Julie: The fact that they DID NOT say it's 100% free probably IMPLIES that tokens cost $$$. That, plus the fact that a) they talk about a "complimentary chip package" as well as getting the VIP Hat EITHER by winning 100000 chips OR "getting" the VIP 40K chip bundle.
You get so many chips free, tech specking if you play good its free because you win more chips. So it pays to play right to save having to pay to get more chips.
Not sure how I feel about this space. Think I'll check it out, first, before deciding on how I like it.
the other things on the update interest me more, since i never have that much luck with gambling, plus im sure the casino will be a major hang out for fams. i just wonder if the bowling alley will be quietly removed since echochrome and ice breaker are being moved to the indie park. the token based arcade cabinets seem like a good idea since yo could beat the game win the rewards and end up saving some money. also i dont know why they consider ndreams a small home developer. but im really excited about novus prime, unless i will need to give up another 2.99 for 2 more levels.
Most of the rewards seem to be based on winning a certain number of hands, accomplishing little tasks (i.e. bust 10 times in one blackjack sitting) and moving up progressive levels more than the size of the actual chip stack. If you can just keep from losing all the chips for a while, you'll be able to win some rewards for free. Turning your 100 chips into 100,000 chips for the free suite will take some gambling skill though. I won a couple rewards at blackjack with the 100 free tokens (minimum bet is 25 tokens) before dumping the last dozen into a slot machine with no return. As far as I'm concerned, 95% of the rewards including the suite are worthless and I won't be paying for any tokens unless they improve the prizes or lower the stakes.
It seems I have had a slightly different experience than most. I won my first few games in the casino. I was up to 164 credits. I started with one game of War that I tied and then lost netting me 40CR. Then I played a slot where I won a few credits. I then went to blackjack and lost one hand. I played Keno and lost. Then finally Casino 6 where I lost. So now I am sitting and 114. I will probably will try poker and then decide to buy new tokens. I don't really want any of the prizes either. I would much rather have furniture than clothing I will never use. I will probably just play for fun every now an then.
Most of you already know how I feel about such areas at "The Casino" in Home — pushing users hard towards paying for the privilege of getting scammed in some manner; or creating a psychological need (akin to addiction) in users to obtain every Home reward offered in such areas, whatever it may be. ( :detective:Sgt Joe Friday sez: "All we know are the facts, ma'am." Nothing personal.) My wife also reminded me that Sony has absolutely stepped into dangerous territories in allowing "The Casino" into Home — at least in its present format. Since "The Casino" does process real monetary funds in exchange for playing "games of chance", Sony could comes under investigation for violations of federal and/or state restrictions on online gambling. :hammer: For example, states which have specific anti-online-gamling laws include: Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington. Should be interesting…
I was actually planning on buying one of the big chip packages until I saw the list of rewards and VIP suite. That was all it took for me to hold onto my money until they release a new set of prizes.
I'm not arguing here because I certainly don't know how the laws treat something like the Home Casino. Is it really any different than other Home spaces like Midway or Sodium where users pay a fee to play a game in exchange for the chance to win rewards? The casino seems to structured to avoid a chips-for-prizes exchange. You just buy the chips to get into the game and rewards are given based on different achievements. It's definitely a gray area, to be sure.
Good call! As you said, this is certainly a grey area, plus the laws are continually changing and evolving. But Sony is definitely taking a risk, especially being the large company and in the public eye as they are. The fact that underage gamers have access to the area and are exposed to gambling (whether or not they can "buy" chips) could also be a major issue. Midway-type games fall under a "games of skill" classification which is why they are considered different from actual "games of chance" gambling — even though such games have similar Vegas-type odds that are highly stacked against players, in addition to often being rigged [search for "rigged carnival games" for examples]. However, because rigged midway games are still very prevalent after 200+ year, many local municipalities do consider them illegal and will not allow them within their city limits, especially throughout the southwestern portions of the country. If caught, operators will have theirs games shut down and face fines or jail time. Guess we'll see where this spin of the wheel takes Sony… will they reap the monetary rewards off the users, or will they instead pay them back out in fines & lawyer fees.
Well in Midway if you wait every fifteen minutes you can play for free, so the chips are pretty much only for convenience. I've acquired my Gold Jacket in Midway in Hong Kong without paying for chips. If this space offers something similar maybe then they'd be able to skirt most issues. One major issue with the Home forum is that all age groups are able to play, and you must make games that appeal to each group. In that circumstance you may have some different age groups taking part in gaming that their parents don't approve of, but again it should be the responsibility of the parent to monitor their child if they wish to retain a strict upbringing. I've been playing the Assassin's Creed Revelations' Multiplayer, and they have microphone capabilities and some of those players are near the ten year old mark, and that game is violent, so I think parents blindly buy thing, and on the other hand use their Freedom to Complain at will.:wallbash:
I've played the slot machines, and some number choosing game with just the chips they gave me. Also destroyed the room they gave me, so its like really going to Vegas, Fear and Loathing style.
I have played everything except Poker. I was trying to build up my chips before I got into a serious poker game. I am still sitting around 124. Cant seem to win or lose.
I found high stakes black jack in the VIP room to be my best game havent had the time for a poker game yet, the rest are a bit random with no skill element, btw the VIP room is full of people wearing diamond clothes or gold clothes bet when they bought them they thought they would be exclusive, just to look different im going to wear the default jeans and blue home icon top and when I get on the poker table im going to wind them up with remarks about my clothes standing out and being free and they exclusives 14.99 clothes being everywhere lol also the reward system is screwy i got tier 3 on the slots before i got tier 1 and i cant seem to get close circuit tv even though im close to 190 000
