FairreLilette

I'm getting it from the Wiki. Where do you get your information from? I thought it said it started in Japan, but that's not really relevant anyways. The encapsulated toys are how the word Gacha came about. It's a hidden thing. In video games, a loot box (also called a loot/prize crate) is a consumable virtual item which can be redeemed to receive a randomised selection of further virtual items, or loot, ranging from simple customization options for a player's avatar or character, to game-changing equipment such as weapons and armor. A loot box is typically a form of monetisation, with players either buying the boxes directly or receiving the boxes during play and later buying "keys" with which to redeem them. These systems may also be known as gacha (based on gashapon – capsule toys) and integrated into gacha games.

Okay, these are Gacha machines which started in Japan. You cannot see the toy you are getting and that's what a loot box is - it contains unknowns which could be total crap.

The problem with the above word Gacha is the encapsulated toys. How SL came to name their Gachas Gachas is not known to me. But, if you research further, the Gacha that is in question is the encapsulated toy which after my further reading is like a "lucky dip", it's an unknown item which I can see parents not wanting to spend their money on an unknown.

And, also in America, at least where I live, we don't have encapsulated toys. I haven't been to an arcade in quite a few years but we don't have "lucky dip" type toy games because they don't contain toys that are hidden in a capsule like in Japan. The psychology of loot boxes has been likened to the 'lucky dip' nature of plastic capsule toys dispensed by vending machines, seen across the world but particularly popular in Japan. However, their virtual existence is linked to the so-called freemium business model, starting with free games apps on mobile phones where users can opt to enrich by paying small amounts

Do you have a legal definition of what a loot box is? The definitions I am getting are nothing like SL Gachas. Until someone presents a legal definition of a loot box, this discussion is moot, imo. Lootbox: online gaming, a loot box is a kind of virtual treasure chest, purportedly containing a random selection of items that would be highly desirable to players. In fantasy or combat games, these could be particular pieces of equipment or so-called skins (the outward appearance of a character or object in a game – think shiny golden tools or attractive clothes). Though in a minority of games loot boxes can be won by progression through the game, by far the most common scenario is for users to pay money for them, and it's this fact that has thrown the term into the spotlight in recent months. The key thing here is that a player hands over an amount of money for a loot box, but has no idea what's actually in there – though it may contain the very things they wanted, it more than likely conceals a whole load of stuff they don't.

I used to feel that way. Then, I changed. Avatars, to me, progressively became more like robots and what could I make my robot be or represent outside of myself as a unique creation rather than a digital clone of me. I want to make something beyond me. It may sound unusual, but my avatars are robots to me now. But, very cool robots. I think robots are very cool and I'm having an interesting experience thinking and seeing and reaching outside of myself making robots with their persona, a unique thing unto themselves.

Those are not all items though nor are they a set of any kind. That's more a bit like gambling to win another lottery ticket than receiving collectible goods like in a SL Gacha. But, again, only time will tell. These loot boxes are all new to me. I've simply heard others say Gachas are like loot boxes but never an explanation why they think that or are saying that.

Does it give you a list prior to buying boxes or after?

I'm not so sure they are the same thing. With loot boxes, you just buy boxes with no idea what's in it. It's similar to trading cards in that trading cards are packaged and sealed and you cannot know what's in it until you pay for it and then once paid for you can then open your trading cards and see which cards you got. But, with loot boxes, it seems you don't even know what you are buying unlike with trading cards you are buying trading cards you just don't know which ones as it's a surprise you are buying. See pic below...all you know is you are buying a box with something in it. It's not like Gachas at all which disclose what you may get. I don't think they are the same but only time will answer that.

Some are selling the full set copy/mod items in Gachas now. If anyone would like to buy any copy/mod sets, the inworld group All Things Gacha may know who has copy/mod Gacha sets. It's fairly new but on average I've seen a copy/mod Gacha set going for about 5-6 thousand lindens for the whole thing. Also, some have terminals for trade into a copy/mod item. Gachas are all different. I said gumball machine because take a shoe for example. With shoes they are all the same except color just like gumballs. The rares may be the black or the brown. Plus I said loot boxes seem more like trading cards, which after doing a bit of research, most are saying loot boxes are closer to trading cards than anything else. And, America is not banning it's trading cards any time soon. But, loot boxes...I'm still not exactly sure what they are but you buy a bunch of boxes with no idea what's in it is the best I can gather. At least that's what it looks like to me in this video. You just buy boxes with no idea what it could be.

Characters - all of them. I sometimes like to think I am making a robot as opposed to an avatar and what do I want my robot to look like this time. One time, a long time ago, my avatar was based around Stevie Nicks. I loved that wardrobe! I didn't come to SL for any dating and I do not date in SL. This is fun time. Relationships are serious business.

That's dang cute too! Baffling program. 🤔

See here is a photo of the hair it keeps liking. There is nothing great about this photo. It looks just like a generic every day girl but she has great long hair. It loves this hair no matter what photo I put in. It is not an awesome photo...it's just kind of plain with great hair and space to write stuff on for a brochure or something to sell. My lingerie photos it scores below 2 and I think I have some good lingerie photos but they wouldn't be for every day life use.

I went back and saw the second bikini shot and began to wonder myself why preference for one and not the other. Perhaps the programming liked the full body shot of the female as opposed to the half body shot? Still, yeah, that is weird. But, what I'm saying is that what most stock photos are -very generic, showing something in every day life. When I scored high on my portraits it seemed to like my long hair the best rather than the photo itself because the portrait I submitted IS terrible and looks more like a cartoon than a real person as it's mis-shaped BUT my hair is perfect and quite unusual and a gorgeous hair too by Doux. My favorite by Doux.

