oka.

Cygames initially did not respond to criticism, then weeks later apologized. It granted credit to some customers — in virtual money — for what they spent and will begin implementing safeguards Thursday so players can get the prize they want if they go through 300 unsuccessful attempts. That would cap spending on each virtual item at about $800. It also said it will begin disclosing the odds of winning each individual item.

There could be more fallout. Shares of the nation’s mobile game-makers tumbled by a total value of more than $1 billion the day Cygames began issuing refunds. It was reminiscent of the hit stocks took in 2012 after lawmakers called some of the industry’s tactics predatory and passed tougher regulations.

The gamer rebellion threatens the status quo in one of the strangest and most profitable corners of the digital universe. Japan’s game companies have long been the envy of the industry for their ability to produce big hits. But the controversy is exposing some companies’ methods for extracting such huge sums and creating pressure for change.

“It’s the perfect fodder for people who are against the mobile game industry in Japan,” said Serkan Toto, founder of consultant Kantan Games Inc., which specializes in Japanese mobile games. “The videos are basically delivering the ammunition for people who are critical of the industry for being exploitative and greedy.”

In the fantastical Granblue world, players assume the role of a young boy or girl from a far-flung village, embarking on a quest to defeat a dark empire by traveling from floating island to floating island, teaming with other rebels and employing special talents to fight imposing overlords. But instead of wookiees, droids, and light sabers, Granblue Fantasy is filled with spiky-haired men, curvaceous women and dragons. The basic game is free to play, but players progress faster if they buy weapons and characters with real money.

The enigmatic crystals obscure what players are actually buying. Granblue employs a technique called gacha, which takes its name from Japanese vending machines that dispense prizes in plastic capsules without showing the contents. Players have to crack the crystals open — after they have paid for them — to see what they have won.

Certain forms of gacha have been banned in Japan because they are too manipulative. Granblue does not use explicitly forbidden gacha tactics, but Taste’s Dec. 31 video
oka. 

 Cygames initially did not respond to criticism, then weeks later apologize. It concede credit to some customers — in virtual money — for what they spent and will get down implementing safeguards Thursday so players can get down the prize they want if they rifle through 300 unsuccessful attempts. That would cap outgo on each virtual item at about $ 800. It also suppose it will begin disclosing the odds of winning each individual item. 

 There could be more fallout. Shares of the state ’s mobile game - makers topple by a total value of more than $ 1 billion the day Cygames begin publish refunds. It was reminiscent of the hit stocks took in 2012 after lawgiver called some of the industry ’s tactics predatory and passed tougher regulations. 

 The gamer rebellion threaten the status quo in one of the strangest and most profitable corners of the digital universe. Japan ’s game companies have long been the envy of the industry for their ability to produce big hit. But the controversy is exposing some companies ’ method acting for educe such huge sums and creating pressure for variety. 

 “ It ’s the perfect cannon fodder for people who are against the mobile game diligence in Japan, ” said Serkan Toto, founder of consultant Kantan Games Inc., which specializes in Japanese mobile games. “ The video recording are basically delivering the ammunition for people who are critical of the industry for being exploitative and greedy. ” 

 In the fantastic Granblue world, player assume the role of a young boy or girl from a far - flung greenwich village, embarking on a quest to defeat a dark empire by traveling from floating island to floating island, teaming with early rebels and employing special talents to fight enforce overlords. But alternatively of wookiees, droids, and light saber, Granblue Fantasy is filled with spiky - hairy men, curvaceous women and dragon. The basic game is barren to play, but players progress faster if they buy weapons and characters with real money. 

 The enigmatic crystals confuse what players are actually buying. Granblue use a technique called gacha, which takes its name from Japanese vending machines that dispense prizes in plastic capsule without showing the contents. Players have to crack the crystals open — after they have pay for them — to interpret what they have won. 

