...really? I mean, I'm not surprised. Mostly because this isn't the first time this dude has talked about this. But come on, more government regulation? At best I'd concede if games allow you gamble for items using real world money that could be used to advance/give you an advantage put it on the ESRB rating/rate it M. But for purely cosmetic stuff? Or if there's means of obtaining the boxes/keys by just playing the game? No, I don't see the point in getting into a tizzy. Either way, it's called having self-control (and if you have kids, utilizing parental controls/be a parent). It shouldn't be anyone's job, especially the governments, to hold your hand when it comes to gambling in video games of all things. I don't agree with lootboxes in general, but I do think games like Overwatch do it right.
@walidras: I wouldn't hold my breath on P5. At least with FF there's been precedent set with games/remasters being ported to PC. Don't think a single SMT game, much less a Persona one, has made it to PC. Not that I wouldn't love to see it happen in the future. In any case, glad that FF XII is coming to PC. Probably pick it up in the steam summer sale.
Eh. I think Overwatch did it right. I'd still like to see odds, but I'm fine with the system. First and foremost, you get a box (presumably with the same odds as a paid for one) each time you level up. Second, you can get three (or more) every...4 days(?) by playing/winning matches in the various arcade variants, which also help level you up. Already they give you plenty of free ones that you can get by just playing the game. Third, they are purely cosmetic. In a FPS. So the only time you really even see your character is the character selection screen/PoTG/emotes. Granted they do have emotes/sprays/etc so it is more than just new costumes. Fourth, with the most recent change, your chances of getting a duplicate have decreased and/or the reward for getting a duplicate has been bumped up*. Don't get me wrong, I'd like it if getting duplicates gave you at least half its value, but they do give you something at least. Although it is very vexing to see the yellow glow just to end up getting that same Hanzo skin for the third time. Fifth, the boxes have a chance to drop the in-game currency (which duplicates reward you with) that you can then use to buy the actual items you want. Even seasonal items can be bought this way, with last years dropping to what they normally are (not sure if the remain in the seasonal drop table though).
While I'm not a big fan of lootboxes in general, I do think Overwatch's system is good. And much better than having a cash shop only variations where you're forced to spend real money on skins (if you want it). Now, contrast this system to Guild Wars 2 where Black Lion Keys are exceedingly rare drops or can be obtained once a week per account doing a characters' level 10 story (so create a new character every week, get them to level 10, and finish that story chapter). The recent mount debacle is another black eye.
*I've played Overwatch very infrequently since the Bastion buff, so this information may be wrong.
When the company is using (abusing in this case) a federal law (DMCA) to suppress it, yeah, I'd have to say that the government and freedom of speech is involved.
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