Loot Boxes WTF?

[Tony Tony Tony]

My son recently purchased something called a Loot Box from, I think, HMV. He was seemingly thrilled before he opened it but once in there it did seem to contain a load of old toot that the shop was probably having trouble shifting. For example there was a Frozen notebook and key ring (in a supposed box for boys) a few stickers, and some kind of cardboard make it yourself model of a miniature R2D2.

Obviously loot boxes are a thing but have any of you purchased one and moreover was there anything but a pile of old crap inside?

[king_tubby]

1. How much was this?

2. Frozen is for everyone. My son loves Frozen. Let it go.

[Alberon]

Loot Boxes in computer games has been coming under increasing criticism for a while on the basis that it's a form of gambling. I'm surprised stores like HMV are still doing physical versions of them.

[Tony Tony Tony]

1. How much was this?

2. Frozen is for everyone. My son loves Frozen. Let it go.

He was coy about the price but I believe it was in the region of £9.99.

As for your boy being into Frozen it wasn't the gender stereotype I was hitting on really, just that the movie was last years thing.

[Butchers Blind]

I'm guessing you buy the box without the knowledge of knowing what's inside? Don't Amazon do something similar?

[Poirots BigGarlickyCorpse]

there are physical Loot Boxes now?

sounds like rebranded Lucky Bags only more expensive and scammy

[king_tubby]

He was coy about the price but I believe it was in the region of £9.99.

As for your boy being into Frozen it wasn't the gender stereotype I was hitting on really, just that the movie was last years thing.

10 notes for that sounds shit. Set the place on fire.

[Tony Tony Tony]

10 notes for that sounds shit. Set the place on fire.

Roger that, will do... and still get a penny change. Result!

[Neomod]

Didn't Loot Crates start off as a physical thing like 10 years ago to extract money from geeks/nerds/whatever.

With this one HMV seem to be getting rid of all of their Frozen/Star Wars over orders. I bet the girls box contained the same items.

At least the original Jamboree bags weren't like £30



Even this one designed by Wes Anderson

[touchingcloth]

there are physical Loot Boxes now?

sounds like rebranded Lucky Bags only more expensive and scammy

There are non-physical ones?

I remember an entertaining thread on loot crates from, *checks*, 6 years ago: https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=49323.0

[JamesTC]

https://youtu.be/Bl5UH6EZXIM?t=659

[buttgammon]

There's still a HMV?! Remember when there were things, Stu?

[thelittlemango]

All of these types of things are shit apart from the random bag of sweets some corner shops sell.

I remember Forbidden Planet (also referenced in the Loot Crate thread mentioned above) selling mysterious sealed bags of comic books that promised the potential of unknown gems for a low price. Then you open it up and it's a 8 month old copy of Turdman issue 76 and other lowlights with a token C-tier Marvel comic thrown in to give it some semblance of credibility. There are now vinyl subscription services trying to sell the same idea "mystery jazz vinyl essentials subscription!" where you'd have to own literally nothing from the genre lest you get Kind Of Blue in month 2 and have to wait another month praying you're not getting A Love Supreme as your cousin gave you that for Christmas last year.

[Mister Six]

Is this just the subprime mortgage crisis for kids?

[touchingcloth]

Is this just the subprime mortgage crisis for kids?

No.

[Cuntbeaks]

there are physical Loot Boxes now?

sounds like rebranded Lucky Bags only more expensive and scammy

Absolutely loved a Lucky Bag, but even then i knew it was a load of old piss and my 10p could be spent more wisely. It was the thrill of the unknown that i was paying for.

Horror Bags were the the cream of the crop.

[Goldentony]

HMV is now split between head the balls like me browsing the same auld shit in the blu ray sections divided into labels and never sold mountains of Mindy Show DVDs, then the other bit full of the stuff in these boxes and funko pops, its fucking demented. comic shops are full of funko popsand this arsewipe aswell, I have to go downstairs to some little porno bit to find the comics.

[Poirots BigGarlickyCorpse]

There are non-physical ones?

Yeah? In videogames? It's kind of a big deal since they've introduced gambling mechanics into games deemed suitable for children.

[touchingcloth]

HMV is now split between head the balls like me browsing the same auld shit in the blu ray sections divided into labels and never sold mountains of Mindy Show DVDs, then the other bit full of the stuff in these boxes and funko pops, its fucking demented. comic shops are full of funko popsand this arsewipe aswell, I have to go downstairs to some little porno bit to find the comics.

HMV was always like that. 20 years ago there were CDs for the dads, and squeezy toys and that poster of hilarious road signs for pocket money trying (and failing) to justify its existence.

[Captain Z]

Last time I went into an HMV (a couple of years ago) the most prominent item on display was a 180g vinyl remaster of Keane's Hopes And Fears. Fucking Keane.

[ProvanFan]

I'd have drawn veiny dicks all over that stupid Frozen notebook

[Noodle Lizard]

As for your boy being into Frozen it wasn't the gender stereotype I was hitting on really, just that the movie was last years thing.

My daughter's watching it right now. Must be at least the hundredth time by now. Something about that particular film just hits them right where it counts, not quite sure what.

She hates Olaf though.

[Replies From View]

Something about that particular film just hits them right where it counts, not quite sure what.

Probably their genitals.

[bgmnts]

They've had these things for a while, a random delivery of geek culture shite. Nerd Crates and Geek Boxes and Sad Sacks.

Surprised they're still going as they've always been a rip off. RLM did quite a funny Nerd Crew episode on them.

[Small Man Big Horse]

She hates Olaf though.

With good reason, and the fucker's even worse in the sequel.

[Pancake]

I saw loot boxes for nerdy shit being hawked by well-meaning you tubers a few years ago but yes, it's obvious that the HMV ones are just them clearing their warehouses of all their old nightmare before Christmas keyrings and xbox t-shirts

[Noodle Lizard]

With good reason, and the fucker's even worse in the sequel.

She doesn't like the sequel at all, despite it basically being the same. I can kind of see why though; it's oddly glum and none of the songs are anywhere near as memorable.

Olaf is dreadful, though. I think we've all had enough of Josh Gad now.

[steveh]

Back in the 1980s there was one shop I used to buy electronic stuff from who would do mystery boxes with a random assortment of components and things they couldn't sell. For years I hung on to a tiny printer unit from one of these thinking I might one day find a use for it even though it came with no documentation...

Fukubukuru have been a thing in Japan for a long time. Lots of East Asian countries also have vending machines where for a few quid you get a mystery box which might have a code to get a games console or more likely a cheap USB charger or pair of earbuds.

[The Mollusk]

Funko Pops are a fucking cancer. Imagine thinking they're good.

[bgmnts]

Funko Pops are a fucking cancer. Imagine thinking they're good.

Presumably you could apply this to literally any collectible?