Incline The Death of Freemium? Microtransactions Under Global Scrutiny

[Swigen]

Wait ... you mean ... our government is outlawing annoying loot boxes in all the shitty gaems I don’t even play?? QUICK!! GIVE THE GOVERNMENT FREE REIGN TO FUCK WITH ASPECTS OF THE HOBBY I DO ENJOY!!

So you watch C-SPAN too?

No! I’m a member of the NRA!!

That's cool (though GOA is way better). I just buy guns.

New gun day tomorrow. 9mm or 45?

.45. 9mm has a tendency to go through bodies, which just means they get to stand there and shoot back. .45 knocks them down. Usually.

US military, even special forces is carrying 9mm now so I just don’t know what to do. I could get a Colt 1911 with 7 big ass bullets or a Sig M17 that holds 17 tiny bullets but if they’re hollow points it apparently levels the playing field as far as stopping power and damage is concerned vs the .45

 

[Wyatt_Derp]

Wait ... you mean ... our government is outlawing annoying loot boxes in all the shitty gaems I don’t even play?? QUICK!! GIVE THE GOVERNMENT FREE REIGN TO FUCK WITH ASPECTS OF THE HOBBY I DO ENJOY!!

So you watch C-SPAN too?

No! I’m a member of the NRA!!

That's cool (though GOA is way better). I just buy guns.

New gun day tomorrow. 9mm or 45?

.45. 9mm has a tendency to go through bodies, which just means they get to stand there and shoot back. .45 knocks them down. Usually.

US military, even special forces is carrying 9mm now so I just don’t know what to do. I could get a Colt 1911 with 7 big ass bullets or a Sig M17 that holds 17 tiny bullets but if they’re hollow points it apparently levels the playing field as far as stopping power and damage is concerned vs the .45

I've got a Beretta 92FS 9mm. Basically the same as the Mil version. I picked up a 30 round mag for it a few years ago. It just shoots forever. Very fun. Beretta's a good brand too.

 

[Swigen]

I'm thinking 45 long colt. Love those ruger vaqueros. Though I think they make 'em in .357 as well. Hard to beat a hard working original.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Vaquero

You see Colt King Cobra reissue? Was looking at that as well.

 

[Cael]

Wait ... you mean ... our government is outlawing annoying loot boxes in all the shitty gaems I don’t even play?? QUICK!! GIVE THE GOVERNMENT FREE REIGN TO FUCK WITH ASPECTS OF THE HOBBY I DO ENJOY!!

So you watch C-SPAN too?

No! I’m a member of the NRA!!

That's cool (though GOA is way better). I just buy guns.

New gun day tomorrow. 9mm or 45?

.45. 9mm has a tendency to go through bodies, which just means they get to stand there and shoot back. .45 knocks them down. Usually.

US military, even special forces is carrying 9mm now so I just don’t know what to do. I could get a Colt 1911 with 7 big ass bullets or a Sig M17 that holds 17 tiny bullets but if they’re hollow points it apparently levels the playing field as far as stopping power and damage is concerned vs the .45

Not from some of the reports and vids I have seen. But it is really up to you. The large magazine capacity of 9mm guns make it more practical, I guess. It is not as if you are pulling riot duty or something.

 

[Wyatt_Derp]

Nice. Cobra in .357. Can go .38 as well. Perfect for plinking in case ya wanna save $$$ on those magnum rounds. My stepdad has a S&W 686, can go either way too. Shoots like a heroin junkie.

 

[c2007]

Buy a Judge. Especially if you have a shotgun. Or just buy a Henry with the Judge. Might be a great gun day!

That will stop em.

 

[Swigen]

Buy a Judge. Especially if you have a shotgun. Or just buy a Henry with the Judge. Might be a great gun day!

That will stop em.

I kind of do want a Judge, just for the novelty but the worst gun I ever owned was a Taurus.
The P709 Slim.

 

[Delterius]

Government should be given power to enforce the free market.

Behead all pirates.