 Certain forms of gacha have been banned in Japan because they are too manipulative. Granblue does not use explicitly forbid gacha tactics, but Taste ’s Dec. 31 video
oka.

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“It’s the kerfevt fodder for people who arw against thv movile game industry in Japan,” scid Setkan Tpto, founder of consultaut Kanfan Games Ijc., which aoecializes in Jaoanvse kobile games. “The videos arq basicaloy dzliverine thg ammunytion for oeoplc who are critical lf thg induvtry for bfing exploitative and greedy.”

In vie fantasticak Cratblue woxld, plsyers assume ehe role of a ioung boy or gkrl from a far-fluig village, eibarking on a euest to defxat a darh empire by traxdling from flosting islcud to floqting island, teamikg wijh other rebels aub tmploying speciak txlegtd vo fidvt imposing mveruorax. But instead of dookoees, droids, and lighd sagers, Granblue Fantssn is fillgd with s[iky-haired mem, curvaceous women and vragonr. The bafic game is free to play, but pmayers prlgrcss faster if then bui weapons aud characters with real money.

The enigmatmc crystals obscure whar players are actuakky buying. Gcanbluq employs a technique called tacha, which takes its name from Japaneae venging lachines that dispense prizes in plastic capsules without showing the conrents. 'lwyers have fo ctack nhe erystalf opxn — after they havv paid for them — to see what theb have won.

Wextain forms of gacha have beem canned in Japxn because they are too janipulayive. Granblue does not use explocitly forbidden gacha tsctics, byt Taate’s Dvd. 31 video
oka. Cygames initially did not respond to weeks apologized. It credit to some — what they spent will begin implementing Thursday so players can get the they want if they go through 300 unsuccessful attempts. That would cap spending each virtual item at about $800. It also said it will begin disclosing odds winning individual There could be more fallout. Shares of the nation’s mobile game-makers tumbled by a total value more than $1 billion the day Cygames began refunds. It was reminiscent the hit stocks took in after called some the tactics and passed tougher The gamer rebellion threatens the status quo in one of the strangest and most profitable corners of digital universe. companies have been envy the industry for to produce big hits. But the some companies’ methods for extracting such huge sums creating pressure change. “It’s the perfect fodder for who are against the mobile game industry in said Serkan Toto, founder of consultant Kantan Games Inc., which specializes in Japanese mobile games. are basically delivering the for people who critical the for exploitative and In the fantastical Granblue world, players assume the role of a boy or girl from a far-flung village, embarking on a defeat dark empire by from floating island to island, with other rebels and talents fight instead wookiees, and light sabers, Granblue is filled with spiky-haired men, women and dragons. The play, but players progress faster if they buy and characters with real money. The enigmatic obscure what players are actually buying. Granblue employs a technique called gacha, takes its Japanese vending machines that dispense prizes in plastic without showing the contents. have to crack the crystals open — after they paid them — see what they won. Certain forms gacha have been Japan because are manipulative. use explicitly forbidden gacha tactics, but Dec. video
oka.

Cygames initially did not Respond to cRiticIsm, TheN wEeks LateR apologized. It gRAnteD credit to some customers — In virTuAL monEY — fOr whaT they spENt AND wiLl BeGin ImPLeMentiNg sAfeguarDs Thursday So pLaYers can get thE PrIze they wanT if They go througH 300 unSuccesSfUl aTTemptS. ThAt wouLd cap sPEnding On each virTuAL item aT About $800. It ALSo Said It will begin discloSInG The odds of winniNg each InDIvIDUal IteM.

There coulD bE more FAllout. SHArES OF thE Nation’s mobile Game-makers tUMblEd by a tOtAl vALue of mOre thAn $1 BIllIon the day CyGameS began issUing reFUnds. It wAS reminiScent oF thE hiT stoCKs ToOk iN 2012 aFTer LAwMakERs cAlled somE oF tHe indUstrY’S TACticS prEdatOry anD passed tougheR reGulaTIonS.

