Forum Thread

Hello,

I have some concerns that I would like to bring up about this.

The 'black box' that you open up for the black Friday 'deal' is really just a loot crate. Since the price for them is 100 nuggets it is encouraging users to spend actual money to get the crates. What you get from the boxes is entirely randomized, or "up to luck", which is gambling. The crate is gambling. I wouldn't see it as such if you had a different method of receiving them, like golden game tickets or PD. Which are a common in game currency/ usage for the slots. No IRL money needed to play it.

It's arguable that people don't /have/ to spend money in able to get the black Friday box, but the way it's designed to take nuggets is encouraging people to spend money (considering 100 nuggets is not easy to come by). Which is Gambling and it is illegal in multiple countries for minors. This site is constantly advertised for 'kids' and or 'minors'. So implementing something that would make spending IRL money for a loot crate is gambling, and its advertised towards a lot of minors. We aren't even allowed to curse on this site because we have to keep 'PG'. But the whole idea of a gambling box contradicts that whole kid friendly ideology.

Even games such as Overwatch and Star Wars Battlefront 2 are currently coming under investigation by the authorities because of their sale of loot boxes like this. There's politicians in the US, EU and Australia who have openly stated their intention to drive to make this illegal in games.

Given the popularity of sites, games, etc. going for the lootbox/lootcrate option because of how much money it generates, I'd be concerned also this is a testing ground to see how well it also works. While I'm certainly guessing, I hope this whole idea doesn't turn into something permament to where certain Pokemon or something else becomes a lootbox only item that you have to buy with nuggets.

Okay, first off, since I can see that you have recently joined, I'd like to point out a function we have, the boxes and keys. You can obtain different boxes and the keys that go along with them for free, and they are somewhat of a 'loot crate', in which I mean that it's totally random what you can get. So yes, it's somewhat of a gamble.

Secondly, couldn't you consider this entire site gambling? For goodness' sake, we literally have a game center, where you use Game Chips to play games. And these games are luck based, so you can win or not win, just like the Black Friday boxes. Plus, Rowan's Lab: what you get is a random chance. The tall-grass used to be luck base. A lot of things on site are based on a random chance, aka luck-based, but we don't consider it gambling.

Third,

Quote from Alola_Vulpix

So implementing something that would make spending IRL money for a loot crate is gambling, and its advertised towards a lot of minors.

IRL Money isn't the only way to get nuggets, y'know? Some people can buy it with IRL money, but also sell it to other users for PD. Those second users did not spend money on the nuggets themselves, and can do whatever they want with it- such as buying Black Friday boxes. Plus, nuggets can even be found without using IRL money - in the treasure boxes, a luck-based game where a small amount of nuggets can be found.

Honestly you're just blowing a little fun waaaay out of proportion. This isn't really gambling.

Finally, I'd like to point out that if you do a quick google search of 'overwatch loot crate investigation', you'll find out that a permit is needed, so it's not illegal when they secure the permit. And also, Battlefront 2 is not illegal:

Quote from Engadget.com

The crate mechanics of Star Wars Battlefront II are not gambling. ... If Belgium's gaming authorities decide that loot boxes constitute gambling, EA and Overwatch will have to secure a special permit if they want to continue making those games accessible in the country

In conclusion: lots of things on this site, and even many other sites I'm sure you're using, can be considered as gambling, however, it's really the user's choice to spend real money or not.

also calm down, it's literally like a one day thing--

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mhh i would say that its not that big of a problem? i mean you get items you can get in normal "gameplay" and also 100 nuggets is not that much tbh and the option to buy nuggets with RL money was always there???

also +100 to toma i agree with her

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Quote from allenr

I'd be concerned also this is a testing ground to see how well it also works. While I'm certainly guessing, I hope this whole idea doesn't turn into something permament to where certain Pokemon or something else becomes a lootbox only item that you have to buy with nuggets

I wouldn't call this a "testing ground" - it will definitely not become a permanent thing. It is a special two-days-limited offer that may return in a similar way next year on Black Friday, but certainly not as a permanent change to the overall game.

On topic - Like others have pointed out, loot crates are not forbidden and are not considered illegal gambling.
I have followed the discussion about the Star Wars Game a bit, yes, but I really wouldn't draw any comparisons between EA's microtansaction policy and today's Black Friday deal on PokeHeroes. In the Star Wars game it is - as far as I know - required to buy all the little things via microtansactions to unlock all features of the game.
It is, however, not required to buy Black Friday Boxes on PokeHeroes. All items that you can get there are available through regular gameplay or through non-luckbased purchasing options at the item shop.

So it is - as it's labeled - a special deal; take it or leave it. But it is not a change to the overall gaming mechanism :)