As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that Balatro has been one of the standout games of 2024. The game’s success is a testament to the talent and dedication of its creator, LocalThunk. His recent Twitter rant about PEGI ratings, however, struck a chord with me.
In a remarkable turn of events, Balatro clinched the title for the Best Independent Game of 2024 at The Game Awards. This triumph followed closely on the heels of the game selling over 3.5 million copies. It’s been an exceptionally prosperous year for Balatro, a project masterfully crafted by a lone developer known as ‘LocalThunk’.
Lately, LocalThunk voiced his disapproval on social media about the PEGI ratings adjustment made just weeks after the game’s release in February 2024. On Twitter, he likenned Balatro to games such as EA Sports FC and proposed that, by incorporating loot boxes and microtransactions into his 18+ rated game, he could potentially lower its rating to a 3+.
‘The Red Logo Looks Kinda Dope’
It’s important to note that LocalThunk doesn’t contest the 18+ PEGI rating he received for his game in March 2024. Instead, he expresses frustration towards other games receiving a lower rating, even though they may have similar or arguably ‘less suitable’ mechanics compared to his own.
He uses EA Sports FC as an example, pointing out that they feature real gambling in the form of loot boxes and other, similar microtransactions. For the longest time, courts worldwide have debated the existence and purpose of loot boxes, and some territories have banned them entirely.
@LocalThunk
As the game developer, it seems like we’ve got an 18+ rating due to the presence of sinister playing cards. Perhaps, to make this game more appealing for younger players, let’s consider introducing microtransactions, loot boxes, or even a mini-gambling feature – just like what EA Sports FC does!
78.8KReply
After posting this message on Twitter (now ‘X’), LocalThunk wrote:
To make things clear, I’m much more frustrated about the inclusion of gambling mechanisms in these games that are marketed towards children, as opposed to Balatro requiring an 18+ rating.
If these other games were rated properly I’d happily accept the weirdo 18+.
The red logo looks kinda dope
On the PEGI platform, the strong rating is justified by saying:
In this game, you learn essential poker abilities through visuals, data, and interactive play. While enjoying the game, you earn ‘tokens’ called ‘chips’, by playing specific hands correctly.
In simple terms, during the game, the player can view a list of different poker hand names. When the player hovers over these hand names, the game provides information about the specific cards required to play those hands. As the game progresses, the player gets better at recognizing which hands will earn higher points.
Since these skills are applicable in our physical reality, they can be effectively utilized in a genuine game of poker.
Among the most potent video games slated for release in 2024, Balatro stands out particularly well. It’s been garnering exceptional appraisals from critics all year long.
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2024-12-17 10:18