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[zenspider]

It's a way for developers and publishers to make money without raising the price of games overall. I'd MUCH rather have that sort of system. How hard is it to simply say 'no'? Are you that impulsive and compulsive that you cannot refrain from purchasing in-game content? And how many people are affected by this? Give me some meaningful statistics that show this is an epidemic.

It's more complicated than that. It's not just impulse control - sunk cost fallacy applies here as well. That's ingrained human (and animal) behavior. There are manipulative neural hooks that tech is turned onto, and you're "common sense" and "will power" are just the false senses of security that are going to fail here.

This clip of Tristan Harris sheds some light on the level tech is operation on:


There is the intent here do defeat common sense and intuitions. I'm not saying government intervention is the ideal or even desirable solution here, but a laisse-faire (and pretty antagonist) approach is, well, it's doing nothing.

 

[ConnorDuffy1977]

There is the intent here do defeat common sense and intuitions

We called that marketing and advertising in college. Seriously. All the successful campaigns implored that sort of reaction to a new product. That's life.

 

[Petrae]

I'm old enough to remember when we didn't want the government regulating our video games.

I’m old enough to remember bonus levels, extra costumes, and other unlockables being free instead of publishers charging for them.

I’m also old enough to remember when games didn’t need charts or spreadsheets to show consumers all the shit they won’t be getting for their money.

Those were some crazy days, I’ll tell you what.

Point being that times change, and if the industry refuses to police itself or pull its foot off of the greed accelerator, then someone else will step in and do it... while taking a bit of extra money on the side.

 

[Plague Doctor]

I’m old enough to remember bonus levels, extra costumes, and other unlockables being free instead of publishers charging for them.

I’m also old enough to remember when games didn’t need charts or spreadsheets to show consumers all the shit they won’t be getting for their money.

Those were some crazy days, I’ll tell you what.

Point being that times change, and if the industry refuses to police itself or pull its foot off of the greed accelerator, then someone else will step in and do it... while taking a bit of extra money on the side.

This. Sin tax the fuck out of it, make it legal for adults, and move on. People can always have their Vegas if they want it. Their will always be a publisher for those types of games that will absorb the tax for adults

Also the potential to tax it like it was gambling is what many senators really care about this. No amount of lobbying can offset the tax potential. The one thing you can be sure of is that Uncle Sam is greedy enough to want a piece of any pie going around. Bring it.

 

[Xiaoki]

Perhaps people should look at what's going on in China to see what government regulation of video games really looks like.

The politicians will tell you it's about "manipulative and predatory game practices" or "protecting children" to fool you into supporting it but it's about control.

And because of dumb hatred of loot boxes a lot of gamers will happily throw away the future of video games.

 

[Teslerum]

The only microtransaction I've ever bought was a season pass back when Fortnite started that trend, and one of those dinky packs to get a skin. I will forever live in shame because of it.

I don't have a problem saying fuck no to microtransactions. The problem is I am still getting a shit deal, because I am now losing access to a lot of content that is now locked behind microtransactions. That means everybody playing games is negatively affected by this practice whether or not they spend money on it.

I do not for a second buy this idea that games need microtransactions to stay $60 or lower. If you want to talk evidence, show me the evidence that game devs can't survive on $60 per game because of development costs rather than because their publishers are hemorrhaging money all over the carpet. Plenty of games are still made without using Microtransactions, and they ain't indi titles.

Additionally, publishers have less incentive to invest in games wothout mtx, as already mentioned game design is negativly influenced with a focus on grinding and some sort of gatcha mechanic and even the industry itself loses creativity for as less creativity and a constant focus on a particular game mechanic with no point in deviation.

And just as a personal anecdote: MTX focused design have already ruined entries in two of my favourite game series (Dungeon Keeper, Breath of Fire 6)

So yeah, MTX have already damaged gaming waaaaay more than this bill could ever do. So fuck them.

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

I, Senator MHK, propose a counter-bill: MAGA (Make Another Gamer Addicted)

 

[BlitzerRadic]

I don't have a problem saying fuck no to microtransactions. The problem is I am still getting a shit deal, because I am now losing access to a lot of content that is now locked behind microtransactions. That means everybody playing games is negatively affected by this practice whether or not they spend money on it.

That content wouldn't exist if it weren't for mtx. There's zero incentive for developers to expend additional resources beyond the base game if they aren't getting a return on it.

 

[Texas Pride]

People bitch about the lack of consumer protection in the US and will probably lament this anyway but I can't hate on it. Loot boxes need to disappear especially in games targeting kids as the main audience. If this is what it takes to make that happen then fuck the greedy game companies. MTX and free to play MT mechanics in full priced games like the shit in COD is not a hill people should want to die on.

 

[Plague Doctor]

So when the government regulated gambling and casinos that killed their industry right? Casinos now don't cater to their intended audience in new ways? They are hamstringed and the government intervenes all the time? They are going out of business?

The point is regulation for the governments means more to them about the tax revenue like the greedy fuckers they are (seriously EA doesn't know greed like American politics). This is why I am certain by hook or by crook they will pass this in some form. They are not leaving that money on the table.

 

[Texas Pride]

I think it was always inevitable that the government would step in if the gaming industry as a whole didn't regulate their abusive predatory MTX behavior on their own. So ultimately they only have themselves to blame.

