“We’ve spent 30 years underperforming and manipulating our customers to get where we are today! We’re not about to let some noob take a slice of our pie just because they came up with this wacky idea of a ‘Fun game that’s reasonably priced!’”
I think that's a bit farfetched. I don't think any AAA dinosaur feels threatened by Balatro, and if we talk specifically about sports games Balatro is not a threat because that genre has formed its own thick bubble that Balatro could never penetrate.
The more obvious reason is probably true, lawmakers are simply too stupid to tell the difference between using gambling motiffs and actual gambling.
No. It is because Balatro actually had playing cards and pretended it was poker. Its similar to how so many older games could have your character popping meth near constantly but it is fine because it isn’t tobacco.
That said: I really do wish we would have a proper reckoning. I love Balatro. It very much takes the skinner box and slot machine mechanics to an all new level. So does Vampire Survivors. And if you ask most millennial gamers, we’ll have stories about how we almost flunked out of college because of Diablo or WoW and the like.
The gacha games and ultimate team and all that very much exploit the same concepts but with a goal of milking every single penny out of their consumerbase. But time is often just as important (and most of said milking comes from people realizing they have no time to spare) and it is important people realize that.
He may break even if his content generates enough income. I almost applaud him for the effort, because publishers aren’t going to be straightforward with the amount you’d need to spend for a completionist. This is probably the only way to shed light on the problem, even if that wasn’t his intent.
Don’t think of this as an individual making stupid choices with a game. Think of this as a game with thousands of players designed to target and take advantage of the neuro-divergent or those susceptible to problem gambling.
Micro-tranactions are a predatory gambling mechanic and this person was robbed of this money.
what’s fucking sad is I don’t think this guy even realizes he has a problem.
One things for sure, I will not spend this much again, because you don’t get rewarded for it. As much as I spent, I should have everything in the game, but it’s not even close.
That’s what you say when you’ve spent like $100. hell maybe even $1000. But $32k??? This is so far beyond being not “rewarded for it”.
These games are designed to take advantage of addicts. The fact that you don't know how much it will cost to get what you want, the fact that there is no limit on how much you can spend, is a feature.
It’s like a casino but there is nothing to win. Honestly people that are stupid enough to spend money on bullshit like this deserve anything that comes their way. Don’t waste your money on bullshit. Lesson learned.
As my comment above, publishers would quickly make “Super Milky Gacha game for Casuals - Classic edition!” and all would go messy even more than current mobile gaming market. Wish I could be wrong on this one, but I can’t see this working.
Coz it’s bit utopian, unrealistic request. Also The Sims would fall in every category.
Also, very quickly, publishers (and some devs) would announce “Super Milky Gacha game for Casuals - Classic edition!” and all would go ruin even more, than current mobile gaming market. Totally not worthy.
Well, Rockstar did Max Payne 3 dirty on this, but AFAIK Remedy and Sam Lake weren’t involved. Remedy did use Sam likeness in Alan Wake, so you might be right.
They already walked back on it in Max Payne 2, which made me irrationally upset at the time. But in Alan Wake 1/2 the Max Payne stand-in Alex Casey had Sam Lake’s face again… so, maybe?
I’m more worried about how they’ll approach James McCaffrey’s passing. He is Max Payne, but I feel like they will recast him out of sheer necessity (unless they really just stick slavishly to the originals and give them a fresh coat of paint).
“The past is a puzzle, like a broken mirror. As you piece it together, you cut yourself, your image keeps shifting. And you change with it. It could destroy you, drive you mad. It could set you free.”
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