Photo by The Government is being urged to develop a new strategy to help tackle gaming addiction in children.
MEP Colm Markey wants to see a ban on 'loot boxes' in online games.
Webwise is advising parents to encourage children to show them the online games they play, and how they work.
The website says:
Loot boxes are mystery bundles of virtual items related to a video game. They can be won by a gamer as a reward or can be purchased with real money. If your child likes to play video games, then chances are they have encountered a feature called “Loot Boxes”. The contents may allow you to unlock special characters, equipment, or “skins” which can change the appearance of something in the game or allow access to new levels.
They differ from other in-app or in-game purchases because the contents of the loot box are unknown before you purchase it. With other in-game purchases you choose exactly what you are buying and know its value, but the contents of a loot box are entirely down to chance – it could be something valuable in the game, or it may not.
Midlands-North-West MEP, Colm Markey, says in-app game purchases such as 'loot boxes' can place families in financial difficulty:
"Games can have a benefit in terms of if can be educational and developmental as well. So if handled the right way, it can be developmental, but just to be conscious of the idea of loot boxes and addiction in designs."
"I think there needs to be a strategy to ensure that these aren't used as a way of hooking children, and if you're getting them to spend money on the games in order to get to higher levels."
