dmoral25
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/18/how-a-star-wars-video-game-faced-charges-that-it-was-promoting-gambling/?utm_term=.23761954b54c
So reaching out to Disney wasn’t an entirely bad idea. Also, this hitting mainstream media. First team I’ve seen this dilemma mentioned on WP.
TheFastpaws
Maybe... people could call their senators about it... and maybe... also hit them up on net neutrality... anything to get them to call...
VorpaltheFox
this “is not expected to have a material impact on EA’s fiscal year 2018 financial guidance.“ they need to be shown who pays their income
ItsThatOneAsshole
dartboardblue
CAN WE TAKE THIS POWER AND FOCUS IT ON NET NEUTRALITY NOW!? PLEASE!?
summershank
I love that they quoted Sterling and tastefully removed his expletives
DigitalWaffle
Stop buying games with loot boxes. It’s not hard.
GenericNammme
They were probably trying to make buying dlcs more worth while (not so stale and obvious pricing) but clearly didn't think it through
GraeYstaG237
DONT GIVE DISNEY CREDIT!!! they litterally called them being displeased about THEIR OWN IMAGE!!
HieronymousFlex
Uh, that was kind of the plan? To get disney butthurt over their image and make them put EA in their place?
gehenna79
I don't accept their statement that a AAA game needs post release $ given the upfront cost is sometimes 5x more than a movie ticket.
Magnaliscious
Tbf, people often go to re-watch movies more than once.
inzane
They're all a bunch of assholes, fuck em and their motives.
fer666
Palpatine always thinks his Death Star is invincible until they blow it up. Electronic Arts and its insidious ilk aren’t much diffent.
fer666
That's the last line on the article. It's great!
Drewscifer
I can't wait till they realize that SWTOR and so many other games do the same thing....
gnuclear
This isn't a new thing EA is doing, I'm just annoyed it took this long for this level of revolt to happen.
IndignantOwl
you suppose WB will have to get that crap out of shadow of war too? it's literally the only thing keeping me from buying it.
Famousapples
Can someone explain how this is a gambling issue?
TheRicemanCometh
You are paying real money for the random chance at getting something fancy, but 99 out of 100 times you get nothing.
Radix865
Well, you do get "something"...just that "something" is practically worthless.
ILostMyBagel
I personally really like cosmetic loot boxes, but as soon as abilities, weapons, and characters that effect gamplay are involved, I'm out.
candykittycat
I don't really see the connection of loot crates from Overwatch being compared here. True they are a MT but nothing alters game play
CaerRythyr
Perhaps, in time, even EA will come regret that Disney owns the franchise now. They can still eat shit and die afaic, however.
helpadrummer
Don't game but I follow imgur shit--EA now my mortal enemy for reasons I don't need to know.Fuck them.
gnuclear
For a long time, EA has kept buying out other game studios, ruining the franchises for short term gains, and throwing away the carcass.
ReisiJorma
Call of Duty has done this shit and worse for 4 years now. Where is the outrage?
WhereOnceThereWasAYachtNowThereIsNot
The word "charges" is mighty misleading, zero charges filed or successful, they just caught internet ire and pulled it.
Flossugar
Cool, now if someone would only fix madden ultimate team.
Regibazookista
I honestly think overwatch's lootbox system is good. you can purchase everything with ingame currency not expensive and it's all 4 looks
TheDreaded1
Very different type of game, but yep, it's all cosmetic. Skills/tools are there from the start. Plus, you get loot as you play anyway.
Wormbo2
Ok, question: can I buy and enjoy this game, without feeding the EA monster? Because some fgt will have paid $$ to git gud, but that's ass.
TheRicemanCometh
Simply by buying the game you are feeding the EA monster, aside from that you could always just play the campaign.
Wormbo2
That's my dilemma. The hype machine got me, ugh. But I'm strong enough to resist until a 2nd hand copy pops up. That'll fuck em ;)
STGxDante
Don't worry when/ if they bring back the loot crates and they aren't just for cosmetics. I'll invest however much it costs for everything
STGxDante
And enlist hackers to troll and grief hard in game. I will pay someone to make a script if they don't exist yet and I will get sketch 3rd
STGxDante
Part copies of the game, and I will give them to shit bags on sites like mpgh to use for free on the agreement they go full retard with
STGxDante
Cheats. I will make this shit like apb where at hackers peak it seemed like every other person was a hacker.
mephiston
Disney okayed MTs in the first place, they're just shitty that EA got caught doing it so blatantly that it comes back and bites them.
