In such games, this bill would prohibit several forms of manipulative design:
Loot Boxes
- Microtransactions offering randomized or partially randomized rewards to players
Pay-to-Win
- Manipulation of a game’s progression system – typically by building artificial difficulty or other barriers into game progression – to induce players to spend money on microtransactions to advance through content supposedly available to them at no additional cost
- Pay-to-win - Manipulation of the competitive balance between players of multiplayer games by allowing players who purchase microtransactions competitive advantages over other players
Enforcement
- These rules would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which would treat the distribution of such games by publishers and online distributors as an unfair trade practice.
- State attorneys general would also be empowered to file suit to defend the residents of their states.
Riahderymnmaddog wrote on May 9, 2019, 12:00:Due to their low volume sales and niche appeal, they've flown under the radar. Might be time to look at them as well.
Just fucking dumb! What’s next? Maybe we can ban trading cards, or card-based games like Magic the gathering. How about them LOLZ
Simon Says wrote on May 9, 2019, 08:59:Well, real gambling is heavily regulated and restricted to NV and AC in the US (excepting Indian reservations and lotteries). Still, we could do worse than banning gambling altogether.jdreyer wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:23:
Introduced by a Republican? Wha...?
* Googles rep *
Ah, young naive guy still full of optimism and logic. His elders will soon disabuse him of these notions, and explain how such laws restrict corporate "freedom" and profits. This bill will soon be withdrawn.
Indeed, they'll probably just need to point, say "SJW", laugh and bam, bill will disappear.
I was quite surprised no one mentioned this label in the comments yet btw. I was expecting the usual Rep/Right cultists to shout it at the 1st opportunity.
And yes, I agree with others here, this shouldn't be framed as somethihng about kids, but as a general psychological manipulation issue. But if we go down that road, we'll have to talk about "real" gambling too... Decisions, decisions...
Red886 wrote on May 9, 2019, 06:35:Dev wrote on May 8, 2019, 21:28:jdreyer wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:16:No, but start throwing in all the collectibles, like magic cards, pokeman cards, and other CCGs, and all those things at gamestop where you buy a figurine and you get a random one inside, etc etc, and it starts adding up.
I agree sports card have a similar mechanic. Difference is that they aren't a $134B industry, so have flown under the radar.
physical card games can still be played with proxies while still maintaining the same game rules, strategies and the such . Same cannot be said of the video game analogous. I am all for regulation of the video game counterparts.
Simon Says wrote on May 9, 2019, 08:59:jdreyer wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:23:
Introduced by a Republican? Wha...?
* Googles rep *
...And yes, I agree with others here, this shouldn't be framed as somethihng about kids, but as a general psychological manipulation issue. But if we go down that road, we'll have to talk about "real" gambling too... Decisions, decisions...
"Real" gambling is already regulated. The onus was and still is on the game industry to show some restraint and self-regulate the gambling mechanics they put in their games. Thus far they have utterly failed to do so. There's still time though; with the tables slanted so far in the favor of corporate entities in our government and justice system, it is likely this bill will fail. But it still serves notice to game publishers that their shenanigans have not gone unnoticed by governing bodies here in the US."We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far."
"Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality."
jdreyer wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:23:
Introduced by a Republican? Wha...?
* Googles rep *
Ah, young naive guy still full of optimism and logic. His elders will soon disabuse him of these notions, and explain how such laws restrict corporate "freedom" and profits. This bill will soon be withdrawn.
saluk wrote on May 9, 2019, 01:50:
The consequences of something like this being on the books would be worse than the sin of gacha games.
Dev wrote on May 8, 2019, 21:28:jdreyer wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:16:No, but start throwing in all the collectibles, like magic cards, pokeman cards, and other CCGs, and all those things at gamestop where you buy a figurine and you get a random one inside, etc etc, and it starts adding up.
I agree sports card have a similar mechanic. Difference is that they aren't a $134B industry, so have flown under the radar.
Dev wrote on May 8, 2019, 21:28:jdreyer wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:16:No, but start throwing in all the collectibles, like magic cards, pokeman cards, and other CCGs, and all those things at gamestop where you buy a figurine and you get a random one inside, etc etc, and it starts adding up.
I agree sports card have a similar mechanic. Difference is that they aren't a $134B industry, so have flown under the radar.
NKD wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:21:
In theory I support this kind of regulation. Consumers and parents are at a distinct disadvantage against corporations with unlimited funds doing what is essentially an exploit of a bug in human psychology. All to make a profit.
jdreyer wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:25:Don't laugh too hard, probably the best education on legislation that most US citizens of that generation ever got.
LOL @ video.![]()
jdreyer wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:16:No, but start throwing in all the collectibles, like magic cards, pokeman cards, and other CCGs, and all those things at gamestop where you buy a figurine and you get a random one inside, etc etc, and it starts adding up.
I agree sports card have a similar mechanic. Difference is that they aren't a $134B industry, so have flown under the radar.
Angrius Maximis wrote on May 8, 2019, 20:03:
I would've thought all the liberals that post here would relish the govt. stepping in once more and telling them how to protect their kids and what to do in lieu of common sense. That is your thing right?