Lootbox

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A loot box (also known as a loot crate , prize crate or loot box ) is a virtual container in computer games that contains a random collection of certain items , for example weapons and special items. These can be unlocked, found or purchased in-game. The purchase can take place either through game currency or through real money. The term is made up of the English words “ loot ” for booty or looted goods (e.g. booty objects in computer games) and “box” for box .

In addition to loot boxes in computer games, there are also real boxes that contain randomly assembled items and can usually be purchased. These are mostly collectibles and merchandising items from the areas of computer games , films , series and music .

criticism

The use of loot boxes is often criticized for driving pay-to-win systems , since the important items cannot be reached through normal gaming or are only offered as a purchase and thus offer paying players an unfair advantage. The pricing policy is often not appropriate, turns a free-to-play game into a paid game or increases the price of a game that has already been purchased. Many functions that should actually already be included in the game would thus be outsourced. Lootboxing is also accused of being addictive, as the critics believe that it is a game of chance and arouses false expectations.

Politicians are discussing whether in-game purchases should be banned in games where you don't know what you will actually get. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), an organization that consists of the amalgamation of several large computer game publishers such as Electronic Arts , Ubisoft , Activision or Take 2 Interactive , denies the allegations of gambling because the decision lies with the player and it These are often optional and optical functions that do not necessarily affect the gameplay and can often be "earned" by playing.

The Lootboxen in the 2017 published computer game Star Wars: Battlefront II were criticized and made the Internet for a Shitstorm . The market value of Electronic Arts fell US dollars to 3.1 billion. Complaints came mainly from the USA , the United Kingdom , Belgium , France and Germany . The company is generally criticized for micropayments . The Belgian gaming commission saw this as a violation of the gaming law and called for an EU- wide ban. The British and Danish Commission, however, do not see it that way. In addition, politicians demand the protection of children and young people, since this is only possible with other forms of financial gambling when the age of consent of the respective country is exceeded. Children and young people are not aware of the consequences and consequences and are easier to manipulate. The free voters in Bavaria want to increase the minimum age for loot boxing games to 18 years. Your application was rejected, but the topic received support from the CSU and the SPD , which also submitted urgent motions. The USK ( entertainment software self-control ), supported by the game - Association of the German Games Industry , encourages parents to deal with the topic and to educate their children about it.

The company Blizzard for the games Overwatch and Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft also came under fire .

Situation in Germany

In autumn 2017, the highest German gaming supervisory authorities evaluated the gaming properties of loot boxes under German law by means of a so-called state circulation procedure. As a result, the gaming authorities came to the conclusion that loot boxes are not a game of chance under German law . In addition, there is also the view in legal literature that loot boxes do not meet the legal requirements of gambling.

Situation in the UK

The House of Commons in the United Kingdom called in September 2019 that loot boxes should be classified as a game of chance.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Stahl: What is a loot box? Easily explained. In: praxistipps.chip.de . November 26, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Michael Cherdchupan, Benedikt Plass-Flässenkämper, Lukas Schmid: The Lootbox Report: A lottery that makes games worse. In: pcgames.de. Computec Media Group, December 2, 2017, accessed December 30, 2017 .
  3. ^ Rainer Sigl: Rip offs in video games: Pay, play, pay again. In: spiegel.de. November 19, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2018 .
  4. ↑ Loot boxes: According to the publisher organization ESA, not a game of chance. In: pcgameshardware.de. November 24, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2018 .
  5. ↑ The Entertainment Software Association does not see gambling in loot boxes. In: xboxmedia.de. November 23, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2018 .
  6. ↑ a b Do microtransactions and loot boxes loot players? In: derstandard.de. December 2, 2017, accessed December 2, 2017 .
  7. ↑ Loot boxes: French politician criticizes gambling similarity. In: pcgameshardware.de. November 26, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2018 .
  8. ↑ Eike Kühl: "Star Wars: Battlefront II" - Is that still a video game or is it already a game of chance? In: zeit.de . November 24, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018 .
  9. ↑ Dominik Zwingmann: Star Wars Battlefront 2: EA shares collapse after the Lootbox controversy. In: pcgames.de. November 29, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2018 .
  10. ↑ Robin Rüther: Lootboxing - Belgian Gambling Commission targets Battlefront 2 and Overwatch. In: gamestar.de. November 16, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
  11. ↑ According to the Danish commission, loot boxes are not a game of chance. In: gamereactor.de. December 1, 2017, accessed January 23, 2020 .
  12. ↑ Elena Schulz: Loot boxes - British commission sees criteria for gambling not met. In: gamestar.de. November 26, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2019 .
  13. ↑ Star Wars: Battlefront 2 & Co .: Belgium wants Lootbox ban, US politicians speak of "casino" . In: PC Games Hardware . ( pcgameshardware.de [accessed December 2, 2017]).
  14. ↑ Gameswirtschaft: Lootbox debate: Free voters Bavaria submit urgent motion - Update - GamesWirtschaft.de . In: GamesWirtschaft.de . November 29, 2017 ( gameswirtschaft.de [accessed December 2, 2017]).
  15. ↑ Play culture: Debate about loot boxes in the Bavarian state parliament; Motions from the CSU, SPD and the free voters - 4Players.de . In: 4Players . ( 4players.de [accessed December 2, 2017]).
  16. ↑ Lootbox debate - CSU, SPD and FDP with urgent requests in Parliament . ( gamestar.de [accessed on December 2, 2017]).
  17. ↑ USK: Loot boxes and protection of minors. Accessed December 2, 2017 (German).
  18. ↑ Computer game addiction: 465,000 conspicuous children and adolescents heise.de, on March 5, 2019
  19. ↑ Maurice Weber: Column on the lootbox epidemic - Blizzard is to blame! In: gamestar.de. November 27, 2017, accessed March 30, 2019 .
  20. ↑ Printed matter of the Landtag Brandenburg 6/8234, here p. 3 with answer to question 4.
  21. ↑ Ehinger / Schadomsky, K&R 2018, p. 145 ff., Schippel, WRP 2018, p. 409 ff .; Schippel, ITRB 2018, p. 88 ff .; Schwiddessen, CR 2018, p. 444 ff. And p. 512 ff .; Nickel / Feuerhake / Schelinski, MMR 2018, p. 586 ff.
  22. ↑ Alex Hern, Rob Davies: Video game loot boxes should be classed as gambling, says Commons. In: theguardian.com . September 12, 2019, accessed April 6, 2020.
  23. ↑ Gaming culture: Committee of the British House of Commons calls for loot boxes to be equated with gambling , 4players.de , September 12, 2019