GENSHIN IMPACT'S TRUE IMPACT
Free-to-play game Genshin Impact has taken the world by storm, but also raises the issue of the dangerous gambling elements in online games.
By Stephanie Lim
Genshin Impact on mobile
Photo by: Stephanie Lim
Genshin Impact is a free-to-play fantasy game that has captured the hearts of many with its stunning graphics, engaging storyline and loveable characters. Yet, dangerous gambling elements lurk underneath its dreamy façade.
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According to an article by IndieWire, the game has earned over $500 million solely from mobile so far, not even counting their other platforms like Windows and PlayStation.
Genshin Impact mainly earns its revenue from its wish system or more commonly known as “loot boxes”. Players spend in-game currency, or "Primogems", for a slim chance to win 5-star characters or weapons through time-limited banners. However, more often than not, players will receive disappointing 3-star weapons. The percentage for obtaining 5-star characters is a miserable 0.6 per cent, as stated in an article by Siliconera.
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Nevertheless, some are willing to go to extreme lengths for this game. YouTuber Michael Tash tears up in a video expressing his regret over spending over US$7,200 on the game, calling the wish system “predatory”.
Genshin Impact’s wish system with time limited character banners
Photo by: Stephanie Lim
Joy Andrea Wee, 18, a Genshin Impact player, has spent $136 on the game so far.
“I didn’t get the character that I wanted so I bought more gems,” Joy says. “After I got the character, I also bought the monthly subscription to get gems because I also want to get their next character banner in February.”
“At first I felt really bad because it was the first time that I bought anything for a phone game and even then, it was the most expensive purchase I ever made for a game in one shot,” Joy admits sheepishly. “I felt kinda bad for like, one night. After that I was like eh, it’s okay because I think I’ll play this game for a long time.”
Joy has been playing Genshin Impact every day since its release in late September.
Conversely, Amir Hamzah, 18, has only recently started playing the game and has not spent money on it.
“Honestly I’m surprised that Genshin is even free,” He says. “As far as I know people have been spending to get characters and weapons and so on, but I don’t necessarily think I would need them right now since the ones I have now are sufficient to complete my quests.”
He adds that Genshin Impact’s co-op feature, which allows players to play with each other, makes the game appealing to him as he enjoys playing with his friends.
Infographic by: Stephanie Lim
Amidst the game’s success, it also raises the issue of dangerous gambling elements in online games.
“Addiction happens when the brain is desensitised to a certain reward and you need more and more stimulation, in the form of dopamine, a kind of chemical in your brain, in order to achieve the same high,” Ms Joanna Kong says, 33, General Manager of One Hope Centre, a non-profit organisation that helps those who are affected by gambling. “There is a reward-seeking behaviour that gets more and more intense.”
She herself played Genshin Impact for around three weeks before dropping it, as she says it was “too much of a toil”.
She says, “The character banners that Genshin Impact has, which I think is only for a couple of weeks, creates a sense of urgency that ‘Hey! You know in order to get this character, I need to spend during this period of time,’ So it compels purchases.”
Marcus Lim, 30, youth counsellor and social worker, says, “The concept of loot boxes is not new, neither is it dangerous in and of itself. It’s just a lucky draw type concept. However, in the gaming world then it can become quite dangerous.”
Mr Lim explains that players use real life money to purchase game credits, which they then use to buy loot boxes. He says, “The fact that that is so far removed from actual cash is dangerous, because the spender feels very distant from the amount of money he or she is actually spending.”
The whole dynamic of loot boxes in games are specifically designed to keep players playing and spending more money.
“In a lot of these games when you open a loot box you have a lot of fun fair that comes with it,” Ms Kong says. “A lot of fireworks and very stimulating audio-visuals, so it builds up and induces excitement. So this is very similar if you have been to a casino or if you have seen a casino.”
“Don’t link your card with your app purchase,” she advises players. “If you link it, it facilitates the process of spending, you just press one button, press another button and that’s it, you bought it.”
She also encourages those who are planning to spend money that they should set fixed budgets, and to not surpass the budget no matter the outcome of the loot box. They could also ask help from their loved ones to keep them in check.