European Gambling Regulators Team-Up to Stop Loot Boxes

15 gambling regulators from Europe and Washington, United States will work together to identify “the risks created by the blurring of lines between gaming and gambling.”  Below are the specific participants from each country.

Signatories to the “declaration of gambling regulators on their concerns related to the blurring of lines between gambling and gaming”.

  • Austria: Alfred Hacker, Director, Federal Ministry of Finance
  • Czech Republic: Karel Blaha, Director of the State Oversight Over Gambling Department
  • France: Charles Coppolani, Chair of the French Online Gaming Regulatory Authority
  • Gibraltar: Andrew Lyman, Executive Director, Gambling Division, HM Government of Gibraltar
  • Ireland: Brendan Mac Namara, Principal Officer, Gambling Policy Division, Department of Justice and Equality of Ireland
  • Isle of Man: Steve Brennan, Chief Executive, Gambling Supervision Commission
  • Jersey: Jason Lane, Chief Executive, Jersey Gambling Commission
  • Latvia: Signe Birne, Director of Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection of Latvia
  • Malta: Heathcliff Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer, Malta Gaming Authority
  • The Netherlands: Jan Suyver, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Netherlands Gambling Authority
  • Norway: Henrik Nordal, Director Deputy General, Norwegian Gaming Authority
  • Poland: Paweł Gruza, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Finance
  • Portugal: Teresa Monteiro, Vice-President of Turismo de Portugal, I.P
  • Spain: Juan Espinosa García, CEO, Directorate General for Gambling Regulation
  • Washington State: David Trujillo, Director, Washington State Gambling Commission
  • UK: Neil McArthur, Chief Executive Officer, UK Gambling Commission

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They will be targetting sites that promote gambling with video games. They will investigate sites that involve in-game skin gambling. These websites have users gambling their in-game skins rather than money. However, the skins have monetary values and can be considered gambling. The Telegraph reported over 400,00 British teens admitted to using similar websites.

The European Gambling Regulators will also identify whether loot boxes are considered gambling under national law. The laws are targetted towards parents and children. By identifying the lines between gambling and in-game items, parents should have a better understanding of their kids’ purchases.

I don’t think loot boxes will go away anytime soon but gaming companies will have to respond or adjust it before more laws are set in place.

Sources:

Eurogamer

Telegraph – 400,000 British teens lured into under-aged gambling through video games

TL; DW Nintendo Direct 9/13

Didn’t watch the entire 38 minutes direct? Look no further. Below is an abridge version of the entire direct! Below are most of the Nintendo Switch games that were announced during this direct!

Luigi’s Mansion 3 (Working Title): 2019

  • A new title for the Luigi’s Mansion series.
  • Still scared but you can fight ghost with a plunger, light blast, and a jetpack!

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Splatoon 2 Version 4:

Check out these upcoming updates for Splatoon 2! Ver.4.0.0 will be released today, with new Splatfest features and the first Kensa Collection. And Ver.4.1.0 will be released in early October, including a new stage and the second Kensa Collection,...

  • Sick Japanese anime intro
  • New weapons, grenades, clothes, and turf wars
  • New ways to climb the competitive ladder called Pro Mode. You can reach the Splatfest Top 100.
  • You could potentially earn 10x or 100x points during matches
  • More details are on their Tumblr: splatoonus.tumblr.com/

Megaman 11: October 2nd, 2018

  • Not an 8 bit game!
  • Your different weapons will give different forms this time
  • A new system called Gear System. Speed Gear, Double Gear, and Power Gear
  • Why can you not slide through doors?!!!!!!!

Mario Tennis Aces

  • New characters to play: Birdo, Shy Guy, Koopa Paratroopa, Petey Piranha, and more characters will be released until next June
  • New Co-op challenges that you can play online
  • Challenges will unlock new costumes and colors

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Capcom Beat’Em Up Bundle: September 18th, 2018

Final Fight, The King of Dragons, Captain Commando, Knights of the Round, Warriors of Fate, Armored Warrior, Battle Circuit are all bundled in one collection

  • You can do 4 player co-op with the Switch controllers. You can play online

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New Super Mario Bros U Delux Edition: January 11, 2019

  • You can now play as Nabette and Toadette
  • The super crown turns Nabette into Princess Peachette. She has similar powers like in Super Mario Bros. 2.
  • Super Luigi Bros. will also come free with the game
  • There will be 164 courses in the games

Katamary Damacy REROLL: Winter 2018

  • For the Switch, you can use the gyro controls

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New Wireless NES Controllers for the NES Online library. You can charge them on the Switch!

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Pokemon Let’s Go: Pikachu and Eevee Edition: November 16th, 2018

  • HM moves are replaced with “Secret Moves” that are taught to your partner Pikachu or Eevee
  • Your partner Pokemon will also learn special attacks with types that they usually don’t have
  • If you pet them, you can ruin change your Pokemon hair

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Diablo 3: Eternal Collection: November 2nd

  • There’s couch co-op
  • Amibos will summon enemies for you to fight

Super Mario Party: October 5th

  • 80 new mini games
  • Online party mode

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Town (Working Title): 2019

  • A Game Freak game that isn’t Pokemon?!
  • The story takes place in one Town where you live as a village and defender
  • Fellow villagers can give you special powers

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Cities Skylines: September 13th, 2018

  • You’re the mayor and make the city
  • It’s a simulation game
  • After Dark and Snowfall DLC are free

Daemon X Machina: 2019

  • The moon has collapsed and its inhabitants are on the brink of extinction
  • You pilot an Arsenal and you fight rogue AI’s.
  • You can acquire weapons and armor pieces from enemies.
  • You can exit your robo to explore the world on foot
  • Upgrades to enhance your human form and robot
  • Co-op mode allows you to work together to defeat giant enemies