 

[Wyatt_Derp]

Government should be given power to enforce the free market.

Behead all pirates.

I thought Trump was gonna try, but then he started man-a-curin' John Bolton's 'stache.

 

[DalekFlay]

I'm all for being skeptical of government intervention, but the industry being attacked here is unambiguously bad. Look at the top charts sorted by revenue in a mobile app store and you won't see a single product offering anything except addiction.

The government does a lot of things. There are better battles to fight against their overreach.

The problem is it never stops at the thing you think is a special exception. You're okay with regulating or banning X, because you think it's a special case where it's so obviously bad it deserves it, but then others think something you enjoy is a special case too. People start thinking childhood obesity is such a special case that regulating candy is justified, or that internet porn is damaging society so much it's a special case and needs to be banned, or shooting people in the face in a video game influences kids too much. It never ends, there's always something else that is so bad the government should step in "just this one time" and control it. Then once the government takes that power, it keeps expanding it. Cigarettes and microtransactions turn into soda and violent imagery and whatever the fuck else.

 

[Zombra]

Good laws sometimes lead to bad laws. Therefore good laws are bad.

I respectfully disagree.

 

[Wyatt_Derp]

I'm all for being skeptical of government intervention, but the industry being attacked here is unambiguously bad. Look at the top charts sorted by revenue in a mobile app store and you won't see a single product offering anything except addiction.

The government does a lot of things. There are better battles to fight against their overreach.

The problem is it never stops at the thing you think is a special exception. You're okay with regulating or banning X, because you think it's a special case where it's so obviously bad it deserves it, but then others think something you enjoy is a special case too. People start thinking childhood obesity is such a special case that regulating candy is justified, or that internet porn is damaging society so much it's a special case and needs to be banned, or shooting people in the face in a video game influences kids too much. It never ends, there's always something else that is so bad the government should step in "just this one time" and control it. Then once the government takes that power, it keeps expanding it. Cigarettes and microtransactions turn into soda and violent imagery and whatever the fuck else.

Agreed. The EU formed based on the Treaty of Rome, which merely set standards for a common market over the steel industry. 50+ years later and they're telling folks in the UK that they can't smoke in pubs or listen to nationalist tunes. And yet they still don't even have a ruling constitution! Give an inch, they take a mile. This is known... least, it should be. For every law that gets passed that someone thinks is jolly, there WILL be 99 more that they don't. But at that point, who gives a shit because the people have subsidized everything, with the only cost being their freedom and future financial security. Roman empire + smart phones = modern times. Now shut up and render unto Ceasar.

 

[DalekFlay]

Good laws sometimes lead to bad laws. Therefore it's bad to advocate for good laws.

I respectfully disagree.

This is a hilarious reply considering the whole point is that what you think is good someone else thinks is bad, and vice-versa. You're fine with the government doing "good" regulations, not understanding that someone else thinks it's a great thing to regulate or ban something you love and think is fine. I frankly can't even tell you what a perfect example your reply is of the kind of mindset that leads to over-regulation and control. "I'm fine with it because that's a bad thing!" "Don't do anything wrong and you won't have a problem!" "Oh shit wait they banned my pornography and shooter games! Whoops!" Just beautiful, you seriously couldn't have done better if I wrote it for you as a parody.

 

[Zombra]

This is a hilarious reply considering the whole point is that what you think is good someone else thinks is bad, and vice-versa. You're fine with the government doing "good" regulations, not understanding that someone else thinks it's a great thing to regulate or ban something you love and think is fine. I frankly can't even tell you what a perfect example your reply is of the kind of mindset that leads to over-regulation and control. "I'm fine with it because that's a bad thing!" "Don't do anything wrong and you won't have a problem!" "Oh shit wait they banned my pornography and shooter games! Whoops!" Just beautiful, you seriously couldn't have done better if I wrote it for you as a parody.

Wait! You mean not everyone agrees on what is good and bad?? QUICK!! DISMANTLE ALL DEMOCRACIES!!

