The ESA 'strongly disagrees' with UK commission's finding on loot boxes

Earlier this week the UK's Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport issued a report recommending that loot boxes in videogames be subject to the same regulations as gambling, which would include content labels on games with paid loot boxes and a ban on selling them to minors.

The reaction on the North American side of the pond was somewhat confrontational, however. "We take seriously the issues raised in the UK Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee report, but strongly disagree with its findings," an Entertainment Software Association representative told GamesIndustry.biz.

[spartan112g]

Sounds like somebody's check went through.

[SkatterBrain]

LootBoxes Is Grooming kids into Real Gambling like Vape Pens do to Cigarettes

[nitus10]

Vape pens are usually the last resort of quitting tobacco addiction. The problem you do get especially in light of the recent deaths of six people in the US due (not really proven conclusively) to vaping is that many more people die of tobacco-related diseases so let's be fair why don't we ban tobacco as well?

Oh, wait! The tobacco industry lobbies have donated a lot of money to the appropriate lawmakers. https://www.tobaccofreekids... Using the USA as an example but the same google search (tobacco government donations) would work for other countries.

Actually, if you look at the statistics of "preventable deaths" in the US the number one is smoking which can lead to a variety of life-threating ailments. https://www.healthline.com/...

Yes, I know this is off topic but gambling lobbyists do contribute to political parties. https://www.opensecrets.org... Maybe this is a hint for the gaming companies that want to have politicians look at them with a favourable light.

[indysurfn]

Dang ESA looks like gamers are saying YOUR the problem. Exactly how big WAS that check?

[XiNatsuDragnel]

LMAO disagreeing with facts how surprising.... not really lmao

[RpgSama]

Yeah, the ESA are like "I strongly disagree with your facts...'cause"

[rainslacker]

ESA is a lobby group for the industry. They aren't there just to try and better gaming as a whole, but to try and work the lawmakers for concessions for those in the game industry.

They are proactive on the consumer side of things, and have programs to help the industry internally, but their primary purpose is to exert influence on behalf of the game industry to people more important than us.

[Nemop]

The facts are lootboxes are by definition, not gambling in almost every case. Whether lootboxes should be regulated the same way as gambling is (even though it isn't gambling) is where the ESA disagrees. They are not disagreeing with facts.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Lol they also disagreed with the research that the method of lootboxes is akin to gambling too, dude so good try

[LoveSpuds]

My concerns are that this Tory government will, as they always do, put the interests of big business first. I guess time will tell but I won't be surprised if this whole thing goes away at some point. It wouldn't be so bad if the likes of EA paid their fair share of tax on the profits they make in the UK😠

[senorfartcushion]

Yeah, precisely. This action is the antithesis of their usual actions. I'm guessing that they're not really interested in how games operate. If they did, they'd create an equally corrupt system, similar to the one EA has with the ESA

[Sgt_Slaughter]

In other news, water is wet.

[KeenBean345]

Our government is in shambles right now but if they can push through some legislation regarding lootboxes I'll be happy

[Shikoku]

You mean an industry board set up by the industry and made up of the industry disagrees with the findings of something outside the industry control? No way!! Lol

[indysurfn]

Good Job Shikoku! Knowingly or unknowingly ALSO described the FDA!

[MasterCornholio]

Oh so now you don't like the governments surprise mechanics?

#dealwithit

Edit:

"Most of the top publishers in the gaming world (or their American subsidiaries) are members of the ESA, including Capcom, ELECTRONIC ARTS, Konami, Microsoft, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Nintendo, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Square Enix, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "

[senorfartcushion]

Yeah, they're paid to disagree.

[Ristul]

Bingo!

[TheColbertinator]

If the ESA cannot convince the politicians to avoid loot box legislation, then the ESA will be dissolved.

There is no point in lobbyists if they cannot lobby for their corporate sponsors successfully.

[rainslacker]

If it's just over one thing they dont need to be dissolved. The ESA overall does a lot of good for the industry. They also sometimes do good for the consumers when their interests line up with the industries interests

[Relientk77]

Oh yeah? Well, I strongly agree with with UK commission's finding on loot boxes

[rainslacker]

I agree that you agree with the UK's commission.

[isarai]

That's like disagreeing with science, sure you can do that, but it just makes you look like an idiot beyond measure.

[Majinzo]

The next generation will be a tech addicted generation.

[Imalwaysright]

What a surprise...