TheDogEnd
Hey, if two people are robbing you and run away then one decides to trip his partner I'm not going to complain that I didn't get both
shhep
What the fuck are you talking about. EA is an independent company and doesn't need being "okayed". In fact, Disney wouldn't EVER okay such
shhep
thing, because that's just inconceivable. Do you okay your neighbour's decision to switch positions while fucking his wife? No. Do you call
shhep
911 if he starts beating her? Yes.
mephiston
lol, are you for real
LostHonour
Can you sauce Disney specifically requesting or green lighting she's specific types of microtransactions, as in the loot boxes?
kiddub
Yes, Disney just let one of their premiere money printing franchises release a game without any oversight.
shhep
They sold the exclusive rights to their long-time partner that has entire business model built around using licensed games. That process
shhep
does not involve oversight. It involves terms and conditions and that's it. Those are 2 separate companies. Nobody expected this fuckup.
TastyCake123
IDK. If you read about the death of Visceral games you will find out that Disney is very heavily involved in what is done with their IP.
MyOtherCarIsAMiniVan
They'll add it back in after this blows over though if we don't keep causing a ruckus.
Vaanhalen
Keep ruckusing until someone gets fired
OfficialNedFlanders
I'm so sure that the new microtransactions will just be skins and not in-game advantages. We shall see.
SushiBoy13
You just summed up American politics very well. Take this lesson and pass it on!
eroso
They actually are now legally binded to fix the issues they promised to consumers that they will. "Unfair advantages" was one.
theplayahaterball
Just dont buy it
Crazytrain77
For real. People seem not to get this.
ratchet3789
They never said they removed it. The statement they released said they'd add it back in when they felt it was appropriate
ratchet3789
Which in PR means "when this blows over"
dmoral25
They’ll take it so lightly. At least, not if they’re brought back in such a way that we’re dealing with the same problem again. /2
MyOtherCarIsAMiniVan
Also true! Who knows! Maybe they'll've learned their lesson or maybe they'll get even sneakier.
dmoral25
What I love is part of EA’s power comes from never having to respond to anyone but their shareholders. So this is a whole new dynamic for /1
Z0op
Yeah, its good to see they are getting a slap on the wrisr from someone higher up. Bormally thee fckers always get away with this shit
Z0op
Sheez, hope you can read that, lol sorry
dmoral25
The shit already and listen.” /3
dmoral25
Them to have to respond to someone higher up. I feel like if this happens again, Disney will say, “C’mon you guys are fucking adults. Cut /2
dmoral25
I feel like that’s risky now. If micro transactions are brought back, we get pissed again, and Disney catches wind of it, I’m not sure /1
YharnamsFinest
It says in the statement they’ll be re-added at a later date. So Disney know.
eroso
Risky even in legal basis. They are now legally binded to fix the issues they promised to consumers that they will.
eroso
They can bring them back as they said they will. They just have to fix issues they said they will.
ifavoritethingstoshowmywifewhenigethome
But if they bring it back after you bought the game they made money
OlliHeisenberg
But you have already bought the game by then and they couldn’t care less how mad you are. Only way to stop this is not buying this game at
MarinShatterhand
No, they will keep trying till it is so familiar with us that we get used to seeing them and eventually accept them.
mephiston
Its called "sticking to your guns". Remain pissed off until its gone for good. no "we will bring it back later" shit.
dmoral25
EA has to do something about it. The whole game was designed around MTs so without them, Battlefront 2 is just a grind fest. One reviewer /1
dmoral25
Put it the best way, that is, that the whole game is haunted by the ghosts of its design around MTs. They literally have to redesign it. /2
AphidTaco
La times exposes Disney's political corruption, disney bans la times, disney has legionaires outbreak, disney promotes gambling.. bad month
shhep
Bans like that happen ALL the time. The only thing Disney did different was that they gave a reason. Apple banned one paper for 7 years for
shhep
publishing iPhone 2 leak. Everyone does that. Don't get excited.
