Blizzard needs to melt. Profit is fine, needs limits , greed is evil.
Loot boxes in Hearthstone are referred to as card packs, and Mercenary packs. I see very little difference between the two; both of the aforementioned are, essentially, gambling. These packs function similar to a slot machine. That sounds bad, because it is bad.
Honestly, this doesnât bother me (maybe it should). Having been a CCG player since youth, Iâve been dealing with this business model for a long time. Itâs how all relevant CCGs function for profit. Iâd normally say that this is problematic because many players are predisposed to addictive behavior, such as gambling. This certainly leads to instances wherein players compulsively buy, and open, card packs and the like, hoping for those legendaries, or whatever else they may be after. From the perspective of Blizzard, this seems to be the best possible revenue generator. I do not foresee any changes being made.
My biggest problem with this system is that children play this game. I believe it is unethical to encourage gambling among such young players. While I donât expect anything to change in this regard, it is ripe for discussion as to whether or not this business practice is, somehow, justified. Iâm not sure that it is, beyond it being how popular CCG have always functioned. It is inherently predatory toward players.
I donât see an alternative to these mechanics that would incentivize the team to do anything but continuing the card pack model; donât fix what ainât broke. As long as players are willing to purchase these packs, I donât see this model changing anytime soon.
Open Queston:
How can this business model change, without loss in revenue, that would benefit players beyond the lack of benefits they currently face?
I realize some games are far more FTP friendly than Hearthstone. However, realize, that with the updated reward track, collecting cards has never been easier. That is fantastic. However, it might not be enough to justify the gambling elements of Hearthstone pack-opening.
Lastly, here is an anecdote of mine. I have a very aiddictive personality, which will explain what I say following this. When I was new, I fell into the pitfall of gambling. Iâd purchase packs, often not even needing additional cards, all for that rush of endorphins (the pleasure center of the brain). Iâve significantly turned away from total whaling recently, and so havenât been having to purchase, and open, any card-packs on which Iâd normally spend dollars.
Selling expansions in a way wherein players can actually purchase all cards. I can certainly see this being entirely detrimental to the profits made via Hearthstone. For that reason alone, there will will not be any change to the system anytime soon â and if ever.
Oh, just stop. Children donât need to be protected from the experience of regretfully spending the little money they have on dumb stuff.
What they need to understand is that they canât steal their parentsâ credit cards, or theyâll be hell to pay. But when this happens, some of the Child Worship Brigade would rather QQ to a congressman than be a parent to their brat.
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I suspect, in many of these incidents (young players purchasing card packs (sometimes other items for sale â these players, also frequently purchase those too (i.e. cosmeti sales). Iâm most definitely not condemning children and their methods of acquiring these packs with their gold, dependent on using acquired coins, maybe packs gifted to them, and so on. Sneaking your parentsâ cards to use to purchase, fragrantly. I believe this is a significant issue.
One fear of mine is that such players, youngsters, seem to make impulsive transactions. Where my fear comes in, is twofold. Firstly, the potential for these players falsely using their parentsâ cards. I canât think that this behavior is ethical. Secondly, the lack of parental control over these children is, frankly, poor parenting (unless the parent was entirely unaware that their children made these purchases (albeit theyâll find out, ultimately.
Oh good, another Blizzard hating troll, as if we didnât already have plenty of these.
If Blizzard is âevilâ, then what does that say about your presence here?
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OP said greed is evil. But I guess everyone understands it to mean that blizzard is greedy, therefore evil.
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Sure but protect people isnât the same as secure people.
When you protect people too much youâre basically creating a next generation that is a danger to itself since they canât actually take good decisions by themselves.
This is why that when you buy a children a bike you should also buy protection that protects they when they fall.
If i did think as youâre describing i would just not buy the bike and never let my children learn to use one.
Basically having the negative impact of making my children less capable (not knowing how to use an bike).
We need to make next generation better than us. Not worse.
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Could you clarify this statement? Iâm having trouble following what you mean. Sorry!
This quote might coincide with what youâre trying to say. Every older generation fears the newer generation, and seemingly this has been an expression dating back a long.
