Official European Union Consumer Watchdog Organization Calls For Microtransaction Ban and Regulation

System · September 14

Official European Union Consumer Watchdog Organization Calls For Microtransaction Ban and Regulations | MMORPG.com

A new report by BEUC, an EU consumer group, outlines in detail the problematic nature of microtransactions and specifically in-game currencies.

Read the full story here

Sarla · September 14

I feel comfident that the system will never allow for consumers to ever be treated fairly no matter what laws get passed and bribed away, ops I mean overturned.

Dattelis · September 14

Good luck. Maybe in 20-30 years when Gen Z takes over politically, something like this will be passed, but until then, enjoy you day0 dlc and your 1 month early access/paid betas that will end up costing as much as the base game in their ultimate editions (while still needing to buy the season passes separate for actual new content).

Neoyoshi · September 14

Hmmmmm, the thought behind stuff like this feels genuine, but i don't see this ever happening, at least in my lifetime anyway.

If anything we really just need more regulation with lootboxes in the way South Korea ended up doing it, but being 100% transparent about odds and data behind item.

Korea has much firmer anti-gambling laws and the US at least in some states have actual gambling protections that do get enforced in states like New York; we just need both working at 100% everywhere.

Angrakhan · September 14

I will say if micro transactions were to die in a fire I wouldn't miss them. Unfortunately I don't think the US will ban the practice any time soon largely because big companies like Microsoft, Ubisoft, Sony, etc have their little special interest groups that own Congress, so it will never pass.

IceAge · September 14

Angrakhan said:

I will say if micro transactions were to die in a fire I wouldn't miss them. Unfortunately I don't think the US will ban the practice any time soon largely because big companies like Microsoft, Ubisoft, Sony, etc have their little special interest groups that own Congress, so it will never pass.

Delusional much? Little special interest groups that own Congress? What's next? Groups that owns the world, right?

Dattelis · September 14

IceAge said:

Angrakhan said:

I will say if micro transactions were to die in a fire I wouldn't miss them. Unfortunately I don't think the US will ban the practice any time soon largely because big companies like Microsoft, Ubisoft, Sony, etc have their little special interest groups that own Congress, so it will never pass.

Delusional much? Little special interest groups that own Congress? What's next? Groups that owns the world, right?

Oh how I wish dark money didn't exist and half of Congress wasn't backed by it......

mitech616 · September 15

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

Scot · September 15

Dattelis said:

Good luck. Maybe in 20-30 years when Gen Z takes over politically, something like this will be passed, but until then, enjoy you day0 dlc and your 1 month early access/paid betas that will end up costing as much as the base game in their ultimate editions (while still needing to buy the season passes separate for actual new content).

I agree this is an issue that won't be solved quickly, but I am not relying on Gen Z to solve anything in our world. Quite the contrary in fact.

This announcement shows a direction of travel where the involvement of such organisations may reap some dividends down the line, but I urge a note of caution. Political organisations love a cause and there are many more causes than this one, I am sure for example they see gaming as "too violent" and wish we only wanted to play cozy games with fluffy carton graphics. So be careful what you wish for.

This is clearly getting political so that's my last post on this thread.

Robokapp · September 15

Finally the end of the F2P garb.

Wargfoot · September 15

So, what was so bad about the subscription model again?

Asm0deus · September 15

IceAge said:

Angrakhan said:

I will say if micro transactions were to die in a fire I wouldn't miss them. Unfortunately I don't think the US will ban the practice any time soon largely because big companies like Microsoft, Ubisoft, Sony, etc have their little special interest groups that own Congress, so it will never pass.

Delusional much? Little special interest groups that own Congress? What's next? Groups that owns the world, right?

You're a naive lad arn't you! Guess you never heard of lobbying and or think its all 100% clean with no corruption going on there...lmao

https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-introduces-bill-get-dirty-money-out-politics

Next you will tell us Ajit Pai was a great FCC chairman and was a pro consumer force for good instead of a shill for ISP's like verizon...

olepi · September 15

Wargfoot said:

So, what was so bad about the subscription model again?

The problem is that with a subscription model, how do you milk the whales?

Scot · September 15

olepi said:

Wargfoot said:

So, what was so bad about the subscription model again?

The problem is that with a subscription model, how do you milk the whales?

Have a cash shop that only sells cosmetic items, you would get some whales but by no means most that way.

emperorhades1 · September 15

Microsoft just laid off another 600 employees after the blizzard merger. How can anyone see that merger as being good for gaming? Nothing of quality has came out of Microsoft and all they have done is jack up prices, add mtx and premium early access. They jacked up the price of gamepass and actually made it worse. It is time to break these companies up.

