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Belgium rules FIFA, Overwatch, & CSGO must remove loot boxes or face fines/prison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNiVSj9uzTw

I think its kind of awesome. Go Belgium go :D
My guess is those companies will just block access of their games to Belgium. Those lootboxes are just too profitable to pass up.
And the EA CEO pulls out his wallet and asks "would you like that fine paid in cash or cheque?"

Edit: That's after someone tells him where Belgium even is. It's the one with the little boy taking a piss, okay?
Post edited April 26, 2018 by CMOT70
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tremere110: My guess is those companies will just block access of their games to Belgium. Those lootboxes are just too profitable to pass up.
Only in the short term. Long term is an entirely different matter.
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anothername: Belgium rules FIFA, Overwatch, & CSGO must remove loot boxes or face fines/prison ...
They put games in a prison. Awesome.
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anothername: Belgium rules FIFA, Overwatch, & CSGO must remove loot boxes or face fines/prison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNiVSj9uzTw

I think its kind of awesome. Go Belgium go :D
FIFA, Overwatch, & CSGO - Once the owners stop pissing themselves laughing, they continue to make vast fortunes out of loot boxes irrespective of this. Even Europe as a whole cannot do a single thing about it.

The commission used four parameters to determine whether or not loot boxes in a game were considered a game of chance: if there was a game element that allowed bets to be placed, with a possible profit or loss, where chance played a roll in the result.
The Netherlands has a similar ruling but only applies if there's a market people can sell on it seems.

I really have to wonder how TCG's and the like are getting around this kind of litigation.
Post edited April 26, 2018 by Pheace
I really, really hope Hearthstone gets slammed by this. I hate this game just as much as I play it, which is way too much.
Asking for 50 euros to get just 4 guaranteed legendaries each expansion(which comes with 20-25 legendaries), when they release three expansions each year, only to have those cards rotate out of standard play two years later, is stealing!

I've read that having flashing lights, loud encouragements, and roulette wheel like displays, were also reasons that lootbox based games were warned about, and Hearthstone has all of those. If Overwatch got warned, though I'm not familiar with the monetization model in that game, I'm sure Hearthstone is next.
Post edited April 26, 2018 by MadalinStroe
*shrug* all they are going to do is slightly change implementation so it fits in with the letter of the law. Star Wars: Battlefront II has already done so, and is perfectly legal in Belgium now.
Good, good.
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MadalinStroe: I really, really hope Hearthstone gets slammed by this. I hate this game just as much as I play it, which is way too much.
Asking for 50 euros to get just 4 guaranteed legendaries each expansion(which comes with 20-25 legendaries), when they release three expansions each year, only to have those cards rotate out of standard play two years later, is stealing!

I've read that having flashing lights, loud encouragements, and roulette wheel like displays, were also reasons that lootbox based games were warned about, and Hearthstone has all of those. If Overwatch got warned, though I'm not familiar with the monetization model in that game, I'm sure Hearthstone is next.
It's the out of game market for the items. People aren't selling their Hearthstone cards on websites for $1000's like they are CSGO skins and such. That played a huge role in determining gambling! Because the real world value of some of the items you get is literally zero, and some are worth real money, that makes it gambling.
Belgium, however, is pretty much the center of EU. Publishers don't want to risk it, I think. They'll do something.
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paladin181: It's the out of game market for the items. People aren't selling their Hearthstone cards on websites for $1000's like they are CSGO skins and such. That played a huge role in determining gambling! Because the real world value of some of the items you get is literally zero, and some are worth real money, that makes it gambling.
That's what I would have thought too. But then you realize that Overwatch's business system is built around cosmetic skins only. And yet Overwatch is lumped in the "pay a fine and go to jail" category should they not change their monetization. Compared to that, Hearthstone is way worse. But then again Hearthstone is free to try/"play", while Overwatch costs up front, maybe there's an exception there.
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KneeTheCap: Belgium, however, is pretty much the center of EU. Publishers don't want to risk it, I think. They'll do something.
Let's hope so and let's hope that Belgium stays the driving force for customer protection in the EU - and that the rest of the EU doesn't block their efforts, but follows suit.
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KneeTheCap: Belgium, however, is pretty much the center of EU. Publishers don't want to risk it, I think. They'll do something.
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Lifthrasil: Let's hope so and let's hope that Belgium stays the driving force for customer protection in the EU - and that the rest of the EU doesn't block their efforts, but follows suit.
What? Hey, us Dutchies had some legislation before the Red Devils down there :p