs to help these people.
Where is this for the MMO gambling addict? There aren't any. Were is the regulations and oversight to insure that under 21 minors aren't developing gambling habits as their brains and personalities are still forming? There aren't any. In fact they are doubling down. They make you sign "I agree" to not sue you buttons, to try and indemnify themselves. They study specific single whale player's and the trends of others mass player bases, to tailor the experience even beyond what casinos do to get at their money, they prey well beyond what state sanctioned gaming does on people, then refuse to help these victims of addiction and even seek to insulate themselves from legal consequences....ever notice video game companies all end in LLC? L.imited L.iability C.orporation. What does that mean? It's a legal structure enacted to limit the legal exposure of the companies officers. They know very well that some function of the company they run, is "grey" area and has a potential of being sued into the ground. By enacting LLC, they insulate themselves from complainants going after their personal wealth.
Bernie Maydoff bilked people out of 100s of millions of dollars. His company was a LLC. When he finally got caught and the government tried and put him in jail, they attempted to find assets to liquidated for $ to help with his victims and help them to at least partially recover. Shouldn't all his assets be subject to seizure to satisfy his compensation debts? He made a living from ill gotten gains, his children and wife lived a life of privilege from all that stolen money. But his assets were protected by the LLC, his company was dismantled and sold off, any company bank accounts seized. But when they tried to go after his personal cash the lawyers argued that it was unfair to toss his wife and sons out in the cold and take that money, that her not being proven to be part of his conspiracy she should get to keep it, she got to keep it. Thanks LLC.
Non-facts? Fake facts? Made-up BS to support your need to feel like an SJW on a white horse?
They're things like "a legendary mount is a necessity of life", or pointing out that the sort of "I accept these terms" buttons that virtually every web business uses are some sort of conspiracy, or that gaming companies are "studying specific single whales" (hearsay from a biased individual isn't 'facts'), or that a global corporate standard operating practice (forming an LLC) represents a sneak dodge, or that selling game currency to individuals who actively sought out the game, downloaded it, played it, and chose to pay for it, is equivalent to running an illegal scam that ruined peoples' lives and savings, or that selling a legal product for a reasonable price online is comparable to being a crack cocaine dealer.
All those things are distortions, exaggerations, made-up BS, emotional fear-mongering, drum-beating and delusions.
When you use them, you are holding up a giant sign that says "I have no actual valid points here, so I have to resort to arm-waving and screaming in order to convince you I'm right."
Thanks for shooting yourself down, guys, saves me a lot of trouble.
QQ, *sniffles*
What @tribbulater said.
The subscription models still works and have a place in games. The thing is though micro transaction is where most companies, even those with subscription models tend to generate revenue. I know for ESO many players simply buy the sub as it nets them 200 more market place currency each month than if they bought the currency out right for the same price. Micro transactions for many companies now include a Lockbox type award; however some of the Lockbox items are only styles and have no or very small impact to game play. This is where NWO fails; they place some nice items in the LB. Twisted weapons once were in the LB when those were still BiS for players; Legendary mounts, legendary tools, etc... all of these items can impact the game play for players vs. ESO where most of the items from the Lockbox/crates are style based and those that are not styles have only a small impact to the actual game when played.
I am fine with micro transaction being in games. I am fine with Lockbox items being in game but the items in the Lockbox should be styles only and not impact game play such as character builds, which is a big issue for NWO and many other F2P games.
Seriously, you guys keep trying to turn "ZOMG! There are things you can pay money for that give you nice things!" into some sort of brain-washing, life-destroying conspiracy.
News flash: Monster loot drops are RNG-based, and they are accompanied with flashy graphics and dramatic noises! Are they now 'gambling'?
Dungeon chest drops are RNG-based, and give cool rewards you really want! Are they also now 'gambling'?
Opening a pack of bubble gum and hoping you get your favorite players baseball card is RNG based! AND INCLUDES GUM! Is that 'gambling'?
Seriously guys... gambling is spending money on games of chance in order to win money. Playing a game that has an RNG factor is not gambling, even if they draw a picture of a slot maching right on the bloomin' box.
If you pay real money for the chance at a prize, its gambling, end of story.
Can someone buy a legendary mount? Sure for 25 million AD. Can someone earn a million dollars sure probably just over their entire lifetime. If you dangle the chance at earning that expensive prize for the low low cost of keys (lottery tickets) you encourage gambling. Loot boxes days are numbered and companies are fighting tooth and nail for them because they are much more lucrative than selling items directly.
so, NWO use top prizes to draw as a bait, and the odd of getting it is extremely low and always get the junks.
STO is harder to get those "elite" ship players want, i won a few ships but not what i wanted. i dont get those that many since it only stack up to 20 items, inventory managements are still hassle and timesink to clean up what is outdated. NWO allow any lockbox up to 999 a stack.
folks that spending alot, they want to be "Gucci Crowd" and flaunting and said "We are the elite and you are nothing!"
so, it mean some game are becoming toxic with the gap get wider for the "Haves and Havenots", i see reason why ESO is avoiding "elitism' in crate boxes. and all players can get any elite items thru by craftings or grinding for rarest drops.
in here with cryptic, they used carrot bait, and then switch by nerf later in months, players are not happy with cryptic's tactic. it will be the downfall due to greed.
remember, all those things are only pixels.
As was stated in the youtube video, a single law can't possibly cover every game, every game is different with regards to lockboxes. Where do you draw the line on "needed to complete content"? If you're honest with yourself, you could go on playing NWO with never ever opening a lockbox, or ever getting VIP, and still do really well in the game. NWO is so far away from putting items in loot boxes that are required for players to win, that complaining about it makes you look like a pansy, plain and simple.
The first clause of Article I, Section 8, reads, "The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States." This clause, called the General Welfare Clause or the Spending Power Clause, that is a power reserved to the states through the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution.
So you don't even get to vote on a morality law. Isn't it clever how they sneak that stuff in there? So I am in agreement, we don't need to be regulated by the government to this degree, but there it is in the laws. Personally I could care less of who wears a seatbelt or who gambles, but this is just the facts as I present them to you. I wouldn't mind them pulling out the loot boxes, but it worries me more about what they would replace there to monetize the games. Maybe they would revert to adware and data mining, something that both YouTube and Facebook are very fond of using.