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Uhu. Either APB will get an AO-like rating from all other rating agencies like everybody else or not have them at all to avoid that rating. Currently it is a big program that minors/adolescents are exposed to these gambling-like mechanics. It is a problem with regulation sadly. May seem weak to you but you can play coy all you want but these predatory monetizations still existing is still a problem. It doesn't really change things too much as minors/adolescents and people with addiction problems are affected by these bad video game designs to begin with due to no gambling regulations. Some people sympathize with developers trying to make a profit but I disagree. You should make a good game that should not revolve around microtransactions like loot boxes which are gambling. If you will not take away that, then I think developers need to follow gambling rules and regulations if when that does take place. Belgium did just that and several companies refused to be involved in those new regulations. To me, that is the way to go. Preying on people with shopping addictions isn't new either isn't it? It's just another new low the video game industry are willing to sink into when this didn't have to exist in the first place like the old days. And you don't seem to take the issue with people with shopping/gambling addictions as seriously as what you are saying in your response. Mainstream games (not just mainstream games but mobile etc.) have pretty much turned my seemingly harmless hobby into how much more money can you spend on a single game just to get what you want. Especially with that new NBA game that literally has slot machines in it with none of the rating agencies taking the issue too seriously. It is very disappointing to see.

Yep. That's a whole another issue to deal with. This whole loot box and predatory monetization has sadly been ignored for years until only in recent times.

Then you are ignoring ESRB'S own definition of the AO rating on their own website that does say it involves gambling with real currency. Plus those three videos in my first original post have already detailed several studies and actual stories of children exposed to loot boxes. Safe to say loot boxes are gambling because they are and shouldn't be exposed to minors or adolescents. It's another case where the mainstream media or even local media where you live just turn a blind eye or refuse to cover stories of people addicted to these bad video game monetization practices.

Personally I'm not fond of the F2P mechanics. Feels more grindier that the game has to be designed around the convenience that you can pay more and more money just to progress better in the game usually. I guess I'm old fashioned and prefer to pay a game before getting to play it or going for a subscription per monthly model instead and do away with all the microtransactions if possible. But this doesnt look likely to happen anytime soon, if ever at all.

ESRB's own website says that AO rating applies to games that have gambling with real currency. M rating doesn't have it. Multiple studies and sources have already shown that the majority have pointed out that loot boxes are gambling hence why this game should be rated AO and not M. But it is better to remove loot boxes, if not, put an AO rating at least for ESRB's rating.

I'm pretty sure you know the answer to that question already. Laws and regulations aren't perfect but it is still better than absolute freedom if you think about it. For example, taxes. Almost everybody doesn't like them but most people deal with it. Glad to hear you want to do decisions for yourself, but then again the whole world doesn't revolve around you or me either. Hoping to see things in the world just a little bit better if that happens at all when looking outside the box.

If you end up getting into legal trouble one way or the other then you wouldn't be saying that would you? Pretty sure nobody wants to be in that position. It's that thing where you hear bad things happen to other people and think 'oh that will never happen to me' and then it does actually happen. Life ain't perfect but you get used to it.

Sure. If you want to do things illegally and not be told by laws or regulations on what you can and cannot do in life that's totally up to you.

Nope. My opinion and stance isn't going to change and neither will yours. I keep my opinions and you keep yours.

Being able to make a good profit on video games has long existed before microtransactions came in. And even if the game sells very well with the 'predatory' monetization there are still lay-offs despite all the profits. So it doesnt seem to make a difference. I don't know if you have ever dealt with anyone or someone that you know has addiction problems when it comes to shopping or gambling but this is a big problem. It is not something you can simply turn off, it doesn't work that way. It is very easy to be there and saying 'they should of known better'. There are people that try to escape other forms of addictions and turn to videogames for that but fall prey on the 'predatory' monetization. It is even worse when children/adolescents get involved. Parental supervisory or keeping an eye on your credit card is simply not enough. It is a problem that could easily be fixed by not having the 'predatory' monetization. Some have already argued ideas that they need to keep these bad designs and practices just to stay in business. If you are really relying on those for those reasons, maybe you shouldn't be in video game business. There are other safe ways to make money in video games whether you are a big company or a small company etc. I may be repeating these points what some others have said already but I stand by these points that I have said.

Thank you @MattScott for replying to this thread. I read your post and I think I got the main idea of the post. You say you want to know what you can and cannot do when it comes to monetizations in video games. I can understand that. It's too early to say what will happen to the North American market for example but other countries have made their choice and so far it seems to be a snowball effect that others will follow suit, but who knows. Have you also looked at the human side of things? These 'predatory' monetization examples I talked about maybe making a lot of money for certain developers but you are also preying on people with shopping addictions etc. There's a reason why gambling as you know is regulated and never has really been done in video games until recently. It is a bit sad to hear certain people getting addicted to these 'predatory' practices and not being able to control it. Gambling regulations that currently exists isnt perfect but it's better than nothing at all and might happen to video games at some point. Dont know if you remember this video but it does explain on that presentation video and the addictive nature on these practices. It's worth seeing.

I can be wrong on this but these predatory practices are both bad in my book and not just in $60 dollar games and in F2P. Cant say too much but I do know regulations around the world are slowly making their judgments on these practices. So whatever rules each country makes is up to them. I can still see people defending loot boxes or in any of these practices that I have mentioned. Telling me I need to read this and that. You disagree? That's fine. I am not fond of these predatory monetizations myself. These predatory monetizations are already an open secret from reports I have seen on the media. Remember this video I posted on this guy explaining exactly what they are? He even said to leave morality out of it. Developers and publishers are pretty much interested in getting as much money as possible, basically this video sums up the predatory practices. Doesnt just apply to mobile games now does it?

What is also missing is that currently video games in North America especially dont have any gambling regulations/laws in place. When gambling regulations/laws were put in place in video games in Belgium, EA refused to comply subsequently with the regulations and pulled out. Basically not allowing loot boxes to be purchasable with real money. If gambling regulations/laws actually came in place worldwide to the video game industry I bet not many developers will not be as likely to attempt these predatory monetizations as they are currently doing. Though certainly this game being put to Adults Only instead of Mature would help things if ESRB did do their job on rating their games more properly when it comes to games having loot boxes/microtransactions.

If one game has gambling but all the others that have the same thing don't get regulated that seems alright to you? I disagree. Gambling is simply not for adolescents or children, and more and more it is shown that loot boxes have gambling-like mechanics since you are paying for a chance on a random reward, exactly like gambling even if you dont get a cash reward back. It is still predatory monetization. Once the snowball gets going, just like what Belgium and Netherlands did. If UK follows them, no matter what some people that support loot boxes can't argue against the majority of people that are against it. It is that simple.

Not really. Still not enough. If a kid went to a casino to gamble on a machine with their parents and the parents said it was fine, then you cant really say parental supervision is enough. That's why gambling laws and regulations exist to prevent minors/adolescents from gambling. Checking your credit cards for any unusual transactions would also be too late as the damage has already been done. Which is why gambling laws and regulations should be implemented into the video game industry. It's still better than no regulations/laws.