Wildfanman18
A leak is different to what disney did. They banned the la times because they "thought" they published a slanderous artical.
kaiserdas19
The article I saw wasnt even that bad and Disney freaked
Vaanhalen
The CEO of Disney is getting ready to run for office in 2020 as a democrat. This is the last thing he wants to hear.
dmoral25
Holy shit you’re right! I didn’t think about that. Their patience is running thin.
AphidTaco
On the eve of their biggest film of the year no less
TastyCake123
Which?
dmoral25
Fuckin’ hell, really?
TastyCake123
Honest question. I haven't followed any of the hype for The Last Jedi and don't know it's release date.
AphidTaco
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Last_Jedi
dmoral25
BobTheGoon
I find it hard to believe that Disney/Lucasfilms had no clue this was in the game.
Mobileuserwholikestoberandom
agermanguy
Double dippin
HALex9000
“Temporary” Woooooooooowwww
Danishlmgurian
Give the masses a few weeks to calm down, then "remake" the whole thing without changing anyrhing
proileri
What is a "temporary decision to end"?
iamalreadyaghost
Bullshit to appease the masses
Mobileuserwholikestoberandom
They’re completely removing it forever until they change their minds.
TheRicemanCometh
*until everyone instantly forgives them and buys the game for the holiday season, then EA'll put it all back once they have everyone's money
SaltheartFoamfollower
I wonder how it feels to have a mouse chew off a major portion of your ass while the Imperial March (Vader's theme) plays in the background?
YharnamsFinest
Except it says temporary so it was more a slap on the wrist and a pretend chastisement
SaltheartFoamfollower
I doubt there was anything pretend about it. But, you're probably right that the message was to wait until The Last Jedi's been out a month.
PaulSmackageFromGrapevineTexas
Hehe, listen here fucko. (Dun dun dun dah dah dah) Cut that shit out, you're fucking up my (dun dun dun dah dah dah) shit down here
SaltheartFoamfollower
TheBlackVan
He-he!
SexWithStrayDogs
Shouldn't this be part of the post?
WitnessedSomeTimeAgo
If you check the link, it's there. That's a clip from the article.
dmoral25
Yeah I completely fucked that up. That’s why I included it here.
WitnessedSomeTimeAgo
I thought you did good by including the source. That was extra information one could find by reading the article. Thanks for sharing @OP!
PANICinc
They've made it easy to edit posts and fix these kind of mistakes! Even on mobile now!
dmoral25
Huh, whaddya know you’re right
WitnessedSomeTimeAgo
You don't need to edit your post. People can check the source, or check the comments. You good brah
myaestheticis2000smovies
... Well?
CharlesOConnor
No mistakes aloud on imgur ever
dmoral25
Extrapolated that message loud and clear
butwhatamisaying
Allowed
mutewalking
WHAT?
CharlesOConnor
Exactly
TotallyNotASpider
Maybe I’m in the minority here but I stopped buying EA shit when Origin was released. Ea has been a shitshow for years
ZKrock
Considering they are continuing business practices because people keep buying into their shit. Yes, you are a fraction of a minority.
27yoUGLYvirgin
I see people saying this every once in a while. That's good and all, but you know that99% of their customers don't even knowthere'saproblem?
ForlornFennec
I stopped buying when they used Origin to region lock me out of English language versions.
QuackDodgers
Yep, that's when the games became harder to access than their fun was worth
STGxDante
Yeah they have been shit and always disappoint. I try not to buy their games, but I keep getting them for free when I upgrade PC hardware.
TheOneWhoSucks
Ditto. I really want to pick up the Mass Effect games on PC, but ME3 is only through Origin. uPlay, too, except Farcry 3 and Blood Dragon.
madmanmoe64
I played all 4 mass effects on Origin, it works fine.
KingORedLions
I bought ME3, then downloaded a pirated copy. It's still in it's wrapper to this day. Origin isn't great now, but fuck it was terrible then.
TommyCreo
Nothing wrong with Origin IMO. Works just as well as Steam. That being said, I would've preferred it if I could have all my games on Steam.