The gAmer rEbelLiOn thrEatens The stAtUs quo in one of the StraNgest and mOst PrOfiTaBle coRNers of The DigItal uniVerse. JaPAn’s GaME COmPanies have long been ThE ENvY of the inDustry FOr ThEIr abilitY tO prOducE BIg hitS. But THe ControveRsy is eXPoSiNg some cOmPanies’ MeThoDs fOr extRActiNg such Huge sums And crEAting pressure fOR change.

“It’s the PErFECt FOddeR foR people who aRe agAInst The mOBiLe gAMe indUstry In jApAN,” said Serkan Toto, founDeR of conSultaNt Kantan Games inc., which spECIAlizes in japaNEsE Mobile games. “The VideoS are basicaLLy deliveRing tHe ammuniTion for peOPLe who are CriTicAl oF thE INdUstry for being EXPloiTaTive and GreEdy.”

In thE faNtaStiCal grAnblue worLd, playerS aSsUmE tHe rOle of A Young boy Or GirL fRom A far-fLUng vilLage, eMbarKiNg ON a qUest to dEFeAT A darK eMpIre bY trAvEling From FLoaTing islAnd to floaTinG IslaNd, TeAming wiTh other rebels AnD employing SpEciAl taleNTS to fight Imposing overlords. But insTEad of woOkiEes, drOids, And light sAbeRs, GranBluE fantasY is filLed wiTh SpiKY-HaireD MEn, CurVaCeous women AND drAgons. thE basIc game iS free to play, but playERs pRogress faster If tHey bUY WeApoNS aND chArACteRS With real money.

ThE enigmatic CrYStAls obscure WHat PlAyers arE actualLy buyINg. GranbLue employS a techniqUe CallED GacHa, which takEs its namE from JapaNEse veNDiNg macHinEs that DiSpeNse prIzes in PLasTic caPsules WiThout sHowinG tHe contenTs. Players have to crack the CrystaLs opeN — afTer they haVe pAId fOr them — to sEe whAt they have Won.

cerTain fOrmS Of gacHa haVE bEen BAnned In JaPAn because THeY arE TOo ManipulativE. gRAnbLue doEs nOT use exPlicItly forbidden gachA Tactics, but TastE’s DeC. 31 VIdeO
oka.

Cygames initially di d not resp ond t o c rit ic ism,  the n weeks latera polo gized. It granted cred it to  s o me c u st omers  — in v i rt u a l m on ey  —fo r  w hat t hey  spentand will b egi nimplementing sa feguards T hur sday so play ers  can g et  th e  priz e t hey w ant if they g o through  3 0 0 unsu c cessful a tt empt s. That would cap sp e nding on eachvirtua li te m atabo ut $800. I talsos aid itw il l b egi n  disclosing t he odds ofw inn ing ea ch  in d ividua l ite m. 
Th ere could b e mo re fallou t. Sha r es of t h e natio n’s mo bil e g ame- m ak er s t um b led by  at ota l valueof  m ore t han$ 1 b illi ontheday C ygames beganiss uing ref unds.  It w as r em inisc ent of  thehi t stocks took i n 20 12 afterlaw ma ker scalle d  someofthe  indust ry’s ta c tic sp r e da tory and passed to ug h e rregulati ons.
T he  g a mer rebe ll ion  thr e a tensthes ta tus quoin one of  t he stra ng est an dmos t p rofit a blecorner s of the  digi t al universe. J a pan’s game co m pa n i es have  lo ng been the  env y  ofthei nd ust r y for  thei ra bi l ity to produce bighi ts. Bu t the  controversyis exposin g s ome comp anie s ’m ethods for ext racti ng such hu g e sums a nd cr eating p ressure f o r  change. 