âThe children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households.â
I believe this is an excerpt from a play in which an actor portrayed Socrates. And, it still applies to this day.
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What i saying is that we need make they learn and create a enviroment where they can learn.
And taking out of their hands any possibility of doing mistakes isnât that.
Actually i believe that games that make they think about how to use their resources are in essence good be it lootboxing or not.
Itâs better for they learn to deal with bad decisions in a card game than actually losing tons of money in an actual cassino when theyâre older enough to actually go to it.
What should be done about money is simpler than people think.
Actual children should not even have acess to it because theyâre just not mature enough to have actual money.
If children have acess to money that IS both their parents fault together with the state fault.
What is the difference?
Mistakes with money have a too severe impact where an actual children can not be able to get up again after doing.
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children needing to learn how to use money wisely and gambling are 2 different things.
the whole reason for âallowanceâ is that, to learn to spend your money responsibly. But that doesnât mean you should take your children to a casino to experience whatâs a severe addiction first hand.
That said, as long as itâs a teenager, and not younger than that, i dont see an issue with cardpacks. They are distinct enough than lootboxes imo. At least they were to me when i was a teenage using my allowance to buy mtg packs at our local store.
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I see no difference.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-gold-coast-woman-faces-court-for-smacking-child-with-wooden-spoon/456d5ade-a327-4d64-a511-82a72cc5038e
Was it radiohead who released a âpay what you want for itâ album in the early days of filesharingâŚ?
At some point the gaming industry realised that by adopting practices pioneered (or adopted, I donât know) in casinos, they could dramatically increase both revenue and reach. Some people will pay many many times more money than others for a game, and loot boxes, card packs, and other for sale items facilitate this.
For most of us the result is free games! (Often free food and service in a casino setting). Cool for me. I put money in a slot machine exactly once, pressed the button 5 times and thought this has to be the dumbest game ever made. But others will desperately sink their life savings, their partnerâs savings, and their kidâs futures to hear the ding-a-ling you win.
Iâll happily pay $10 for a mobile game, but I know thatâs pretty rare amongst consumers these days, as the free (or nearly free) for most and very expensive for a few model has almost completely replaced the norm. So I coast along playing free games.
They arenâtâŚ
Gambling is fun and fun is addictive.
Should we forbid children from having fun ?
If not people can and should consider it as entertainment.
With that said the problem starts when children gamble with real money.
Not before and not after.
This is why minors are forbid in cassinos in most countries.
Not because theyâre gambling. But because theyâre gambling money.
If any game uses any currency other than actual money for gambling i have exactly 0 issues with that and many countries think exactly as me.
And if your children get acess to your money by stealing your credit card the problem isnât the company. Itâs you being a bad parent.
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Why is gambling a sin in Christianity?
(1) Gambling directly appeals to covetousness and greed âwhich is idolatryâ according to the Apostle Paul (Colossians 3:5). Gambling breaches the 1st, 2nd and 10th commandments. It enthrones personal desires in place of God. Jesus warned: âyou cannot serve both God and Moneyâ.
thatâs such a fallacy.
itâs not the fun thatâs addictive in gambling. Itâs the desperation that is. The thought that maybe THIS TIME youâll break even. Maybe THIS TIME you wonât lose.
And yes, you should protect chldren from desperation.
The olâ card pack shuffle. And yet, players (me included) take part.
I donât know from a business perspective that eliminating the way by which card packs function would be remotely profitable. As they say â donât fix what isnât broken.
Nah.
We should put children in situations that prepare children for the real thing without the risks of the real thing.
That way we do our work as parents. Protect and educate.
This is the best protection any parent can offer.
Because getting stronger is basically lifetime protection.
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That sentiment reminds me of Scared Straight, for some reason. As it turns out, programs such as this have no documented effect in curbing criminality and, in fact, potentially make matters worse.
Sorry for rambling.
Sure.
Because i talking about self betterment.
Not about provoke a change in behavior alone.
The change in behavior comes with learning to deal with the situation.
I want people to never gamble again. I want people to learn to not lose control of themselves and have a healthy relationship with it.
Do anything like try to imprint fear on people to cause behavior change is basically doctrination and itâs extremely mind damaging.