Pocket Camp to be Shut Down in Belgium Due to Loot Box Laws

[Alienfish]

Good points, Nougat and Justin. First, the lootbox/gacha is never a good idea for a smaller game like these app games, regardless if you need to actually spend orbs like in feh(they do obviously give out but since it's not for aesthetic you basically need to purchase the pack/"loot boxes" if you wanna play in the high leagues), or if it's more or less aesthetics like PC. Honestly, as I probably mentioned here or elsewhere I totally understand why they take it away since they probably won't change this and while people have spent money on whatever game might as well be taken away they should just take some meeting and think about how they could maybe change it(game) to avoid it worldwide and maybe people in Belgium can still play it. PC is/was a dumb idea in its current state and considering how they drive it in the mud even more lately with bull**** event rates and such honestly I'd just be glad if they did something to it regardless of what it is.

While people, and I(dumb me lol) spent on it I hope this can send a message to gave devs and not include those dumb elements solely to make $$$ from kids(and their parents), even if we won't get the money back. And your suggestion or as how it would be legal in Belgium would be a better idea, even though they would earn less money on it. Honestly this rng/gacha crap is in too many games, mobile or not and if people really want something they would spend either way. Sure I can purchase a pair of wings knowing that I would get them and since we can't trade or gift this dice rolling % stuff is just dumb.

They could definitely leave it up if they wanted it alive, or maybe do it an one time purchase for not too expensive and remove the gacha so it could stay. On the other hand they could have done that to Miitomo as well honestly so, eh.

 

[cornimer]

So to summarise: you can of course monetise your game in Belgium, as long as what it is exactly that players are buying is not left up to chance. So if I'd want to buy those new Fairy Wings, I would be allowed to spend $100 or even $1000 on it if that is what Nintendo charges. But Nintendo is not allowed to get me to buy 20 Fortune Cookies (even if they cost only $1 each) and still not get a single Fairy Wings set. And we all know this has happened to many players before

I see how this makes sense and not gonna lie I WISH the fairy wings drama was illegal because they really are ripping people off, but I wish they had a better solution than shutting the whole game down.

 

[Alienfish]

I see how this makes sense and not gonna lie I WISH the fairy wings drama was illegal because they really are ripping people off, but I wish they had a better solution than shutting the whole game down.

Yeah, man this rng is crap and I wish you all my wings, for real.
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Yeah it sucks they are shutting down but honestly I seriously agree with Belgian law it shouldn't really be allowed, like are they trying to be some addictive casino game or? Gonna wonder if any other countries will do this or how they will be pushing this game over a cliff.

 

[AnimalCrossingPerson]

Hopefully this can spread to other countries too. It's a predatory practice. Odd how Nintendo isn't just disabling fortune cookies in Belgium instead though.

 

[kemdi]

I'm ok with micro-transactions, as long as I know what I'm getting. But loot-boxes are a cancer to gaming. I hope other countries do this so game developers get the message.

 

[CaramelCookie]

If you use QooApp, you can keep playing, guys! I used it to download the game when it was first launched and only accessible to a certain country (Australia? Can't remember) because I didn't want to wait.
It's sad that's come to this, but there's no need to stop if you don't want to!

 

[DubiousDelphine]

If you use QooApp, you can keep playing, guys! I used it to download the game when it was first launched and only accessible to a certain country (Australia? Can't remember) because I didn't want to wait.
It's sad that's come to this, but there's no need to stop if you don't want to!

Yeh i think Pocket Camp came to Australia first.

 

[Alienfish]

Hopefully this can spread to other countries too. It's a predatory practice. Odd how Nintendo isn't just disabling fortune cookies in Belgium instead though.

I suppose they would have to do it in every country or they would have to remake the game which will probably take time and they will lose money in the end bc they are sad capitalists lol *rolls eyes* But yeah serious they would lose money and they they'd just shut it down like Miitomo (which was a good game but yeah I could see that they would lose on it since they basically gave out stuff all the time and you didn't need to purchase really).

@kemdi yeah same. i'd gladly pay a few bucks for like, a skin or wings or such but yeah gambling is a bad idea.