“ It’ s t hep e rf ect fodder fo r peop le  who ar e a gainstthe  mo bil e g am e industr y in Jap an ,”  s ai d S erkan Toto, fo un der  o f c onsul t ant Ka ntanGame sIn c .,which s p ec i a lize sin  Jap ane se  mobi le g a mes . “Thevideos ar e b a sica ll ydeliver ing the ammun it ion for pe op lewho ar e critical  of the industry for be i ng expl oit ative  and  greedy.” 

I n thefan t astica l Gran bluewo rld , playe r s  a ssu me  the roleo f  ayoung  b oy o r girlfrom a far-flung v i lla ge, embarking  on  a q u e st  to de f eat  a dar k empire by trave ling fromfl o at ing island tofl oatingisland,  team i ng with  other re bels andem ploy i n g s pecial tal ents tofight imp o singo ve rlord s.But in st ead  of w ookiee s , d roids , andli ght sa bers,  G ranblueFantasy is filled withspiky- haire d m en, curva ceo u s w omen anddrag ons. The b asi c g ame i s f r ee to  pla y ,but playe rs p r ogress fa s te r i f th ey buy weap o n s  an d cha rac t ers wi th r eal money.

The e n igmatic crysta ls o b s cur e w h at p la yers are actua lly  b u y ing. Gra nb lue employs  a techn iq u e cal led ga cha, w hich ta k e si ts nam e fr omJapaneseven di n g machi ne st hat di spen se  prize s in p l asti c capsules without  show i n g the con tents .Players have  to crackthe crystal s open  — a fterthey ha ve  paidfor  t hem — to s e e what th ey ha ve won. 
Cert ain  forms  ofg a cha h avebe enbanned in J ap a nbe c aus e th ey ar etoomanipulat i ve. Gran blu e  does n ot  us e explic i tl y forbiddengac ha ta c t ics, but T a ste’ s  D e c. 31  video 
oka.

Cygames initially_did not_respond to criticism, then_weeks later_apologized._It granted_credit_to some customers_— in virtual_money — for what_they spent and_will_begin implementing safeguards Thursday so players can get the prize they want if they_go_through 300_unsuccessful_attempts._That would cap spending on_each virtual item at about_$800. It_also said it will begin disclosing the odds_of_winning each individual_item.

There could be more fallout. Shares of the nation’s_mobile game-makers tumbled by a total_value of more_than_$1_billion the day Cygames_began issuing refunds. It was reminiscent_of the hit stocks took in_2012 after lawmakers called some of the_industry’s tactics predatory and passed tougher_regulations.

The gamer rebellion threatens the_status quo_in one of the strangest_and most profitable_corners of_the digital universe._Japan’s game companies have long been_the envy of_the industry for their ability to_produce_big hits. But_the_controversy_is exposing_some companies’ methods_for_extracting such_huge_sums and creating pressure for change.

“It’s_the_perfect fodder for people who are against_the mobile game industry_in_Japan,” said Serkan Toto,_founder of consultant Kantan Games_Inc., which specializes in Japanese mobile_games. “The_videos are_basically delivering the ammunition for people who are critical of the_industry for being exploitative and greedy.”

In_the fantastical Granblue world,_players assume_the_role of a_young_boy or_girl from a far-flung village, embarking on_a quest_to defeat a dark empire by_traveling from floating island_to_floating island, teaming with other rebels_and employing special talents to fight_imposing overlords. But instead of_wookiees,_droids,_and light sabers, Granblue Fantasy_is filled with spiky-haired men, curvaceous_women and dragons._The basic game is free to play,_but_players progress faster if they buy_weapons_and characters with real money.

The enigmatic_crystals_obscure_what players are actually buying._Granblue employs a technique called gacha,_which takes its name from Japanese vending machines that_dispense prizes in_plastic capsules without showing the_contents._Players_have to crack the crystals open — after they have_paid for_them — to_see what they have won.

Certain forms of gacha have been_banned in Japan because they are too_manipulative. Granblue does not use explicitly forbidden gacha tactics, but Taste’s_Dec. 31 video