The term #lootbox is waaaaaay over used, chests in literary any dungeon are also loot boxes.
The mechanic "box with random objects inside", is the base of diablo.
The problem is the developers playing the time it takes to earn a loot box against the cost in real world money.
Or that you can even pay for them in the first place, which is literally just systemised bribery.
@tastytentacles I’d say “loot box” has become quite a specific term for a way to make more money off players - which is why we still talk about treasure chests and item drops. And the problem is that it’s a manipulative form of online gambling.
@tastytentacles That makes sense. I wasn’t sure which way you were applying the argument.
@tastytentacles @ghost_bird yep, especially when legal considerations are on the table.
@aelius @tastytentacles I can see that. Claim it’s just “paid content” and hope to confuse the lawmakers who want to regulate it as online gambling, kind of thing?
@ghost_bird
I don't necessarily even think it's about confusing law makes, I think the term is badly conceived at its root.
There is definitely a problem but I think the problem is how the mechanics interact with the real world, not the mechanics in a vacuum.
@aelius
@tastytentacles @aelius Hm. Isn’t the problem that it’s not possible to have mechanics that exist “in a vacuum” as long as the player is involved? Or am I misunderstanding?
@ghost_bird
I mean arguably yes, games are an industry so they have to turn some kind of profit. You also necessarily need to interact with them, so they have to be able to effect reality at least on some level.
Maybe an example of loot box esk mechanics "in a vacuum" would be removing the option to buy loot boxes with anything but in game currency. (that you also can't buy)
@aelius
@ghost_bird
When a loot box system is implemented in real money its an attempt by the developers to play social behaviours in humans against real world assets.
It's the same psychology but it's not referring to real world assets. Hence "in a vacuum", mechanics in the game cannot directly effect real space and the players experience is not degraded by having to constantly "think around the game" to avoid the obvious trap.
@ghost_bird
Side note: I want to say it's game theory but I will have to look up the link, they where trying to pitch loot boxes as effectively the same thing as an expansion pack.
@tastytentacles That sounds like an... interesting... take. I’d be interested in the link when/if you find it.
@ghost_bird
@aelius found it for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uha5c7hJdA&t=173s
It's a 2 part thing, that is part 1 and the comparison is in part 2.
@ghost_bird
I think this agrees with the point I am trying to make, loot box is a very specific term and is basically only applicable when money is involved.
I see a lot of people trying to apply the term more broadly as part of this recent moral panic, and it generally pretty unhelpful.