 

[Sweetley]

So, did I understand that right: Because the game gets shut down thanks to the new laws,
people in Belgium are not only not able to play that game anymore, but also gonna lose their
save file and wasted money (if they spent any into this game) for nothing at the end? If this
is the case then damn, that sucks. I mean, great that they gonna do something against this,
but the fact that Nintendo thinks shutting down the game is a better option instead just
removing the option to buy any Leaf Tickets anymore is just silly from Nintendo's site.
Hopefully Nintendo will understand this problem and learn from it.

 

[Nougat]

So, did I understand that right: Because the game gets shut down thanks to the new laws,
people in Belgium are not only not able to play that game anymore, but also gonna lose their
save file and wasted money (if they spent any into this game) for nothing at the end? If this
is the case then damn, that sucks. I mean, great that they gonna do something against this,
but the fact that Nintendo thinks shutting down the game is a better option instead just
removing the option to buy any Leaf Tickets anymore is just silly from Nintendo's site.
Hopefully Nintendo will understand this problem and learn from it.

It's not entirely clear whether we'll be losing our save file. I really hope that won't be the case so in the unlikely chance that this gets resolved sometime, we can access it again.
The law isn't entirely new though, it's an "old" law that applies to any sort of chance game that isn't authorised by the gaming commission.

 

[whattheheck123]

About time. Loot boxes are unnecessary and unfair. Sucks for anyone in Belgium that play FE, ACPC, etc. :/

 

[Phawnix]

It appears Nintendo did not learn any lessons and instead decided to double down.

The new Mario Kart beta for mobile is apparently riddled with micro-transactions and even a loot box system.

Click here to read the article

 

[Alienfish]

It appears Nintendo did not learn any lessons and instead decided to double down.

The new Mario Kart beta for mobile is apparently riddled with micro-transactions and even a loot box system.

Click here to read the article

Why would Ninty learn their lessons lol. They just keep on trucking and letting devs push things as far as they allow.

But yeah on topic of the game I'm considering just dumping it forever cause they are getting real lame and instead of trying to improve they are lowering rewards all of a sudden and basically keep ****ting on all events.

 

[Buttonsy]

That really sucks, it's not the first time I've seen game developers suffer pretty intense consequences for this sort of thing. I remember playing a game called TinierMe when I was younger, and it got shut down due to Japanese gambling laws I think.

 

[Wickel]

Oh god, I hope they don't shut down in the Netherlands because I'm pretty sure we have the same law. This is probably one of the few mobile games I enjoy and is still playable even without spending any money on lootboxes.

But if I understand correctly, it is Nintendo's choice to take down the app and not the Belgian government's decision?

 

[Ably.Saucey]

does pocket camp have 'loot boxes' per say?

 

[Wickel]

Well, yes, because the fortune cookies contain a chance of certain items but since you do not know exactly what you're going to get, that makes it a lootbox. And it makes it gambling, which isn't allowed without a license.

 

[Phawnix]

Oh god, I hope they don't shut down in the Netherlands because I'm pretty sure we have the same law. This is probably one of the few mobile games I enjoy and is still playable even without spending any money on lootboxes.

But if I understand correctly, it is Nintendo's choice to take down the app and not the Belgian government's decision?

It was Nintendo's choice to stop service to Belgium because they feared the repercussions of the loot box laws. I'm not familiar on the actual law but my guess is, it's pretty vague. If your county has the same laws it's quite possible Nintendo will chose to shut down there as well rather than risk any legal trouble.

 

[LambdaDelta]

does pocket camp have 'loot boxes' per say?

any sort of randomized content that has the option to purchase for more randomized content is essentially a lootbox

 

[Ably.Saucey]

Well, yes, because the fortune cookies contain a chance of certain items but since you do not know exactly what you're going to get, that makes it a lootbox. And it makes it gambling, which isn't allowed without a license.

That seems pretty weak to me, maybe they (nintendo) could do the fortune cookies with each cookie gets a 'puzzle piece' or token to trade in for items.
Or a peek, like it shows a corner of what the object is inside with a limit of 2 refreshes a day or something.
Yes, I like that. someone get nintendo on the phone.