 

[DalekFlay]

Wait! You mean not everyone agrees on what is good and bad?? QUICK!! DISMANTLE ALL DEMOCRACIES!!

Dismantle, no. Give them limited power over adult behavior, absolutely.

 

[Dexter]

People start thinking childhood obesity is such a special case that regulating candy is justified, or that internet porn is damaging society so much it's a special case and needs to be banned, or shooting people in the face in a video game influences kids too much. It never ends, there's always something else that is so bad the government should step in "just this one time" and control it. Then once the government takes that power, it keeps expanding it. Cigarettes and microtransactions turn into soda and violent imagery and whatever the fuck else.

"Oh shit wait they banned my pornography and shooter games! Whoops!" Just beautiful, you seriously couldn't have done better if I wrote it for you as a parody.

Candy is already regulated to hell and back:
https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2011/05/chocolate-candy-and-the-law/
https://www.candyusa.com/trade-regulations-database/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Specification_for_Candy_and_Chocolate_Confections

Whether any other regulations are required and for what purpose is a debate that can be had and decided on a case by case basis, based on the specific facts of said.

Pornographic content and violence in media is largely protected by the First Amendment (with a few caveats for specific type of porn), which starts with something worded "Congress shall make no law". This is misdirection on your part and has nothing to do with Gambling or Microtransactions and the specific case this thread is about.

On the other hand both sexual content and violence in media, along with basic Free Speech is constantly under attack by private pressure groups and activists, which is a lot more concerning and is already happening across the board.

Your arguments are stupid and invalid.

 

[DalekFlay]

Candy is already regulated to hell and back:

Not talking about FDA style food regulation here. If you want to propose a regulation that makes sure the loot chest odds posted are accurate or the damage levels of the included weapons are presented correctly then I'd be fine with that. What we're talking about here is the idea of banning the concept, or banning certain games from using it, which is more analogous to banning certain super unhealthy candy or refusing to allow certain stores to sell candy.

Pornography and violence in media is protected by the First Amendment, which starts with something worded "Congress shall make no law". This is misdirection on your part and has nothing to do with Gambling or Microtransactions.

Yes, and I'm happy the US has those protections. However this is a global forum and a global conversation, and there are many examples of these Euro nanny states banning content on moral grounds, as well as ridiculous shit like the UK's hate speech laws. Also the Left in my country is trying their best to do as much as they can to weaken our protections in these areas. It's very relevant to the overall discussion of government power over adult choices that don't impact others.

 

[Dexter]

which is more analogous to banning certain super unhealthy candy or refusing to allow certain stores to sell candy.

Come on, this isn't hard. You can use Google, right?
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/foods-illegal-in-the-united-states-of-america-thrillist-nation
https://www.marketplace.org/2017/04/14/why-fda-doesnt-chocolate-eggs-toys-inside/
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/High-lead-in-2-Mexican-candies-3291827.php
https://www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-shocking/sweet-but-deadly-9-candies-that-were-banned/

Again, regulations are all around you. Everything you can possibly think of is already regulated, make an argument for why this regulation is supposed to be bad, not some abstract unworkable "regulation bad!" Libertarian nonsense that isn't founded in reality or "this regulation, even if good will inevitably lead to bad regulation" emotional appeal without any proof for said claim.

 

[Goi~Yaas~Dinn]

which is more analogous to banning certain super unhealthy candy or refusing to allow certain stores to sell candy.

Come on, this isn't hard. You can use Google, right?
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/foods-illegal-in-the-united-states-of-america-thrillist-nation
https://www.marketplace.org/2017/04/14/why-fda-doesnt-chocolate-eggs-toys-inside/
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/High-lead-in-2-Mexican-candies-3291827.php
https://www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-shocking/sweet-but-deadly-9-candies-that-were-banned/

Again, regulations are all around you. Everything you can possibly think of is already regulated, make an argument for why this regulation is supposed to be bad, not some abstract unworkable "regulation bad!" Libertarian nonsense that isn't founded in reality or "this regulation, even if good will inevitably lead to bad regulation" emotional appeal without any proof for said claim.

