Gaming
Australia also Shows their Concerns Regarding Loot Boxes
Speaking of the Loot Box controversy that exploded in Electronic Art’s face. We also have another country that has jumped into the bashing bandwagon. Australia Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation analyst, Jarrod Wolfe has declared that Loot Boxes do constitute gambling elements.
Responding to an inquiry from a redditor named -Caesar, a strategic analyst for the Compliance Division of the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation said that “what occurs with ‘loot boxes’ does constitute gambling by the definition of the Victorian Legislation.”
“We are currently engaging with interstate and international counterparts to progress wider policy changes and to modernize and inform both Federal and State-based legislation,” the analyst, Jarrod Wolfe, wrote.
“We take on board responses from the community, such as your concerns, to ensure that our actions are reflective of the risks these products pose as well as the community’s expectation. Watching recent Reddit activity certainly indicates the majority of the gaming community is at odds with decisions made by certain companies.”
Wolfe said his focus is on “the more predatory aspects related to ‘pay to win'” games, while things like skins and virtual currencies are somewhat more secondary. But he made no bones about where he stands on the matter:
“The normalization of gambling vernacular and mechanics targeted at vulnerable persons (minors) is not just morally reprehensible, but is also legally questionable.”
For those who don’t know what he’s talking about. He’s also another believer of the compromise I talked about in regards of the Loot Box system. Offering cosmetic alternatives that don’t affect gameplay seems to be the way to go from now on when it comes to this. It seems like, sadly, we won’t be seeing an end to Loot Boxes as a whole.
So, besides Belgium and France, we now have to see Australia’s opinion on the matter as well. I still don’t think we’ll be seeing a definitive end to Loot Boxes, but at least we won’t see them being as predatory anymore.
Souls-like Enotria: The Last Song is scheduled for PS5 release in Spring 2024. The spin this time? Enotria escapes darkness into a folkloric Italian sunlit world. This is a technical showcase trailer, and while the art direction and environment are good, combat animations should be tightened before launch.
The Canovaccio, a twisted, eternal play, freezes the world. Maskless Ones control their own fate because they have no predetermined role in this charade. Destroying the fearsome Authors will free this world and give you their fallen Masks, enabling new play styles.
Thoughts on Enotria: The Last Song? Is there enough to keep you interested, or are you tired of this prolific subgenre?
Square Enix has confirmed to IGN that everyone’s favorite edgy gunslinger will be an AI companion in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and not fully playable, like Red XIII in Final Fantasy VII Remake. Cid, the chain-smoking pilot, is elusive, hard to define, and cool.
Naturally, Red XIII and Cait Sith (who we don’t remember being cool) will be playable. The Intergrade standalone expansion confirmed Yuffie’s playability and deeper story integration (she was an optional ally before). Even Sepiroth will be playable briefly.
Zack Fair’s role is expanded in this reimagining of a classic video game story, according to Rebirth producer Yoshinori Kitase: “We see him at the end of Remake, which is different from the original title. Zack will appear in a new Rebirth episode with more of him than in the Remake. I can’t say much more because I want players to play and experience it.”
While Square Enix may be saving the best for last, Vincent and Cid will fight alongside the party, albeit AI-controlled. Which FFVII companions do you prefer?
Publisher Private Division and developer Wētā Workshop present Tales of the Shire, a new Lord of the Rings game. A “heart-warming” game about your “cosy Hobbit life” will release on PC and consoles in 2024. The latest teaser trailer evokes those feelings.
We know little about the game, but the dev team’s Middle-earth experience makes it intriguing. Wētā Workshop are known for their work on special effects and props for movies, including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films and the TV series The Rings of Power. It understands Tolkien’s fantasy world because it made movie costumes, sets, miniatures, and more.
The in-house game development team at Wētā Workshop is currently working on Tales of the Shire. With its knowledge and experience with Middle-earth, we expect this to have a unique authenticity. We’re curious how the game will play, but it sounds like you’ll live a peaceful life in the Hobbit homeland, growing potatoes and eating second breakfasts.
Tales of the Shire is still a while away, but are you interested?
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