Lootbox Case

Randy Pham

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Video game “loot boxes” have been a staple for a while now and are considered the norm for many gamers alike. However, a US legislator has described the popular video game Star Wars Battlefront 2 as an online casino and has said that he will seek legislative action that will prohibit sales of games to underage players that feature ‘loot box’ mechanics. Our very own Hawaii state representative Chris Lee condemns what he describes as “predatory practices” in video games. He included examples such as Electronic Arts (EA) Star Wars Battlefront 2. Chris Lee aims to ensure future protections for everyone from the significant financial consequences it can have on families. Video game players essentially can buy loot boxes with real money or in-game currency that contain random rewards. The reason why Lee is attacking the loot boxes is that there have been extreme examples where he’s heard stories of children spending thousands of dollars on gaming microtransactions. In one case someone had told Lee, a child reportedly stole a parents’ credit card to pay for game purchases. Ever since Chris Lee condemned these loot boxes, it sparked a notice all over the world in countries such as Belgium. Lootbox systems have been increasingly compared to gambling, as well as drawing the outrage of gamers themselves. Many gamers associate the loot box system as “pay to win.” Loot Boxes are seen as a way for kids to unknowingly gamble due to the nature of the random item system that most games implicate.Image result for star wars battlefront 2 loot boxes Hannah Dwan Image result for Loot boxes Joel Hruska