WheelerManis
See, you can say that now - but when origin came out (and a LONG time after) it was a total shitshow. They didn't put the effort into /1
WheelerManis
Making a compelling reason for origin to exist, so it seemed like another corporate power play and offered nothing to existing players.
TommyCreo
1/2 It had growing pains I suppose, though I never had issues. When it launched I got way better DL speed than on Steam. Competition is good
TommyCreo
2/2 DL speed increased on Steam after that. Many people saying "Origin is shit" are doing it out of habit. Detracts from the real issues.
Jonmbram
EA ruined Spore. I’m still upset about that.
Smudde
Literally the last game I bought from EA. Never forget
dentalfury
Yeah, I was hoping for a real sequel. And Space Age that scaled with the power of your Civ, so you personally didnt have to do everything.
STARWARSjustkeepsgettingworsesince1983
i have no problem with paying for loot boxes. but only in FTP games. if you purchase a AAA title, you get the whole game. no exceptions.
Imgurusername23
Since when is this game a AAA tittle? Lol
Zigor22
Halo 5 is just as guilty.
KeeleonOhms
I think Shadow of War is probably an acceptable compromise. Loot boxes dont unbalance multiplayer.
Isthe4thtimethecharm
I just don't want anything in any game that I can't get by a reasonable grind. I would gladly pay for the FTP games if they were fun enough
veggiiies
Me too, only cosmetics would be alright with me too.
OriginaIPoster
Warframe was free, a great game, and just happened to have microtransactions. It's probably the least offensive I've ever seen.
PeggingandTransFanboyExPlusMachina
Loot boxes have worked for a number of games and prolonged the length of support the receive tremendously by limiting them to cosmetic items
Solvaeryn
Capitalize your sentences, foo!
kiddub
That seems like a self serving line to draw in the sand. For the love of god people, just don’t buy it! That’s what they’ll listen to!
kiddub
They know that you’re going to buy it anyway! That’s how they sold you lando in a dlc last time. Vote with you wallet, not your tears.
mirrorz
Yeah! ::cough:: GamblingofWar4 ::cough::
FernachoLibre
As much as I hate blizzard sometimes. They were right to ban people for selling services for money. They gave in a little though
Rodvitner
As long as you expect zero additions that's fine. But if you want free DLCs etc you gotta expect lootboxes (not talking SW:bf2 here)
vapemAwardMagnet
Don't like it. = Don't buy it. Capitalism ????
MisleadTruth
Titanfall 2 did cosmetic "pay for what you want pack." EA know how to do microtransactions, they just dont.
thatjohndenverwasfullofsht
Can somebody explain those acronyms?
STARWARSjustkeepsgettingworsesince1983
FreeToPlay, and AAA just means its from a well established publisher
CrimeBrulee
Then I presume you're willing to pay a lot more for those AAA games, is are you ignoring the fact that process haven't gone up in 15 years?
CrimeBrulee
Developers may need to make more money in AAA games, and there are right and won't ways to do that. P2W is obvi bad, but there are others.
10percentofthetimeitworkseverytime
The star cards are the real issue. You can grind for 6 months to max out your potential or you can pay $300 for loot crates instead
xaddak
https://www.resetera.com/threads/unlocking-everything-in-battlefront-ii-requires-4-528-hours-or-2100.6190/
RenegadeEscapade
For those who don't know, or don't want to google. FTP = Free To Play
DoIReallyHaveToDoThis
I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Internet for those people as well.
Satherian
Don't be a cunt
DoIReallyHaveToDoThis
Too late!
Satherian
Ah, I know that life!
flintsky10
What about aaa
Deficek
First to pay?
Excludos
Honestly I still have a problem with lootboxes in f2p. Lootboxes are a form of gambling where you might or might not win
Excludos
It doesn't belong in video games where children (and adults) without impulse control can reign free and bankrupt themselves.
idkalotaboutnothing
I dunno, I compare it to if you played an MMO and each enemy has different drop rates on items. Each kill is equivalent to opening a lootbox
fredthebadger
You don't lose cash killing enemies in MMOs, though. Except that one where it's a registered bank so you can make withdrawals.
idkalotaboutnothing
Yeah but they sometimes sell attack scrolls, (faster kills more loot rolls), pack mounts (less time between rolls) or increased chance items
Excludos
While both works on the Skinners box technique, you don't pay for every mob you defeat.
