Should the ESRB Protect You from Loot Boxes?

The ESRB is going to note when games have in-game purchases with a special label. Is that going too far? Or is it not doing enough to warn about loot boxes?

[Chaosdreams]

The new label is the most pointless, out of touch example of how irrelevant the ESRB has become. Firstly, the label applies to almost every game that has DLC. Games like the Witcher 3 will be grouped with EA'S Battlefront 2. Thanks ESRB, you really tried your worthless best.

Instead of the ESRB actually showing initiative and stating the obvious - that the loot boxes need to be addressed. Instead of them helping find ways to mitigate the negative consequences loot boxes pose, they instead label them as "fun" and throw a sticker on a box.

When the government steps in (country by country), and they will, the ESRB and its sister organizations will only have themselves to blame. They have one job and apparently doing it is too hard a concept for them to swallow.

[_-EDMIX-_]

That's because when you actually look up loot boxes themselves or Loot crates or whatever you want to call them they are still downloadable content they are still microtransactions which actually means any game that has microtransactions or downloadable content is going to apply to that label I'm sorry but you cannot ask a company like this to start trying to look for games individually based on these deep specifics and ignore other games that are virtually doing similar things.

So if anything I actually think the real conversation needs to be how do we Define what actually is a Loot Crate or loot box? What really is that specifically that is different from any other piece of downloadable content and then we could have the conversation regarding labeling.

[Chaosdreams]

Simple difference would be:

DLC: Paid content that is added into the game. The content purchased is as advertised and permanent. A one time purchase.

MT's/loot boxes: Paid content that gives an idea of what one might receive on a matter of chance. Additionally content that is used and then is gone forever.

It's not complicated. The ESRB simply doesn't care/want to step in. I don't see how they'd have trouble looking into if a game has those aspects? It would fall in line with their current rating system. However since the ESRB doesn't classify it as gambling, their rating system doesn't even apply accurately.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Chaos- "Paid content that gives an idea of what one might receive on a matter of chance."

Ok, you might as well ban pokemon cards if you consider those packs don't tell you 100% of what you are going to get, in BF, those crates can be purchased using in game credit you win from matches. I'm sorry but its just not enough and seems worthless to most users. Put a parental lock on XB or PSN so they can' t purchase and move on.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

The ESRB isn’t meant to protect, rather give awareness of the contents of a game. Adults and older youths don’t needs protection from MTs, as they are (or should be ) more mature, and have an understanding of the significance of Thierry purchases. The ESRB has a content rating system that many parents constantly ignore.

[opinionated]

Nonsense! I demand the esrb ban loot boxes now!

[_-EDMIX-_]

But it also has a rating label that many parents trust and listen to that don't really know much about games so they're able to see the mature rating and understand that it means the content might be too violent for their child.

I just don't really believe people who choose to ignore it should be factored into this because you could say that about anything but I believe ESRB is still doing a good job because their job is simply to inform the uninformed and this rating label over the generations has helped greatly

Especially after Columbine when everyone was trying to go after games.

I mean I ignore the ESRB label myself many times but that's also because I'm an avid gamer myself but it wasn't really made for someone like me it was made for those parents that just don't really get gaming, they're going to easily get a system of a few letters on the corner of a box.

[Fist4achin]

What about the children?!

[opinionated]

Lmao! If you have to ask then probably. What a dumb question.

[TheOttomatic91]

Not enough they need to ban any games with lootboxes or any GaaS related item

[_-EDMIX-_]

I mean that seems very direct, but the ESRB is not going to protect you from loot boxes it's simply going to inform you and you yourself could be protected from loot Boxes by not actually buying them.

If you don't want it ,don't buy it if you don't want your kids playing games with this type of content in it, then you could do the research or check the ESRB label.

I'm not sure how anybody is asking for protection over something that is completely optional.

[Skuletor]

That's the thing, they don't even inform you beyond saying the game has in game purchases, a broad blanket label that could mean it features big expansions like Witcher III's Blood & Wine or loot boxes like Battlefront II.

[_-EDMIX-_]

ok, but that doesn't matter

It has in game purchases. Loot boxes are still in game purchases. So unless we have a strong difference, it doesn't make sense to try to target a game or publisher etc. Someone could argue the same thing about loot boxes with content in Witcher 3 or Dragon Age or any game for that matter. What is happening in "loot boxes" that isn't happening in any other dlc? That is what needs to be focused on. So "features big expansions" can be said about season passes. That "big expansion" is also a in game purchase. If someone can make the difference fit, then it can be labeled, but this is sounding like some simply don't want to have their favorite games fit that label, even though it being "big" is not part of the term even in the slightest. So I'm fine with how they are using the term as that is indeed what a in game purchase is.

[SunnyZ]

You should protect yourself from scam boxes by not purchasing games that contain them.

[Kaii]

What I didn't like about black ops 3 was the Guns/Melee content locked behind lootboxes, I consider things like that content, that they "should" bundle with the games season pass, because people are actually putting down money for content that they've "probably" already developed during the development of the main game.

I never cared about cosmetics being tied to lootboxes, as-long as you don't have this duplicate bullshit, and you know when they say they won't do duplicates, they'll fill the loot-table with tons of random shit.

The new need for speed with the whole upgrading your car with cards, fuck off, abilities unlocked with cards through rng = fuck off

Edit - I'm not compelled to throw money down on loot boxes, but parents should be made aware that children are easily influenced, even if it makes the games rated for adults only.
People get behind government intervention because only they can go toe to toe with this practice, I don't want'em to touch the creative process of videogames, they're a art form.

[bluefox755]

Should be parents that do this. Adults don't need to be protected from themselves, because they're not children.