LootBox Sim

-- Download Link at the bottom--

Description:

In recent years, video games have adopted predatory practices that take advantage of microtransactions/gambling for further profits, our project aims to show the effects different monetary investments have on consumers through an interactive game experience.

This clicker styled game presents its players with their ability to purchase loot boxes which they can open up and get a set of random items with differing rarities / chances to appear. Instead of the normal, click button, get reward way most clicker games play out, this clicker requires its player to virtually buy a set amount of loot boxes before they can open any.

As players continue through the cycle for purchase, open, collect, repeat, the game itself will slowly degrade with everything element of the game becoming less flashy / colourful.

Team:

 Nick Parker, Daniel Ackroyd and Jordan Szabo

Media Attributions:

Americans largely won't pay to win a video game — but Chinese gamers will

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/30/pay-to-win-video-games-differences-between-us-and-chinese-gamers.html

Pay-to-win mechanics popular in China but the West is not on board

https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/67149/pay-to-win-mechanics-popular-in-china-but-the-west-is-not-on-board/

The world spends US$109 billion on video games, and the Chinese are the biggest players

https://www.scmp.com/tech/apps-gaming/article/2099180/china-driving-global-video-games-market-record-us109b-2017

$4,000+ for VIP Level 17 WTF Pay 2 Win Chinese Browser Games

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrNFvXVaUtI

CrossFire: Tencent's Top Earning Free-to-Play Game You've Never Heard Of

https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2014/01/20/crossfire-tencents-top-earning-free-to-play-game-youve-never-heard-of/#41145f06c6c2

Is the buying of loot boxes in video games a form of gambling or gaming?

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/glr2.2018.2216?journalCode=glr2

Video game loot boxes are linked to problem gambling: Results of a large-scale survey

https://psyarxiv.com/7ntjk

A Case Study on Loot Boxes in Two Video Games - A comparison between Overwatch and Star Wars Battlefront 2

https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/30791/1/BSc_thesis_A_Case_Study_on_Loot_Boxes_in_Two_Video_Games_GTh_RFJ.pdf

Predatory monetization schemes in video games(e.g. ‘loot boxes’) and internet gaming disorder

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/add.14286

Lootboxes and Gambling by TotalBiscuit (John Bain)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMDGPSWWA18

TextMeshPro:

https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/essentials/beta-projects/textmesh-pro-84126

Designed to deceive: How gambling distorts reality and hooks your brain:
https://theconversation.com/designed-to-deceive-how-gambling-distorts-reality-and-hooks-your-brain-91052

The GAAAmbling Problem (The Jimquisition)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTitHF6-xlI&feature=youtu.be

Models inspired by Overwatch, Developed by Blizzard Entertainment

https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/