Here’s What £16,000 Of Loot Boxes Gets You: TM 212

This week on the regular version of Tech’s Message:

Loot boxes: Lords call for 'immediate' gambling regulation

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53253195

PLUS: Nate tells the story of what happened when Gameloft accidentally sold loot packs containing £2,500-worth of in-game currency for just £5, and allowed multiple purchases. Nate bought more than £16,000 of currency in Asphalt 9: Legends for about £30, but it revealed just how much money is required to really unlock things within free-to-play games, as not even this money unlocked everything possible.

Unreal’s new iPhone app does live motion capture with Face ID sensors

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/07/unreals-new-iphone-app-does-live-motion-capture-with-face-id-sensors/

PLUS: Actor and motion-capture artist Marta Svetek joins to give her opinion on Epic’s latest mo-cap product.

Patreon supporters have access to our ad-free, longer version of the show, which includes the above as well as additional discussions about:

Broader discussion on loot boxes and it’s impact on the fun we have playing; also, let’s discuss how fair it is that I can spend the equivalent of £16,000 on speccing up cars that I use to race against real players, realistically none of whom were able to get the deal I got but also could still pay the money to get the same benefits — if the loot box luck was open their side. Am I cheating? If the game is pay to win anyway, why not?

- Outtakes and more!

TECH’S MESSAGE IS:

Hosts: Nate Lanxon, Ian Morris

Recurring Guest Hosts: Andy Hoyle, Naomi Kerbel, Kate Lanxon

Production and Editing: Nate Lanxon

Voiceover Artist: Marta Svetek

Music: Audio Network & Pond5

Certain Artwork Elements Designed By: macrovector / Freepik

Publisher: Acast

Copyright © Nate Lanxon

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