Someone outEA's EA

 

During the week a rather interesting story broke. But first a bit of context.

I have spoken at length on this blog about lootboxes in video games and how much I despise them. About how incredibly damaging they can be to young minds and those with gambling addictions. I have talked about the publishers who control the boxes and how in the case of Electronic Arts they call it “surprise mechanics” and how adamant they are that it is not gambling.

Their cardinal argument against the gambling accusation is that you can't cash out, and that there is no real monetary value attached to the contents of said lootboxes.

So on to the story at hand. This week allegations appeared on social media that shows how one or more employees at EA are selling the most sought after FIFA player cards straight to customers, bypassing the lootboxes completely. I'm not going to go digging around after the screenshots with the evidence (if it is true), but there are plenty of videos on Youtube where you can see them for yourself.

In a nutshell, the person(s) contacts people and offers to transfer these ultra rare cards straight into their accounts for real money. Money in the range of 600€ - 1700€ per deal. The cards in question are incredibly difficult to get, so hard in fact that many players have spent thousands of dollars on card packs without even getting one of them. So one can see why this under the counter deal is so tempting. You're pretty much paying the same amount anyway, but with a guaranteed outcome.

EA responded with lightning speed stating that they take the allegations very seriously and that they have launched an investigation. Should they find anything they promise to take swift action. 

Pretty much what one would expect them to say.

The real kicker here isn't that EA is capable of responding promptly to scandals even though they never do so when people and governments talk about gambling and children, but that this A. demonstrates a tangible monetary value on things they claim has no value and, B. they only care when their own bottom line is affected.

Granted everyone and their hamster already know that EA only cares about money but it is funny nonetheless. There exists shady third party sites where players trade and sell these cards for real money, but EA has always maintained that they have nothing to do with these sites, and that they aren't EA's problem.

If it turns out that this story is true, and it very much looks like it is, it's going to be interesting to see if it has any impact on the governmental claims that lootboxes really are gambling and that games like the FIFA games actually are unlicensed and unregulated casinos. After all, real casinos are monitored, regulated and they pay hefty fees in order to be allowed to operate. They odds of winning are also regularly inspected. Slot machines, roulette tables, etc. are constantly checked to make sure they remain legal. Meanwhile companies like EA can do whatever they like with the odds of winning valuable cards in their games. No oversight, no control, just pure profit. As long as you don't have a conscience.

Of course there is the option that the allegations are true but that EA manages to bury the evidence to control the damage. Either way I'm sure EA is very surprised at these mechanics...

That's that and all that. Join me again next time for more Eccentric Spheres. Until then, have a great week and stay safe!