Angrakhan · September 15

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

As a political scientist? So what, you're a waiter that watches CNN in your off hours? I wasn't suggesting that there's a cabal that controls Congress. It's just that Congress is very evenly divided and it doesn't take many votes to kill a bill. We've seen several times in the last two years where a handful of Congress will "cross the isle" and vote against their party to kill a bill. I'm pretty sure it's special interest groups involved. I think the likes of Microsoft and Amazon are big enough to put together a pro gaming software PAC that will encourage a handful of senators to vote for "open markets" and get such a bill as this killed in the US.

olepi · September 15

Scot said:

olepi said:

Wargfoot said:

So, what was so bad about the subscription model again?

The problem is that with a subscription model, how do you milk the whales?

Have a cash shop that only sells cosmetic items, you would get some whales but by no means most that way.

I look at the example of Fortnite. We scoff at Star Citizen wasting $700 million, and seem amazed at WoW making $700 million a year, but Fortnite makes $4-5 Billion a year. It has no subscription needed, and a cash shop with only cosmetics.

[Deleted User] · September 15

The user and all related content has been deleted.

IceAge · September 15

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

Exactly my point I was trying to make, but you nailed it far better than me ( language barrier for me ).

This conspiracy theories guys will believe everything. Everything which is not "the norm" that is. Aka contra.

"Hey, the Earth is round" - "Nope, is not."

"Hey, we landed on the Moon" - "Nope, we didn't."

Etc.

Angrakhan said:

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

I think the likes of Microsoft and Amazon are big enough to put together a pro gaming software PAC that will encourage a handful of senators to vote for "open markets" and get such a bill as this killed in the US.

LOL !

Blueliner · September 15

IceAge said:

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

Exactly my point I was trying to make, but you nailed it far better than me ( language barrier for me ).

This conspiracy theories guys will believe everything. Everything which is not "the norm" that is. Aka contra.

"Hey, the Earth is round" - "Nope, is not."

"Hey, we landed on the Moon" - "Nope, we didn't."

Etc.

Angrakhan said:

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

I think the likes of Microsoft and Amazon are big enough to put together a pro gaming software PAC that will encourage a handful of senators to vote for "open markets" and get such a bill as this killed in the US.

LOL !

So tell me please. how do congressmen (and women) enter service making $174000 a year and after say 2 terms leave with 60million? yep no one ever gets paid by lobbyists smh ya'll delusional

Wargfoot · September 15

Blueliner said:

IceAge said:

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

Exactly my point I was trying to make, but you nailed it far better than me ( language barrier for me ).

This conspiracy theories guys will believe everything. Everything which is not "the norm" that is. Aka contra.

"Hey, the Earth is round" - "Nope, is not."

"Hey, we landed on the Moon" - "Nope, we didn't."

Etc.

Angrakhan said:

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

I think the likes of Microsoft and Amazon are big enough to put together a pro gaming software PAC that will encourage a handful of senators to vote for "open markets" and get such a bill as this killed in the US.

LOL !

So tell me please. how do congressmen (and women) enter service making $174000 a year and after say 2 terms leave with 60million? yep no one ever gets paid by lobbyists smh ya'll delusional

Oh come on you looney conspiracy nut - they earn it through honest insider trading.

Phoenix_Hawk · September 15

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

Back in the 1980s, under the Reagan administration, various changes were made that lead to the situation with lobbying in the US today. I mean all you have to do is look at how the US handles various issues like healthcare, the environment, education, prisons, guns, and so forth, then compare that to basically every other developed nation, and some developing nations. You'll see a situation where basically everyone else is in unison going one way on those matters, while the US is sprinting off in some other direction, and the reason in every case is how other nations don't have the lobbying system the US has, and tends to handle such matters through government run programs, while the US handles them through private for profit enterprises.

Those with money are absolutely steering politicians around in the US. Then with big, big companies like Microsoft, and Amazon involved in gaming, they most certainly have the kind of money to get politicians to do what they want in the US.

If anything like this regarding micro transactions, and the like has any hope of going through, it's going to have to come from basically any country other than the US. If enough of them, or big enough ones make those changes, then companies will have to go along with it, as we've seen in the past like when China passed laws related to showing rates on paid RNG in games.

IceAge · September 15

Blueliner said:

So tell me please. how do congressmen (and women) enter service making $174000 a year and after say 2 terms leave with 60million? yep no one ever gets paid by lobbyists smh ya'll delusional

Out of ..curiosity, but can you give me some evidence of a said congressman who left after 2 terms with 60 mil and not get caught? And if that's the case, then the congressman leaving with 60 mil should be nothing actually, because the problem is way bigger.

Authorities should get individuals like him. And as far as I know ( I am not a US citizen ) , lobbying ( and taking money for that ) while still in office is strictly forbidden.

..but, of course! You may be right and I might be wrong. So give me some evidences. Thanks!

Wargfoot said:

Blueliner said:

So tell me please. how do congressmen (and women) enter service making $174000 a year and after say 2 terms leave with 60million? yep no one ever gets paid by lobbyists smh ya'll delusional

Oh come on you looney conspiracy nut - they earn it through honest insider trading.