Maybe, but it's weird how you get the box. It sounded to me like a box is given to a player free and then they have to obtain a key...and yada and yada. The above just sounds like an American Arcade and some American Game Shows also. But, ultimately, I have to agree with the sentiment that this will play out when it plays out. IOW, a law.

I wasn't sure this was about gambling but about loot boxes and I've asked if Gachas are loot boxes. And, if that is so, where is that information because they don't sound the same to me. I've never seen Gachas in SL like the ones described below. Plus, with slot machines you can put money in and get NOTHING. This is a bit about loot boxes: In video games, a loot box (also called a loot/prize crate) is a consumable virtual item which can be redeemed to receive a randomised selection of further virtual items, or loot, ranging from simple customization options for a player's avatar or character, to game-changing equipment such as weapons and armor. A loot box is typically a form of monetisation, with players either buying the boxes directly or receiving the boxes during play and later buying "keys" with which to redeem them. These systems may also be known as gacha (based on gashapon – capsule toys) and integrated into gacha games. A "loot box" can be named several different ways, usually related to the type of game that it appears in. A "loot box", "loot crate" or "lockbox" is often applied to shooter games since one obtains new equipable outfits or gear from it. Digital card games may use the term "booster pack" following from collectible card game roots.[1] Loot boxes are often given to players during play, for instance as rewards for leveling up their character or completing a multiplayer game without quitting.[2][3] Loot boxes may also be given out through promotions outside of gameplay, such as watching certain streaming events.[4][5] Players can also buy them directly, most often with real-world funds but also through in-game currency.[6] Some loot boxes can be redeemed immediately, while redeeming others requires further consumable items dressed as "keys".[7]

I just wanted to say one more thing...it sounds like Gacha design is a bit like trading cards. There are "trading" groups inworld for people who have doubles and want to trade. I don't see kids trading stuff as a horrendous thing for youth to do. I did it with my friends as a kid - trading cards. I liked many types of trading cards. I even collected Baseball ones as a girl. It was fun. We didn't know which cards we are going to get when you buy trading cards because they are packaged and sealed like a surprise. It's not a big evil thing that I see here.

I think it's a very valid comparison because Beanie Babies can be dispensed from machines, not to mention there all kinds of ways to buy Beanie Babies, even second-hand ones, part of a set, full set which may be the commemoratives or a certain year. This could be any kind of collectible fill in the blank thing though. Some people collect full sets, some people are eclectics like me and only want one piece of a set from many different kinds of collectibles. Regarding Gachas, some people could collect only rares, some could collect only houses. There is no rule to collecting and one ever has to buy a full set of anything whether real life or SL. I don't see them as loot boxes.

I just don't see Gachas as loot boxes and no one is answering my question here. If Gachas are loot boxes than so are real life collectibles like Beanie Babies. If you collect Beanie Babies you can collect them however you want, just like Gachas. And, you can buy only one Beanie Baby in your whole life, you don't have to collect a whole set of anything that is considered a collectible or a collectible in a set is the professional term. Gachas are collectibles in a set but you don't have to buy the whole set...buying the whole set is not a requirement.

Maybe so Prokofy, but it sounds like something parents might not like in regards to loot boxes so it might arise again. Being shot down once hardly ends things when it comes to minors. But, like I said I've only heard some people say a few times that Gachas are like loot boxes but they never presented a reason why. I read a few paragraphs on loot boxes and how you can propel yourself upwards towards prizes or something. It didn't sound like Gachas to me that's why I'm asking because I want to know why people think Gachas are like loot boxes, how so? IOW, it's been an empty statement. Just the words Gachas are like loot boxes with no explanation.

Wow, it sounds like something that would pass, imo, especially in regards to minors. However, is it fully established Gachas are loot boxes and I'm not saying "like loot boxes", I'd think it might have to be established that they are in fact loot boxes not like them. I read a few paragraphs yesterday on loot boxes and it was Greek to me. I've heard of this that some think Gachas are like loot boxes but never presented a reason why they think that.

Talligurl, it's not really looking for awesome photos, it's looking for awesome photos that can sell a product and particularly a general audience product it seems to me. They show stock photos on their main page, it's just group shots of nothing really terribly arty or unique but it's shows business togetherness, a family hug, etc, hence - general audience. Stock photos are used for selling products and are not really artistic photos. I put in what little I had of my few lingerie photos along with various other portrait style portraits of various avatars. My lingerie scored on average about 2% very low I thought, while some of my avatar portraits with space around the photo scored pretty high and a few almost hit 100% because it looks like every day girl with space around the photo to write stuff on in order to sell a product. Stock photo sources also look for photos of people doing average ordinary things too or living every day life and you can see your bikini shot and the tennis photo above scored very high. It's not about art or how we look, but rather how it can be used to sell something and it's usually general audience every day life kind of photos that may actually sell in a stock photo house as well as rate high because they are just a general audience, day-in-the-life kind of thing. Btw, the family hug picture they show is terrible and badly composed but it could be cropped and probably sell.

I love that 3rd photo Marianne and that one is my favorite of them all and it's also one of the most realistic looking avatars in SL. The last photo is awesome too. I'm not sure what this scanning is looking for other than perhaps something unusual or a particular composition. Man, this thing lies after seeing this.

Both my Dinkie photos got pretty high ratings. This one with just a change to purple in color ranked about 15% higher. I think it's scanning for composition more than anything, Bree, not so much as how it looks. My photo is not exactly composed all that well and yours looks a bit "mug shot"...try a different composition with your avatar.

I love this color hair. I forgot the name of the maker now...I've been a bit tired. But, this is a cool color.