Does this game come with a warning?
Given that EA envisage thousands of pounds being spent on what I can only call "Loot boxes" to get new items is there warning given on installing it that you may overspend. Parents of underage childr...
Forum Discussion
"Simburian;c-16446076" wrote:
I read that ......"Meanwhile the ESRB has maintained that loot boxes are not gambling, but have altered rating labels to include "In-game purchases" to games with loot boxes after a letter from US Senator Maggie Hassan called on the ESRB to act."
https://www.usgamer.net/articles/netherlands-find-four-games-in-violation-of-countrys-gambling-laws
Look I don't want to derail this further then it should.
There was a time when games required skill or thorough planning and were full products. Then expansions appeared which were almost a game sequel but were cheaper to produce because of reusing plenty of existing resources. Then paid cosmetics appeared, no I don't mean Sims stuffpacks only, remember Bethesda's horse armor?
And it was all good till touchscreen based phonegames spread. At first it seemed phones are strong enough to give people what old handhelds were used for. But no. For whatever reason, 99% of phonegames are not what we called videogames at all. No skill and no planning is required, it's all slot machines. Or pachinko.
While Netherlands was the first country to find the practice illegal, it issued only warnings (currently). Belgium went one step further today:
https://wccftech.com/belgian-gaming-commission-lootboxes-gambling/
Belgian Gaming Commission Rules that Overwatch, FIFA 18 & CS: GO Are in Violation; Threatens with Huge Fines and Imprisonment
As I said above. I expect all countries, slowly of course, will do something to protect their citizens one way or another. Or, to still remain on topic which is Sims Mobile, Izzy will have to be reworked/removed or Sims Mobile won't be possible to play in certain areas.
Further reading is for those who think EA is not aware of current trends where slotmachine designs are being put to the pillory, they are or at least EA's chief design officer Patrick Söderlund is aware and promises different approach in the future:
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-04-16-ea-admits-it-got-it-wrong-over-star-wars-battlefront-2-loot-boxes
