Probably the same parents that buy their kids GTA and then complain games are too violent. They just don't care that much to look into what their kids like.

Remember the custom warehouse level filled with crates and everyone wearing a crate skin?

Nah it's worse, because you can trade TF2/Steam items. You can't do shit with games like Fortnite, Overwatch, Valorant, etc...

Help us European Union, you're our only hope.

Its not the parents fault, its just how its going. As a kid I wanted pokemon cards, because all the other kids had pokemon cards and were showing off how many pokemon cards they had and it was on TV that you GOTTA CATCH EM ALL and the cool kid had a shiny raichu and I was a loser because I didnt have one so I really wanted one so I needed pokemon cards. It didnt mean my parents failed me. It means toy manufacturers have all but weaponised marketing/propaganda and children are especially susceptible. In my example, replace shiny raichu card with Peter Griffin skin.

I thought so too. I try with my boy I really do. Ive got him understanding that mtx are the work of Satan, but beyond that I cant help him.

What a fedora screeching nerd take. THE KIDS WANT VIDEO GAMES! THE PARENTS ARE FAILURES! Jesus Christ ‍️

Gamer uncle of kids with non-gamer parents here. I did what I could. My niece's taste in games is impeccable. She's 13 and among her favorites are Hollow Knight, the Ori games, Inscryption, Cult of the Lamb, and of course big mass kids appeal games like Pokemon and Mario. My nephew (9) is a lost cause. It's all Roblox and mobile child casino garbage and he doesn't have even the slightest interest in anything else. I'm pretty sure my partner and I are the only people in his life who have never given him Robux.

There aren't 50% of gamer parents anyway.

If it isn't proof they target children, I don't know what is. Microtransctions prove they should be illegal every time I read any article about them

I went with my son to his friends house a few years ago, about 9. Me and his mom were hanging out while the kids gamed. Her son played roblox. I never liked the game, and know there are thousands of other games to play that aren't so predatory, so my kid was never introduced to it. Anyway, his friend was playing so I let my son play too for this day. After a time, her son asked for $10 for Roblox. Mom said not today and the child had a full meltdown. It hurt my ears he was screeching so loud. My son just froze and stared at his friend. It looked similar to a panic attack crossed with a toddler temper tantrum. Once he calmed down, she let him back on the game, but we went home. Certain games turn smaller children into addicts. Roblox is definitely one of those games, it seems.

Doesn't the trading kind of encourage the gambling aspect of it though?

It's 43% of 60% of US kids. So more like 25%. Still pretty bad.

> It means toy manufacturers have all but weaponised marketing/propaganda and children are especially susceptible. When exactly does it switch over to be weaponized? What is the line?

South Park pretty much nailed it in the chinpokomon episode 

While I agree that this is not a good thing, I have to say it is not much different to for example Pokemon cards. Sure you could sell physical cards - if you're lucky maybe even without loss - but I don't think it is so much different.

I didn't see a link to the survey in the article so I found it on the [ESA website](https://www.theesa.com/holidayguide/). The survey says that 58% of kids want games, but it doesn't seem to specify what percentage of kids want in-game currency?; it simply says that in-game currency is one of the top five video-game related requests, at 43%. But 43% of what? 43% of kids who want games? It's not specific, which would make the news article meaningless.

complaining about this one feels boomerish to me like "oh no! dem kids like the [new thing]!!"

Really? Your parents never bought you worthless junk meant to be throw away like fart putty or those rubber bubbles you blow up with a straw that barely work or packs of Pokémon cards or baseball cards? I don’t think it should be up to the parents to tell the kids what’s valuable to them. If the kid wants a vbucks card over a game then you can tell them that’s why they didn’t get a new game. (I do recognize that the current monetization models have ruined modern gaming which is why I only play games that are 15 years old or older)

Kids want to play the games their friends are playing more than what their parents play. I will play Fortnite and Roblox and Rocket League with my son and I’ve never had a skin or a battle pass and have tried to show him you can have fun with out wasting your money but that doesn’t stop a kids FOMO. Publishers know kids have undeveloped abilities to delay gratification and are susceptible to peer pressure