A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
A Ruse by Any Other Name: Comparing Loot Boxes and Collectible Card Games Using Magic Arena
Authors: Mattinen Topias, Macey Joseph, Hamari Juho
Publisher: Association for Computing Machinery
Publication year: 2023
Journal: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
Journal name in source: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
Article number: 401
Volume: 7
Issue: CHI PLAY
First page : 721
Last page: 747
ISSN: 2573-0142
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3611047
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1145/3611047
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/181918439
The convergence of gaming and gambling, known as "gamblification", has been a topic of increasing interest in recent years. Loot boxes, i.e., rewards ofering randomized content in exchange for money or time, have been a particular focal point. Research has shown links between excessive loot box consumption and problematic consumption behaviors, leading to several atempts to regulate loot boxes. Arguments against regulation have been that loot boxes are conceptually and structurally akin to other unregulated game formats, such as collectible card games. However, this discourse is oven without deeper analysis of the mechanics of diferent products at the center of convergence. |erefore, to add to this knowledge, this article examines the similarities and diferences between booster packs in Magic Arena, their physical counterparts in Magic: |e Gathering, and loot boxes included in digital games. Particular atention is paid to the ways in which these booster packs compare to loot boxes in terms of consumption paterns, visual appearance, contextual factors, and regulation. Analysis reveals that digital booster packs in Magic Arena difer from both loot boxes and physical card packs, both due to their direct impact on gameplay, and their unique features aforded by the digital environment in which they exist.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |