In some video games, such as Overwatch, there are these things called "loot boxes", where a player can pay real world money to get a prize box, which gives the player virtual items, such as special customization items, weapons, and armor for their character.
Recently, U.S. senator Maggie Hassan wrote a letter to the Entertainment and Software Ratings Board (ESRB), asking if they could investigate loot boxes. She compared loot boxes to tactics used in casinos, getting people to pay money for prizes, inciting gambling-like behavior. The loot box industry is worth $30 billion, and it is a large source of income for video game companies. The fact that players don't know what they will get when they open the loot box makes it even more appealing to players, wanting the trill of opening the box and hopefully getting a rare prize. Players can also sell their loot box loot for real world money to other players. In my opinion, the loot box industry has grown out of control. I think that video games should let players get rare and exciting prizes by leveling up, or finding an easter egg, which is usually a hidden location in a video game map, that references something from the real world or another video game. This way, players will play longer, trying to reach the next level to get that awesome prize, and more people might buy the game if they see all they need to earn a cool prize is by simply playing the game and leveling up. -Loot boxes are like gambling. -It is a $30 billion industry.
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AuthorMy name is Adam Servas, Categories
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The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not represent those of Durham School of the Arts or Durham Public Schools.
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