Loot boxes in video games provide random rewards that can be purchased with real money. While they may include cosmetic or non-essential items, there is concern they can also influence gameplay and could constitute gambling. Younger players may spend excessive amounts from their parents' accounts. Additionally, loot boxes that provide competitive advantages could affect the gaming community. The document discusses whether loot boxes should be considered gambling and their overall impact on fair gameplay. It provides sources for further research on this issue.
2. What is a ‘Loot Box’
A ‘loot box’ as I and many others see it, a general
term for any item within a game that is bought or
opened with real money. These loot boxes have a
random chance to give you rare items that may or
may not be essential to progressing within the game.
3. There are many potential issues with the system of loot
boxes.
● Games are typically played by children under the
age of 21, which can potentially lead to children
wiping their parents credit cards to open the latest
loot boxes that have come out.
● There is also the effect of loot boxes on the gaming
community as a whole. Loot Boxes as a source of
purely cosmetic items can be great for including
community content into games. Conversely they
can be used in such a way that gives the player with
the largest wallet an advantage in the game.
So what is
the big
deal about
these ‘Loot
Boxes’?.
4. Questions
➔ Should Lootboxes be considered
gambling?.
➔ Are lootboxes a good thing for
the gaming community as a
whole?
➔ How should lootboxes be
changed to allow for fairer play
within video games.
5. Research Available
ProQuest Research Database (on Rowan.edu under library services and E-
resources)
Various gaming news outlets that are journalistic in nature
Court documents and legal documents regarding loot boxes
6. Research Done
Hio, L. (2017, Dec 10). Loot boxes in video games: Cool rewards or gambling trap? The
Straits Times Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.rowan.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1974716786?acco
untid=13605
"Star Wars Battlefront 2 Loot Box Furore could Mark a Turning Point for the Games Industry."
Telegraph.co.ukNov 17 2017. ProQuest. Web. 14 Feb. 2018 .
Seppala, Timothy J. "EA is addressing the loot boxes in 'Need for Speed: Payback,' too." Nov
23 2017. Web. ProQuest. 14 Feb. 2018.
7. Potential Problems
This is a rapidly moving
subject currently and it
may be difficult to keep up
with the news cycle
regarding legislation and
court cases.
Very little research has be
done on this subject from
the side of a player. There
are copious amounts of
market based research on
loot box mechanics.
This topic stirs emotion up
within the gaming
community. It will be
somewhat tedious for me
to keep any bias from
leaking into my work .
8. Why should you care?
This topic is currently of hot debate within the gaming community,
considering recent events which have brought it to the forefront discussion
Video games are not just a game anymore. They are a multi-billion
dollar industry and there should be oversight into how their monetization
methods could affect those who consume their media.