KeeleonOhms
Should children be able to buy Pokemon cards?
Excludos
I think tcg have some of many of the same problems. One major difference is however that you get something tangible and with actual worth.
Excludos
But there is no doubt that a lot of people have used a rather ridiculous amount of money on games like magic the gathering. It's not ok.
LimeMime565
Waframe is the only game where I've seen a ftp model done right
CupcakeCrumbs
I dont want to start a war, but id say League if Legends is doung great at it too.
Mohaim
Path of Exile does it pretty well too.
FranktheMailman
I still have my Pay to Win fireworks
CrimeBrulee
Warframe is a great F2P model, but it wouldn't work for everything, especially primarily PvP games.
STGxDante
You can grind stuff and sell it for the premium currency to players. Awesome system.... Minus the players. Seriously trading in that game...
STGxDante
Wts rhino helm, idr stat helm names, 200 plat. W: "deal" go to trade he puts in 50 plat. "That's all I have plz." Or he puts in shitty mods.
Kitsunekain
Half the time I never get a reply, and when I do it's like 'I don't want, do you have this?' and it's like...no. That's why I'm selling THIS
STGxDante
Yes omg I wish we were getting trolled, but sadly that's not the case. Alot of ppl ignore the wtt, wts,wtb and only see what they wanna see.
Kitsunekain
Which, half the time, I ain't even selling! Believe me, I would love to sell you that item, but I DON'T HAVE IT! AUUUUUUUUUGH!!! ...sorry.
Fishworshipper
As a long time vet of Warframe, it's ftp model is good but not perfect. Unless you spend plat, your inventory is very small.
LimeMime565
I think it's the best "ftp" can be to be honest. Nothing is free. It's a product it has to make money
Drathe
Part of the benefit though is that you can get Plat without actually spending money. getting the Plat for slots isn't hard at all
Draciusen
Everything that's "necessary" (slots, taters) is also quite cheap as well. Not to mention the occasional login discount too.
Automatomatic
I'll allow vanity-only items in loot boxes. How Overwatch does it.
lukas9356
Kinda agree.
noshftshck16
Exactly. Overwatch and Rocket League have the best loot box systems.
NeverCast
I agree with you, +1. Let's sink together
Brocid3n
Agreed. A loot box should never give you an advantage over others if you have the option to buy them. If buying them wasn't an option, then
Brocid3n
I say let the stuff be in them, but that stuff a low probablility compared to cosmetic stuff.
Leithoa
I'm fine w/ buying power ups, so long as they're available in free play in a reasonable amount of play, guaranteed 100-200h maybe?
HinamilGreyworks
1 or 2 hundred hours is more than the normal person plays the game. Try removing your head from your ass.
Nepsin
Overwatch also gives you loot boxes often for free, with no key to open said box [fuck csgop]
JustARandomKorean
Team fortress 2's unusual system would make boxes/crates for more exiting. You can't trade it anywho so it has no value other than rarity
JustARandomKorean
Far more*
photog
I'm fine with those also. Pay to win is when I draw the line.
YodaTheComedian
no, fuck that. give them a finger and they'll take your whole gand
ltsDizzyD
They don't have creative freedoms with skins. Everything has to be approved by lucasfilm and Disney. Blizzard can literally make anything
NeverCast
Rocket League is the same with it's crates and DLCs. It's all just aesthetic.
DeanOMiite
Agreed. Cosmetics only, no gameplay elements. I don't like the random chance though, if I spend $ I want a guaranteed item.
Sm9yCg
Easy: Pay-to-win == bad. Pay-to-fashion == okay.
PorneliusHubertII
Overwatch over does it. Between skins/voice/pose/tags their loot pool is so diluted that if you want anything at all you need to pay for i
jdeman
Overwatch is also being investigated for illegal gambling. Same people who are investigating EA
SeamusMCMXCVI
It’s a terrible system that should be removed all together
xshinobi
Yeah. Blizzard handled it correctly. Plus they also hand them out as milestone rewards and all new characters,maps and modes are free.
