post-it-contents/what-is-a-loot-box/contents.md

title	credits	contents
What is a loot box?	XPUB	what are the characteristics of the lootbox? closed box with objects inside The loot box is a digital or physical box. A loot box is a virtual box inside video games containing randomized items a loot box is a virtual box of hidden motives designed to persuade and/or trick players a virtual box where the user can pay and access products/items that can be useful to go on with the game, or can be collectible. A lottery box payment The loot box is a virtual feature players can purchase with real money in free-to-play games or full-price-games. You don´t get it for free, and you don't know what you get. A player pays real money to buy a virtual treasure box HOPING it contains something valuable within the world of the game. surprise mechanism The element of surprise is a highly appreciated aspect of the loot box. The loot box is like a secret treasure that is usually not worth the money you pay for it, or the expectations you have for it, but that is somehow exciting. I think the addictiveness is very connected to the surprise mechanism, I think that anticipation moment is what is addictive. How that makes you feel. Anything is possible. Of course then you open it and its disappointing. But there is a moment before opening it when ANYTHING is possible. I like that state of being. It's like the cat in the box, is he dead is he alive, he is both until you open the box. surprise an entertaining element it keeps the players hooked to the game by using an element of surprise The player never knows what is inside of it. surprise that comes with consequences reward a gift to yourself They look like real gifts, but you purchase them for yourself. you choose you get something nice emotional response Strong emotional reactions are tied to finances. pleasure thrill excitement desire microtransaction the user would pay weird amounts of money to obtain something new. you will get better if you buy one designed to be addictive Very real addictive mechanisms A repeated scheme that ensures constant spending into virtual game currencies. Designed to be desirable and to be purchased again and again Some rewards are rare and that makes the loot box desirable It puts the player in a condition for purchasing without thinking too much. Its timespan is similar to the discount periods or Black Friday. Looking under the hood Time constraint or the lack thereof: how does this contribute to the risk/pleasure/adrenaline rush that comes with every loot box unlocking experience? trigger for addictive behaviour A loot box is a gambling mechanism, exploitative by design, that promises immediate in-game rewards to the player. The rewards of the loot box can affect both the gameplay and the social environment around the game. It sets the beat for repeated microtransactions it's a repetitive rhythm for the player's temporality. It builds a habit by triggering the attention and the emotional response of the player. it's fun It ensures that the player keeps playing potentially forever from habit to addiction fast-thinking It is what motivates immediate irrational purchases. it can be rational in the context of the game A quest, narrative, social pressure or else can justify any loot boxes. it appears and disappears quickly in order to seem exclusive and to make the player buy it without thinking too much. time pressure creates artificial urgency gambling /excitement-anticipation A feeling of excitement and anticipation could be related to the excitement of gambling. You know that there is a chance of getting some items that you desire. It is desirable because it creates the chances that you get a really rare or powerful item out of it. It is like gambling because you don't know what is inside of it. immediate reward The immediate reward makes it fun, the risk comes with pleasure. Loot box derives from the loot, a bunch of goodies that you can get as a reward after you conquer a super boss or level up. A reward after accomplishing a really heroic task. An immediately rewarding response preceded by a generally customized trigger. a rewarding experience a guaranteed reward in exchange for money progress in the game you have more power in the game (and in your life?) some players might even feel cornered into purchasing loot boxes as the game cannot reach its full potential without it. it hacks the temporality of a game it allows you to customize your game character it shifts the dynamics in the game it provides you with collectibles or power-ups that make you progress inside the game. a temporalized tool for the distribution and management of resources exploitative The potentially endless collection creates artificial needs exploitative fun The benefits for you are emotional. The benefits for the game platforms are financial. A money-making mechanism that uses real world money in video games' worlds. repetition a rewarding mechanism Even if you don't get exactly what you wish for, you will get something, and you feel somehow rewarded. It's collectible. incremental rewards it is disguised as safe and innocent disappointment You can keep opening loot boxes forever risk It targets vulnerable players trigger for addictive/toxic behavior It has no limitations Escapism from the real life FOMO The surprise mechanism and exclusivity of the loot box creates a constant FOMO. Peer pressure Social pressure It interfaces the game and the real world It is an alternate reality experience of collecting things you can't own in real life It is a pulse in the circulation of resources between a virtual game and the reality outside of it. Loot box as currency exchange game coin collectible item real money Power-Up The box is embedded in a context It works within the context of a game It works outside the context of a game When the game gets tough, the loot box offers you a shortcut. How does exposing the inner workings and real motives of the loot box affect the players' behavior and decision making? The combination of payment and surprise can have the following effects: gambling addiction risk ritual destiny exploitation etc. risk reward surprise disappointment this loot box found you for a reason general individual engagement a personalized 1 to 1 interaction 1 to machine interaction.