 

[stickkidsam]

That content wouldn't exist if it weren't for mtx. There's zero incentive for developers to expend additional resources beyond the base game if they aren't getting a return on it.

Zero incentive? Do you really think that devs are so passionless and dead inside that they wouldn't put cool goodies and extra content in unless they can nickel and dime it with mtx?

Did games not exist before mtx or something? I must be from some alternate reality because I recall a lot of games with a LOT of content and there wasn't a loot box in sight.

Also, let's make sure we are being clear, DLC Packs are not the same as microtransactions. They are a different beast entirely with their own potential problems, but not nearly on the level of mtx.

 

[Dragon Lord]

It should be. But then think about the game design. Its purposely done so that creates frustration, it slows the player down artificially, it involves psychology and manipulation, to get the player to spend more money. Its like a digital drug.

Plus, let's face it--most of us detest micro-transactions, and want them to go away. I'm all for it in theory. BUt I'm not if it means that next they're going to start regulating game content (i.e. censorship).

 

[BlitzerRadic]

Zero incentive? Do you really think that devs are so passionless and dead inside that they wouldn't put cool goodies and extra content in unless they can nickel and dime it with mtx?

Did games not exist before mtx or something? I must be from some alternate reality because I recall a lot of games with a LOT of content and there wasn't a loot box in sight.

Also, let's make sure we are being clear, DLC Packs are not the same as microtransactions. They are a different beast entirely with their own potential problems, but not nearly on the level of mtx.

Wait, so you think the devs that are nickel and diming you with mtx are gonna turn around and just give you all that content for free?

 

[Yoshi]

Do it.

 

[Caffeine]

The problem with micro right now is not every game but majority case seems to be the game launches unfinished and the roadmap is the content they never got to because they were focused also on creating monetization schemes. its clear when workload has shifted to that over making actual content case in point black ops 4. Devs saying they dont have time to keep up with post launch game content demand, however they are pumping out micro content like their life depends on it.

a lot of devs do it for profit sharing the problem case in point looking acti-blizzard they lay most of the people off before the profit sharing period begins and the ceo pockets it and buys another ferrari. the micro money only touches the upper branches and the investors that shit never trickles down to the actual employees busting their asses. Its the same with people wanting $70 games that extra money off the initial purchase will never make it to the devs in any shape or form. Sure maybe it will if ur an indie studio but not in a AAA environment.

Might as well bring this up while it relates to the topic everyone in the press pushing for dev unions. if a union occurs everyone across the board in the dev space will have massive pay cuts to standardize pay across the industry. benefits will become worse and it wont create any new job openings outside of yearly to bi yearly contractual work which is what we have now. the only thing it could honestly prevent is crunch however studios should look into planning workload better with publishers.

 

[stickkidsam]

Wait, so you think the devs that are nickel and diming you with mtx are gonna turn around and just give you all that content for free?

...?

What are you talking about? What's free in this scenario? We're talking about a $40 - $60 game. I don't expect devs to "give me" anything. What I expect, is to see a game made and sold as a complete product. Not given an empty cup with holes poked in the bottom.

There's always going to be shitty games, but at the very least we can prevent publishers from pushing/abusing garbage business practices as far as they can. Microtransactions are a cancer that spreads like wildfire and it only encourages predatory game design in the pursuit of milking every penny it can.

 

[yoyo67]

He's a young politician, he's trying to leave a mark on his career by banning something that seems plausible.

 

[BlitzerRadic]

...?

What are you talking about? What's free in this scenario? We're talking about a $40 - $60 game. I don't expect devs to "give me" anything. What I expect, is to see a game made and sold as a complete product. Not given an empty cup with holes poked in the bottom.

Let's be clear here. The existence of optional cosmetics and emotes etc. do not make a game incomplete. All this content sold as mtx are created specifically for that purpose. If they can't sell mtx, then that content doesn't exist.

There's always going to be shitty games, but at the very least we can prevent publishers from pushing/abusing garbage business practices as far as they can. Microtransactions are a cancer that spreads like wildfire and it only encourages predatory game design in the pursuit of milking every penny it can.

The simple way to fix this "problem" is to not buy it. Just like when you buy a car. Think the dealer is ripping you off with the optional $5000 convenience package? Don't buy it.

 

[ethomaz]

I support this move.

Let’s hope it fair reach some action because the actual state of some big gaming publishers are ridiculous with mechanics and AI working to make you addictive and waste money.

A game should be complete from start to finish without any mechanic that hold you from reach the goal forcing you to pay to win.

Publishers and Developers putting these practices ingame to after try to patch it late is ridiculous (last eg. Mortal Kombat).

That predatory way of development should die as fast as possible.

 

[Plague Doctor]

...?

What are you talking about? What's free in this scenario? We're talking about a $40 - $60 game. I don't expect devs to "give me" anything. What I expect, is to see a game made and sold as a complete product. Not given an empty cup with holes poked in the bottom.

There's always going to be shitty games, but at the very least we can prevent publishers from pushing/abusing garbage business practices as far as they can. Microtransactions are a cancer that spreads like wildfire and it only encourages predatory game design in the pursuit of milking every penny it can.

Imagine a world where the $60 you spend on a game is considered free.