EA defends its loot field techniques to Parliament, calling them “surprise mechanics”

During a session with the UK Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee, EA says that its randomized purchases will not be loot containers, however quite “surprise mechanics.”

Representatives from EA and Fortnite met with the committee Wednesday to debate the implementation of loot containers in games, equivalent to Battlefront 2 and Fortnite. During the assembly, EA’s VP of authorized and authorities affairs Kerry Hopkins mentioned:

“We do agree with the UK gambling commission, the Australian gambling commission, and many other gambling commissions that they aren’t gambling, and we also disagree that there’s evidence that shows it leads to gambling. Instead, we think it’s like many other products that people enjoy in a healthy way, and like the element of surprise.”

Hopkins mentioned that the corporate’s randomised purchases aren’t loot containers, however quite “surprise mechanics.” In the case of EA’s FIFA Ultimate Team, these “surprise mechanics” take the type of FIFA factors that can be utilized to purchase participant packs. The game got here under fire in Belgium this year, although, as a result of gamers may use actual forex to buy FIFA factors, a system the nation determined was in violation of its legislation.

Whether it’s a loot field or not, Hopkins defended the system to the committee evaluating these techniques to the mechanics of shock toys, which have been round “for years, whether it’s Kinder Eggs, or Hatchimals, or LOL Surprise.”

Loot field techniques and their similarities to playing have grow to be an industry-wide and worldwide dialogue previously two years, particularly since EA’s Battlefront 2 launch nightmare. Last yr, the UK’s Gambling Commission took the stance that loot containers are a gateway drug to correct playing points, and the Royal Family called for games like Fortnite to be banned.

You can watch the committee’s entire session here.


 
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