Reported by Alejandro Barbosa
Online gaming is still a relatively new activity for those seeking entertainment, and that enjoyment translates into big bucks for the game manufacturers. Video game revenue in 2018 reached a new peak of $43.8 billion, up 18 percent from the previous years, surpassing the projected total global box office for the film industry, according to new data released by the Entertainment Software Association and The NPD Group.
Even after the game is purchased, gamers usually spend more money to update the game and receive special features. In 2004 there was a game named “Gachapon TIcket” from Japan was the first game to have supply drops or loot box. A Gachapon is a lottery-like minigame that awards players with random items in exchange for Gachapon Tickets. The game was never heard of by many people of the US but this game was the first to start supply drops or loot boxes. The most famous games to have loot boxes are Apex Legends (2019), Gears Of War 4 (2016), Overwatch (2016), Star Wars Battlefront 2, and every Call Of Duty game since 2014 up to now. These games are famous for the loot boxes, for better or for worse.
The most famous companies are EA (Electronic Arts) and Activision. These two were known for their supply drop base. Call of Duty Advanced Warfare was the first Call Of Duty game to have supply drops to game. This was game-breaking for many reasons because as fans we didn’t know if we get new gear, XP (experience points), or worse WEAPONS that will change the way we play in games.
When the game came out, we feared the worst. The game did indeed have weapons, but that was too overpowering and broke the game. The developers of Sledgehammer didn’t change how the weapons act; they keep the same for almost a whole year. The game also sold supply drops by themselves instead of leveling up. The supply drops or COD Points (in-game money) went from $1 dollar to $100 and many people wanted these weapons so as to win or destroy everyone in the game.
The second famous game to have loot boxes was Stars Wars Battlefront 2. EA made theirs less, but the way you got them was the worst. It went from $5 to $90, and if you want everything then you have to pay $2100 or if you want to work hard to get everything with paying then you have to play the game for 4528 hours (188 days). But the loot boxes from the game was the worst because there was a whole gambling system just to take your money. The whole loot boxes were Trooper, Starfighter, Hero crates the higher they are the more they cost with in-game money or you can pay for them with real money. The Hero crates did not reward good items, even for the best crate, and on top of that, even if you get anything good, you can only use it once and have to get it all over again. The game is just a mess.
Overall having supply drops are gambling but at your home trying to get the best weapons, gear, or anything else you what to get, you can’t trust supply drops or loot boxes.
There are now more than 2.5 billion gamers across the world, and chances are you are one of them. Gamers are not just teenage males. According to Wealth Words, an online gaming site, 45% of video gamers and 46% of game purchasers are women. And older people are in on the online gaming action. Nearly 30% of gamers are now aged 50 or older. Online gaming is now a solid part of our culture and the trend is continuing to point upward with more games, gamers, and money spent.