[IGN] Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony Working on New Policy for Loot Box Probability

many years ago (close to 12) i didn't have the hardware to run AAA games and got sucked into mafia wars on facebook. joined in a few clans but mostly one (killer clowns 4life! honk honk!) and some fun wars and what not. you could pay to upgrade stuff sooner and whatnot so i though whats the harm in spending a few bucks to play over the week ends?

instead of using a debit/credit card, i would go to the game store and picked up a few $20 game cards for the scratch off codes. it was all great fun, playing 18-36 hours straight, hanging out in the clan's skype room, talking smack on the other clan's page and dropping their links in skype when they start attacking me; i'm sure i can start a riot in a graveyard.

that was all good and everything until those cards started stacking up and thought to myself that i could have upgraded my hardware. add to that there were times a member in another clan would report my facebook account causing me to be banned and not being able to play at all. in hindsight, besides being slightly embarrassed about spending money on a flash game, its still amazing how quickly and unaware i was to spending a few hundred dollars.

but i ain't embarrassed nearly the amount of some folks; a few of my own clan members admitted to me of setting up a wire bank transfer to zynga for several thousand dollars. ran across this other guy who was a developer in the state of flordia and started playing the game while convalescing in bed for a few months; he spend considerable more money than that -estimated over $10K. no wonder facebook kicked zynga off their "gaming platform" so they can get the whole pie instead of just a piece.

but i think the point of my long winded story is; i worked at a really crappy factory for a few weeks last year. many of the kids (i can say kids as they are less than half my age) would talk about what are the coolest skins in fortnite and spending half their pay checks try to get them (with the other half going to other recreational stuff to have during game play).

i'd asked them why? and get the same (or close) to the answer i would give spending money previously - it's fun, my entertainment, the social aspect . .ect.


E:
btw, i'm sure i have successfully recovered from any micro transactions. played war thunder a few years ago and racked up a few hundred hours. not once did i have an interest buying in game currency. i'd rather just grind it out or spend a few hours seal clubbing.