Square Enix Pulls Three Games From Belgium After Loot Box Ban (theguardian.com)

The games publisher Square Enix is pulling three mobile games from Belgium following the introduction of a law in the European nation that bans "loot boxes" as a form of gambling. From a report: The games -- "Mobius Final Fantasy", "Kingdom Hearts Union X" and "Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia" -- are some of largest titles in the publisher's mobile roster, although it is better known for its console games such as "Tomb Raider", "Final Fantasy" and "Hitman." In statements posted in the games, Square Enix confirmed that the new law was to blame for their removal, citing "the present uncertain legal status of 'loot boxes' under Belgian law". Belgium first took action against "loot boxes", digital reward packs which can be bought with real or virtual money and contain a semi-random array of in-game items, back in April. The country's gaming commission ruled that the mechanics, as implemented in three popular games -- "Overwatch", "Fifa 18" and "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive" -- were in violation of gambling legislation.

Comments

You don't understand gambling

[rsilvergun]

if you think people who do it regularly are idiots. Gambling takes advantage of several well known psychological quirks of the human mind to manipulate already vulnerable people.

This isn't nannying. It's recognizing a vulnerable minority and taking steps to protect them. You might just as well say consumer protection laws are nannying.

Lastly, video games are Casinos now. The lootboxes are the slots and poker tables. It's like how Uber is really a taxi cab service. You call a spade a spade and gambling gambling. The only reason loot boxes haven't ruined more lives is the game companies are holding back just a bit. They're only doing that under threat of regulation.

Re:God Bless the EU

[CronoCloud]

I didn't call YOU alt-right, I'm saying that because you are crying "Nanny State", you're falling into the trap of doing the same anti-government all-government-is-collectivism shit that the usual alt-right/randroid suspects do.

Right off, your concept of "everyone must think the same is a little disturbing. No, they don't, and there is no reason that they should.

I didn't say everyone needs to think the same. What I'm saying is that WE as citizens have to decide what we want to do about this. We can't have it both ways.

It makes me exceptionally nervous when I see Europeans start talking about strong central governments. This trait pops up every once in a while, and the results are usually pretty bad.

I'm in the US and Nazi Germany wasn't all of Europe. Neither was the old Soviet Union. Both are gone. And the UK, France, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, etc have strong central governments.

Strong central governments aren't a negative. In the Real World we need such things to do things that people want governments to do. A strong central government put men on the moon. A strong central government created the internet. Money from strong central governments wiped out smallpox.

And a strong central government is the ONLY thing that really has any chance at all of putting megacorps to heel.