Anyone who earns that much money are doing it illegal and your IRS or whoever is actually in charge to get this kind of people are to blame if they not getting them.

And implying that "is normal business" is delusional. This are frauds and should never be given as exemple.

But hey! Something tells me that neither you or the other guy will fail to give me exemple and max I will get will be "iF yoU WantZ aNSWers GooGlE It .. man!!!"

..right?

Kyleran · September 15

IceAge said:

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

Exactly my point I was trying to make, but you nailed it far better than me ( language barrier for me ).

This conspiracy theories guys will believe everything. Everything which is not "the norm" that is. Aka contra.

"Hey, the Earth is round" - "Nope, is not."

"Hey, we landed on the Moon" - "Nope, we didn't."

Etc.

Angrakhan said:

mitech616 said:

I don't get where this idea of "dark money" owning every single member of government comes from. It's a crazy conspiracy theory, and as a political scientist, we've seen this just isn't true in 90% of situations. Sure, when it comes to massive national products with a complicated position like oil or agriculture there are heavy pressures. But these are OPEN. They're not hidden, and everyone knows each side is pressuring.

But if you think the gaming or entertainment industries have some "secret cabal" controlling government, your tinfoil hat is on FAR too tight.

I think the likes of Microsoft and Amazon are big enough to put together a pro gaming software PAC that will encourage a handful of senators to vote for "open markets" and get such a bill as this killed in the US.

LOL !

You probably think birds are real too.

Wargfoot · September 16

IceAge said:

Wargfoot said:

Blueliner said:

So tell me please. how do congressmen (and women) enter service making $174000 a year and after say 2 terms leave with 60million? yep no one ever gets paid by lobbyists smh ya'll delusional

Oh come on you looney conspiracy nut - they earn it through honest insider trading.

Anyone who earns that much money are doing it illegal and your IRS or whoever is actually in charge to get this kind of people are to blame if they not getting them.

And implying that "is normal business" is delusional. This are frauds and should never be given as exemple.

But hey! Something tells me that neither you or the other guy will fail to give me exemple and max I will get will be "iF yoU WantZ aNSWers GooGlE It .. man!!!"

..right?

Insider trading in congress:
Is it illegal for lawmakers to trade stocks on insider info they learn on the job? (nbcnews.com)

The STOCK Act: The Failed Effort to Stop Insider Trading in Congress | Campaign Legal Center

I honestly don't care enough about this to discuss it further.
Sure, the dollar amounts cited above may be extreme, but how much would you have to make on insider trading to end up in the pokey?

Again, I don't care - I expect criminals to behave poorly.

Slapshot1188 · September 16

IceAge said:

Blueliner said:

So tell me please. how do congressmen (and women) enter service making $174000 a year and after say 2 terms leave with 60million? yep no one ever gets paid by lobbyists smh ya'll delusional

Out of ..curiosity, but can you give me some evidence of a said congressman who left after 2 terms with 60 mil and not get caught? And if that's the case, then the congressman leaving with 60 mil should be nothing actually, because the problem is way bigger.

Authorities should get individuals like him. And as far as I know ( I am not a US citizen ) , lobbying ( and taking money for that ) while still in office is strictly forbidden.

..but, of course! You may be right and I might be wrong. So give me some evidences. Thanks!

Wargfoot said:

Blueliner said:

So tell me please. how do congressmen (and women) enter service making $174000 a year and after say 2 terms leave with 60million? yep no one ever gets paid by lobbyists smh ya'll delusional

Oh come on you looney conspiracy nut - they earn it through honest insider trading.

Anyone who earns that much money are doing it illegal and your IRS or whoever is actually in charge to get this kind of people are to blame if they not getting them.

And implying that "is normal business" is delusional. This are frauds and should never be given as exemple.

But hey! Something tells me that neither you or the other guy will fail to give me exemple and max I will get will be "iF yoU WantZ aNSWers GooGlE It .. man!!!"

..right?

Sure he exaggerated but the site below is rather interesting (if out of date)

https://ballotpedia.org/Changes_in_Net_Worth_of_U.S._Senators_and_Representatives_(Personal_Gain_Index)

It's not so much folks that join Congress for 2 terms and make $60M. It's folks that spend 5 decades in government and are ridiculously wealthy at the end. This isn't a one party issue. Both have plenty of bad actors.

The vast majority of politicians that are in Washington for over a decade are making their money elsewhere. And yeah, maybe the videogame industry isn't the largest lobbyist but they just have to get the right 3 or 4 people motivated to sink any proposals. Or tweak them to be neutered.

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Official European Union Consumer Watchdog Organization Calls For Microtransaction Ban and Regulation

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Official European Union Consumer Watchdog Organization Calls For Microtransaction Ban and Regulation

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Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV