I spent $90 in Battlefront 2, and I still don’t have any control over my characters

Polygon: Why the loot crate system is so antagonizing to Star Wars Battlefront players.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Oh hell naw confirmed gambling for winning

[Jinger]

Loot boxes aren't gambling though

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Yeah they're mate

[Amyellevivv]

It is , no matter in what form.

[Jinger]

@Xi

But it isn't. If that's the case Pokemon card packs are gambling.

ESRB doesn't view them as gambling either.

[Goldenhawk521]

Well then Pokemon cards is gambling. There is absolutely no difference because you pay money and just get a chance at getting something you desire. When you get a lootbox, you have no idea what is in it, even after spending points to get it, until you open the crate. Unfortunately, that is what is happening. If you want a specific gun upgrade or a power up, you should be able to get it directly, not gamble and hope that you get it. That is what EA is doing. It is the definition of gambling. However, whether this falls under something that is bad or should be regulated is up for debate.

[JackBNimble]

I don't believe it's gambling either, you're paying for a box which has content inside.
Just because you don't know what is inside the box you purchase doesn't make it gambling, it makes you stupid for paying for something that you don't what you're getting.

No, it's not gambling, it would be gambling if there was a chance that the box could be empty. You guys ever buy surprise bags at the candy store? Well that's what a loot box is. It doesn't make it right and I too disagree with them being in paid games, but it doesn't make it gambling either.

If you understand what gambling is, then you should understand that chances are you will walk away with nothing not with something that you just didn't want.

[RommyReigns]

Wake up. Lootboxes are definitely a form of gambling because you pay a fee for the CHANCE of winning something. They are unfortunately a form of legalised gambling able to be used by kids these days with access to mommy or daddy's credit/debit card, and should be at least regulated by gambling commissions in countries (a higher authority than the obviously incompetent and corrupt ESRB and PEGI).

[aaronaton]

UK gambling comission issued a statement recently on lootboxes, saying that because the items have no monetry worth and cannot be re-sold, they don't class it as gambling. Shame really as i want them banned. Fifa is the Godfather of raping parents wallets.

[Jinger]

@Rommy

YOU wake up. They aren't gambling.

You're paying for goods, just as you pay for anything else. Just because there is a chance of the reward you get doesn't make it gambling.

You either get an assualt star card or an officer star card, regardless you're getting a star card and the selling party has deemed that card is worth your $4.99. There is no gambling because you're always getting something. Chance does not equal gambling.

[JackBNimble]

It absolutely is not gambling, you are buying a box with content inside, whether you know what's inside or not is irrelevant.
Is buying baseball cards gambling? All you know when you buy any trading cards is there is a chance to get a good one or not.
The only gambling you are doing is figuratively, there is no literal sense of gambling and I doubt any games commissioner would see it that way.

[Amyellevivv]

Its no gambling if you KNOW what you buy , if u could spend 20 dollar at a shop to get a random shirt and there is a spinner that decide which one u get it is gambling. Stop defending what already is a fact.

[UCForce]

This is definitely pay to win. This is disgusting from EA.

[princejb134]

people still buy it no matter how much they complain. As long as EA gets over 1 mill+ in sales they will continue cheating their customers

[UCForce]

If they keep doing that, they will suffer consequences long enough.

[BlackDoomAx]

haha, sucker

[CptDville]

Shame *ring* Shame *ring* Shame *ring*.

Cant believe someone would actually buy and spend more money on top of this.

[ninsigma]

Tbh I think it's a good thing that reviewers do actually try it out and give their findings to everyone. It's more info for us in the end and unfortunately this stuff is part of the game so imo it's the job of reviewers to review that section of the game too.

[Cmv38]

I agree. They sacrifice to prove our point against mt.

[RommyReigns]

https://tenor.com/view/game...

[Wrex369]

60 dollar games should not have this kind of system. What is the alternative? Base price increase? Guranteed expansions to core game? Obviously companies like ea, 2k, Activision/Blizzard, really don't feel they make enough money to justify funding the games. And I don't think we can brush it off with the "oh bizznes needs to stop being so greedy" thing because that just doesn't seem logical. I just want there to be a middle ground where they can stop sacrificing their artistry, get paid more for it because it's important they do for our hobby to continue, and actually have reviewers give us true representations of the products.