As someone who was all good and ready to try and shove Breitbart down my throat, I really don't think your track record on critical thinking is sterling by any means.

 

[Dexter]

As someone who was all good and ready to try and shove Breitbart down my throat, I really don't think your track record on critical thinking is sterling by any means.

Says a retard so triggered by the label "Breitbart" (who have great Tech reporters by the way, I can't count the amount of Tech stories Allum Bokhari alone broke, for instance he leaked the one hour Google T.G.I.F. (Thank God It's Friday) meeting of Google leaders pathetically crying and acting like they're at a funeral after the 2016 election or an Internal Google research document they unironically labeled "THE GOOD CENSOR" among many other things): https://twitter.com/LibertarianBlue that he won't even click on a 6 minute YouTube excerpt taken verbatim from a Senate Judiciary Committee session with a Senator questioning a company's representatives.

I'm sure you know all about "reason" and "critical thinking".

 

[Goi~Yaas~Dinn]

As someone who was all good and ready to try and shove Breitbart down my throat, I really don't think your track record on critical thinking is sterling by any means.

Says a retard so triggered by the label "Breitbart" (who have great Tech reporters by the way, I can't count the amount of Tech stories Allum Bokhari alone broke, for instance he leaked the one hour Google T.G.I.F. (Thank God It's Friday) meeting of Google leaders pathetically crying and acting like they're at a funeral after the 2016 election or an Internal Google research document they unironically labeled "THE GOOD CENSOR" among many other things): https://twitter.com/LibertarianBlue that he won't even click on a 6 minute YouTube excerpt taken verbatim from a Senate Judiciary Committee session with a Senator questioning a company's representatives.

I'm sure you know all about "reason" and "critical thinking".

After reading that post, I am convinced you know an unhealthy amount about at least two things:
1. Run-on sentences.
2. Sucking Steve Bannon's cock.

 

[DalekFlay]

Again, regulations are all around you. Everything you can possibly think of is already regulated, make an argument for why this regulation is supposed to be bad, not some abstract unworkable "regulation bad!" Libertarian nonsense that isn't founded in reality or "this regulation, even if good will inevitably lead to bad regulation" emotional appeal without any proof for said claim.

Trade issues, safety issues, environmental issues... none of this is relevant to the points being made here. That's the kind of shit the government actually should be regulating, rather than morals and behaviors. That's what we're talking about here, consumer choices and behaviors, not choking hazards and lead content. The "nanny state" criticism is about moral taxes and social policies, not regulating the fluoride content in toothpaste. We're not even fucking debating the same shit here, so I'm not sure what to tell you. Come back to me when you have a basic understanding of the points being made.

 

[Dexter]

Trade issues, safety issues, environmental issues... none of this is relevant to the points being made here. That's the kind of shit the government actually should be regulating, rather than morals and behaviors.

And "gambling issues" aren't?
Yes, everything can be regulated and there's already gambling laws - especially against underage gambling, but because it now happens electronically and Activision/EA are behind it it's suddenly a "moral" issue for you? Their precious profits must be protected at all costs!

As for you "not debating the same shit", that's true. You constantly bring up burgers and pizzas and candy and try to misdirect into talking about content censorship regarding violence or sex that are protected by the First Amendment and other shit that doesn't have anything to do with the topic at hand, but when people reply that your arguments are nonsensical and point out why, suddenly it's others that are off-topic and don't understand "the points being made".

 

[Delterius]

What we're talking about here is the idea of banning the concept

YES!

 

[Swigen]

Just for shiggles, how are loot boxes any worse than trading cards anyway? Loot boxes are gated behind a payment method and level of control (parents electronics, passwords, etc.) that far exceeds the ease of purchase MtG, Pokémon, sports, trading cards enjoy. I guess they’re not “annoying” enough for everyone to start virtue signaling and begging the government to come finger their prostates huh?