TheRealGoddamnLochNessMonster
Titan fall was a good example of this. Even though its EA. Pay a few bucks for a cool paintjob on yer bot but everything else you had earn.
rafaelfy
Fuck no. Let me unlock shit from achievements, like old games used to do. Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance had like a THOUSAND unlocks.
creegro
They could have even copied bf1 loot boxes where they were just skins and you unlocked stuff by just playing the game
nordicfatcheese
It's permissible, but still shitty in a paid for game.
fitlex
I won't pay for cosmetic items in Overwatch. Because I can't. I have to buy Gambleboxes in hopes of getting what I want.
KingCharlesIIX
and counterstrike
HankHell2400
I was gonna make a joke about how that's a funny way to spell Team Fortress 2, but every comment after yours also only references Overwatch.
jrbickers
Dilly Dilly
killbot9566
But the stupid thing is because people allowed it in overwatch it made more money which gave other developers the idea so fuck overwatch
Groose
With overwatch the non-game changing look crates allow flr the free conte t that's frequently released
TheOneWhoSucks
It's sold 35 million copies. That's $1.4 billion at $40 each. The life cycle of the game can run on that. Fuck lootboxes in paid games.
photog
The items you get in Overwatch do not help you win. They are just skins, emotes, voices and stickers.
FeyLily
Except OW wasn't the first. CSGO and TF2 both had lootboxes before OW
Setekhx
Loot boxes are a thing in over watch because they are skins and nothing more. If you needed them to unlock characters it would not fly.
killbot9566
Yes but it started loot boxes in none F2P games which led to other developers doing it because it made more money over a longer period
CatfishAndTheBottleOMan
I still don't agree with them even at cosmetic only changes as it still promotesgambling. If they are after 1 item in particular then it...
CatfishAndTheBottleOMan
May take several tries to get the one you want. One person could by 1 and get it, someone else could buy 10 and stop have it. ...
CatfishAndTheBottleOMan
The only microtransactions I agree with are those for single player (if the game isn't deliberately designed to push the player to buy)...
CatfishAndTheBottleOMan
And cosmetic only in multiplayer. In both cases you should be able to see exactly what you are paying for. Random rewards should be earned..
Setekhx
Battle.net actually has a lot of parental controls if parents bother to monitor the accounts.
Setekhx
Then don't fucking buy it. Unlike battlefront there is literally no reason to purchase loot boxes in overwatch unless you like costumes.
CatfishAndTheBottleOMan
Found the overwatch fanboy. Why get so defensive of a company that's trying to exploit people that are willing to put more money into it?
CatfishAndTheBottleOMan
I don't buy loot boxes. They are just a Shitty thing to do to loyal customers. Let people buy what they want, not random shit.
iputthefiresout
Even that's iffy for me. "Give an inch, they take a mile". That's how we got here. EA saw that people didn't care about Overwatch and (1/2)
Automatomatic
EA has had pay to win loot crates since Mass Effect 3 at least. It all depends on the company.
CPatricoo
I can see here who is a Jimquisition subscriber. Overwatch does not use the same tactics as FTP gambling strategies. Bad scapegoat.
Draken04
Overwatch was fine until they started pulling the limited time event bull crap. You could either play frantically for 2 weeks or pay money
fitlex
Yeah it would be fine if they didn't shift the whole focus of the game to limited event items you have to gamble for if you really want them
iputthefiresout
Multiple people can have the exact same opinion
iputthefiresout
Also, it does. It's not a pay to win, sure, but it still creates a haves/have nots environment. It uses the same maybe you'll get it (1/
Automatomatic
But the key factor is having an advantage, not having a thing. That's how I look at it, anyways. Skins, tags, and icons give zero advantage
iputthefiresout
this time. Oh, bad luck, try again" mentality as slot machines. It's a perfect example and the example that while, not as bad, started it (2
iputthefiresout
said, "what if we did that, but pushed it even further". It's only a matter of time before people get apathetic and stop fighting. (2/2)
Tywinning
Because EA didn't understand/care why it was acceptable when Overwatch and others did it
Fagums
I'm ok with overwatch doing it because they don't have a season pass for their game and will continue to make free content for their game.
fryingpas
That's why you fight here. Show them that some are acceptable but not all. Define the grey area.
DetectiveSloth
EA did it in Battlefield with crates that gave you weapon attachments. This was only taking it further.