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Yoshi’s Crafted World: Spring 2019

  • It’s like Yoshi’s Woolie World but with arts and crafts
  • You can flip the perspectives and adjust the stages

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Asmodee Carcassonne, The Lord of the Rings: Living Card Game, Pandemic:

  • Tabletop simulator games! Now you can bring your games on the go
  • Three separate games with paid DLC
  • More games on the way: Catan and Munchkin

Civilization VI: November 16th, 2018

  • four players local co-op

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Starlink Battle for Atlas: October 16th

  • Exclusive Star Fox mode with Wolf as a villain

The World Ends with You: Final Remix: October 12th, 2018

  • The map of Shibuya is different from the original so you’ll have to get used to the new map
  • new monsters and a new reaper: CoCo

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Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna- The Golden Country: September 21st

  • Prequel DLC that is almost an entirely new game
  • You can buy the game exclusively so you don’t need to own the original game
  • If you own the original game’s expansion pack, it will come out September 14th

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Final Fantasy series

  • Crystal Chronicle Remastered Edition: 2019
    • Online mode
    • New areas and dungeons
  • Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition: Available today
  • World of Final Fantasy Maxima: November 6th
    • Avatar Mode which allows you to transform into past Final Fantasy characters
  • Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY Buddy! : Winter 2018
    • A 2007 port! I’ve never heard of this game but you play as a Chocobo and attack or befriend monsters
    • Co-op play
  • Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age: 2019
  • Final Fantasy VII
  • Final Fantasy IX
  • Final Fantasy X and X-2 HD Remaster

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Super Smash Bros Ultimate: November 2nd

  • Isabelle from Animal Crossing joins the Smash!
  • Nintendo Switch bundle of course which comes with the game and a custom dock and controller
  • Gamecube controller and adapter launches on the 2nd

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Animal Crossing: 2019

  • No details but I’m sure fans are happy to see a new game!

Nintendo 3DS

Looks like the 3DS isn’t as dead as people guessed! Below are some upcoming games for the handheld. A lot of these are ports but they are excellent games

Kirby Extra Epic Yarn: 2019 release

  • A remastered Kirby game from the Nintendo Wii.
  • All the same stage and content will be ported over
  • You can acquire new abilities such as absorbing people around you or create a shield.
  • A new “Devilish Mode” which will have a demon follow and attack you throughout the stage to give Kirby trouble
  • New minigames that allow you to play as King DeeDeeDee and Meta Knight

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Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story+Bowser Jr’s Story: January 11, 2019

  • A remake of the original DS title which was super fun! You get to play as Bowser and experience awesome fights
  • The new addition is Bowser Jr’s Story. You’ll build a party of characters and use different formations to attach other parties.
  • The battle style for Bowser JR is very different from the other Mario RPG. Depending on who you recruit will determine your strength.

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Luigi’s Mansion: October 12th, 2018

  • A port of the GameCube version
  • Two-player co-operative mode
    • If one person owns the game, you can play together but only in Boss rush mode
    • If both players own it, you can play together throughout the entire story
  • Amibos give you certain boosts in the game

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Yokai Watch Blasters; Moon Rabbit Crew (3DS): Available now

  • Two different versions as usual: Red Cat Corp and White Dog Squad
  • Your role as a Yokai is to recruit and befriends fellow Yokais to fight monsters
  • The Moon Rabbit Crew DLC will be a free update later this year

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Potential Lawsuit against EA for Loot Boxes

If there is any company that digs themselves into horrible PR messes, it has to be Electronic Arts. Following the disaster regarding the loot boxes in Star Wars Battlefront 2, EA promised fans they would cut back on loot boxes for future games at E3 this summer. But apparently, they didn’t state they would remove loot boxes from their current games.

Belgium developed a law that bans “video game gambling for profit” which includes loot boxes. Companies such as Blizzard and 2K have removed their loot boxes from their games earlier this year but EA’s FIFA games still have card packs. Card packs give players the chance to obtain certain players to develop their “Ultimate Team.”  EA’s CFO, Andrew Wilson stated that the loot boxes in FIFA are not a form of gambling.

 “Firstly because players always receive a specified number of items in each pack, and secondly we don’t provide or authorize any way to cash out or sell items or virtual currency for real money..We’re working with all the industry associations globally and with regulators in various jurisdictions and territories, [and] have established that programs like FIFA Ultimate Team are not gambling,” said Wilson (Ars Technica)

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Example of FIFA Card Pack

EA recently announced the odds of earning certain cards in July but some fan spent over $10,000 on developing his ultimate FIFA team. EA could potentially be sued by the Belgian government. There are penalties of up to €800,000 and five years in prison, which can be doubled if “minors are involved.” Considering that FIFA is rated E for everyone, the lawsuit could be a major loss in EA’s massive wallet. Whether Belgium will sue remains to be seen.

Sources:

Ars Technica

Rock Paper Shotgun – EA Odds

Eurogamer

 

 

Kingdom Hearts VR announced for the Holiday Seasons

Sony and Square Enix will release a VR Kingdom Hearts experience for free this Holiday season. Called Kingdom Hearts: VR Experience, players can relive moments and music from the series for 10 minutes. Based on screenshots, you can fight Heartless and rewatch the cutscenes from all of the Kingdom Hearts games. Hopefully, this isn’t canon in the series. The game will only be available on the PlayStation Store.

Kingdom Hearts: VR Experience for PS VR

Kingdom Hearts: VR Experience for PS VR

Sources:

PlayStation blog

Kingdom Hearts Insider