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rng-concern | 1 year ago
The basic idea is there is very little actual gameplay involved. The user sits in the game, often AFK (often overnight), and the game does rng rolls over and over. You have a very low chance to win "auras" in most of these games (chances can be 1 in a million, but they have all magnitudes of odds). Auras are just visual+audio effects that are on your player that other users can see.
I think we know gambling (can be) bad for people, especially developing brains, and I see very little difference between gambling (slot machines) and these games. The major difference is you cannot win money (at least not directly) with these games. However, what is the defining quality of money that makes gambling different from these games? The users win auras which are social credit, which can be just as important for users in these age brackets.
I worry about my son playing these games. I know the knee-jerk reaction will be: "if you're concerned just don't let him play them". However there is cost to that, as his friends play them so him not being able to play them causes a lot of friction. So I don't want to overreact.
Note: I've loved video games since as long as I can remember, and still play them.
zaphar|1 year ago
However, our world if full of popular things that cause harm which incur a real social cost when you opt out of them. Teaching your child to deal with those situations is part of your job as a parent and maybe this is an opportunity to do just that. Your job as a parent is not to eliminate friction for your child. Your job is to help them learn how to deal with and weather friction.
This particular instance doesn't sound that problematic to me but you know your child and his situation better than me. Just don't avoid dealing with something because you think it will cause friction or hardship for them. Learning to deal with that sort of thing is a large part of growing up.
rng-concern|1 year ago