This presentation aims to discuss various aspects concerning the practice of including “microtansactions” (abbrv. MTX) in videogames, that has recently come under heavy criticism and scrutiny, by both the gaming community as a whole and regulatory/government institutions. As defined, MTX are in-game purchases available via earned virtual currency and/or redeemed through real-world currency, and which can be either functional, cosmetic, or both. Focus has been placed on the predatory psychological aspect embedded in the nature of some of these MTX, particularly in the guise of “loot boxes” which contain a random element, often equated to a form of gambling. The situation was brought to a larger public light in October-November of 2017, centered on developer EA’s handling of MTX in Star Wars: Battlefront 2. In the wake of the widespread negative public reaction to this controversy (and others similar although smaller in scope to it) the perception, pushback against, and integration of MTX continued to evolve as developer studios and publishers attempted to assuage the concerns of consumers and watchdog entities of their value and purpose. The current state of affairs will be assessed along with the author’s opinions on the matter, as well as possible future directions that could be and are being taken regarding MTX and loot boxes.
About the presenterScott Thurlow
Scott Thurlow has been a self-styled connoisseur of pop culture and specifically the analysis of its narrative elements for many years. He is one of the co-founders of The Lost Signals, a podcast series which seeks to delve further into these studies, going beyond the standard review format and bringing them to light for audiences. He lives and works in the New Brunswick area of New Jersey.