[wanderfowl]

So, a different-but-related question: Putting aside the desired addictive nature, are there any gamers out there who actually prefer microtransaction-driven loot box mechanics to more conventional item drops?

Or is this just a UX element that most people dislike or don't care about, but some people get badly addicted to?

There's so much argument about gambling, etc, but I'm yet to hear a compelling argument for why these should be allowed to exist, from a game design perspective, short of "we can make a lot of money from gamblers".

[ghkbrew]

> why these should be allowed to exist

Because that's the default state, in our society at least. If you want something banned/made illegal/etc you need a compelling argument for why it shouldn't be allowed to exist.

[PhasmaFelis]

They said "from a game design perspective," not from a regulatory/legal perspective.

[moviuro]

I kind of like how Path of Exile[0] handles that entire issue:

* PoE is a Free-to-Play game. On paper, it's totally possible to play without giving them one cent.

* PoE offers 2 pay-only features: account modifiers (such as stash tabs to hold items that drop while playing, and your personal premium hideout if you want one); and character skins + vanity portraits + in-game pets that don't help you + ....

Only the skins are in lootboxes, and you may also get the one skin you want at a fixed price (a $3 lootbox can hold any items that are $3+ combined). Not sure about the odds though - I havent seen them published anywhere.

As a gamer, I enjoy playing a game where I'm not a cash cow: my items in-game have the same drop rate as that of my neighbor; and I don't mind paying for nice-to-have "optional" features (the game is quite fun BTW).

[0] https://pathofexile.com

[jbarberu]

I also tend to bring up PoE whenever I need a good example of how to do free-to-play right :)

[magashna]

It can be used to make a decent game free. I generally don't buy any microtransactions and I'll play a free game or at least try it out. If whales want to subsidize a game, the devs are happy, and the whales don't feel bad about it, I don't really care about changing the situation. I don't like the attitude of blaming the addictive nature, even if they specifically work on making a skinner box, because I think there should be some self control.

[pingyong]

I think people who aren't looking for something specific (i.e. they already own all the "basic" stuff they really want) and just enjoy getting more stuff probably like random loot boxes? Because if you want to get everything, it's usually cheaper to buy those.

Personally, I don't understand the desire to want every single skin or item in a game even if you never use it, especially when you have to pay like $5000-$20000 to get that, but some people seem to have that urge. Whether that's unhealthy spending or just a hobby depends on the person, I guess.