[UCForce]

60$ game and 20$ game expansion pack. But they need to start a small game project that could easily earn enough profit. Microtransaction should have stay with Free To Play Model.

[andydalum]

They don't have to stay free to play they just have to be done correctly.

- Cosmetic Only
- Sandbox games like GTA are fine since they entire point of the game isn't to kill people
- Madden and FIFA an optional game mode also Halo 5 it's an option but not the only option.
Micro-translations help a dev support a game past a it's release and that's a good thing i just feel like it's ruining a portion of the gaming industry because now these smaller studios and independent studios that need funding for their games are being forced into adapting to you have to have more revenue coming in besides the core game.

[UCForce]

@andydalum I'm still not agree with it. https://youtu.be/TnEArH_UA3... Cosmetic is still matter to me.

[toddybad]

Get rid of the loot boxes and money grabber mechanics, make the game £10, and charge a monthly subscription of around £3.99 to cover server costs.

[kneon]

That won't work for most games as most players will move on to another game before the developers can earn enough to make a profit.

[lellkay]

Model 1)
The game is free. Small bite sized affordable Microtransactions allow you buy cosmetics or upgrades. These can be unlocked in game.
Good Example: Warframe

Model 2)
Full priced title (There can be "Collectors Editions" featuring Statues, Maps, Soundtracks etc to make more money from the base game, but don't lock game content in these versions) No MT's. No Loot Boxes. Developer creates worthwhile premium content and players will buy that content. If the game and content is good enough, the developers will be able to make good sales on multiple premium DLCs.
Good Example: The Witcher, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Skyrim.

Loot boxes, glorified gambing, RNG, all these ways to squeeze out money and keep you paying etc is garbage practice that we shouldn't be supporting.

[fenome]

What I don't understand is how single player games that don't include any of this stuff and only sell 1/16 the number of these games can be profitable and be considered highly successful. Either EA sucks at managing money (highly doubtful) or they're just blowing smoke up your ass and there is no such thing as "profitable enough" (highly probable).

Video games are the most profitable medium in the entertainment industry right now, don't let them fool you.

[Many-hat5]

Thanks, ULTRANOVA. I found that useful and informative. Clearly, EA, has taken the time to camouflage it's exact tactics. Reminds me of phone tariffs. Bamboozle the customer with too many options.

[BlaqMagiq1]

You spent $90 on this trash so you deserve this.

[Cmv38]

He deserves this because he sacrificed his money to give us a better understanding of the MT system that's in place. Such a pathetic point of view.

[rainslacker]

While I don't normally promote anyone giving Polygon any attention, this is a good review of what there was to look forward to with the MT system.

The money wasn't spent in an effort to have a better experience, rather to give better perspective about what to expect if one were to spend their money.

[Many-hat5]

Guys. Please,READ the article before you comment.

[TheEnigma313]

Shouldn’t have a click bait title.

[corroios]

We did you even try????

[TheEnigma313]

Dumb ass is letting EA pimp him smh.

[Knushwood Butt]

You spent $90 of someone else's money to write a clickbait article.

[bamillington]

more fool you for spending so much

[Imalwaysright]

Well if you were stupid enough to buy it then you deserve it.

[Prince_TFK]

Thanks you for your experiment. Now we have even better ideas as to what this game is, a free to play game disguised as a $60 premium game.

[DillyDilly]

You are part of the problem go away

[drunkenspy007]

Honestly though, if you pay microtransactions to EA, you're the idiot.

[Jinger]

Well they took them out now, but this says it all right here

"The point of this is there is no straight line for either path: paying to win, or playing to advance. A big spender is still going to hit a dead end against the multiple gameplay requirements to get at the better stuff (higher ranks of the Star Cards, and especially the weapons arsenal, all of which is gated by an in-game milestone)."

Looks like the p2w is almost pointless

[FernDiggidy]

SMFH.

[C-H-E-F]

big dummy LMAO

[lio_convoy]

Lol what a maroon!

[clouds5]

Just don't buy that shit. Every single person who spends money on that micro transactions/lootcrate/ftp crap is responsible for what's happening right now.
If you wanna charge 100$ for a game, go ahead do it. But be upfront about it and dont confuse me with these complicated luck based money grab systems.
Those corporate money people are destroying the art form that is video games. Don't let them do it to us!