I don't know if I can open up, I've been opened enough (part IV)

Some additions from various group chats. (This comprises part IV.) Note the times in comparison to posts I, II and III from yesterday.

We start off with the rest of the Backbone chat (actual names anonymized):

[16:47] Vxxxxx Cxxxxxxxxxx: I can think of a few Amazon sellers that are going to need to pay attention. LOL when you buy an item and it tells you they will send you one random color. Only a matter of time before even that is considered gambling.
[16:48] hxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Amazon offers free returns and refunds
[16:48] hxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so nope
[16:48] Mxxxxx Sxxxxxxxx: pff
[16:48] Exxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It's also not a blight on amazon as it is on SL
[16:48] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: Gatchas needed to be banned
[16:48] Mxxxxx Sxxxxxxxx: closing this
[16:48] sxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that's not the issue [Vxxxxx] it's because the items can be resold for money and cashed out
[16:48] Lxxxx Sxxxxxxx: *monches on popcorn* [16:48] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: besides it dosent stop retailers from actually selling the product normally just cant be a gatcha

Exactly. Fatpacks are still a thing. It just has to be something where someone can see what's on offer. It can't be randomized 'you may get this thing or get this other RARE thing' mechanics.

[16:48] Lxxxx Sxxxxxxx: HEY ADMINS! :D
[16:48] Vxxxxx Cxxxxxxxxxx: People need to breath...
[16:49] Rxxxxxx Pxxxx: I dont even see how thats gambling
[16:49] cxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: good grief.
[16:49] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: you want x color you must give lindens and hope you get x colors
[16:49] Lxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Yall ain't smarter than regulators. Yall aint smart enough for this. Decision's made. I ain't smart nuff neither.
[16:49] sxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it's also cos of things like Everquest though, the laws are tightening on that sort of thing

Everquest? Did they mean EA? Does Everquest have a lootbox system? (Does Everquest still exist as a current game??)

[16:49] Txxx Mxxxxx: pay money, pull lever, get item that is worth a value of said money. aka a slot machine.
[16:49] Lxxxx Kxxxxx: hi hi... :) I hope everyone is willing to take a big breath. This kind of paradigm-shifting change is stressful for people who put a lot of eggs in that basket so please be understanding of where they're coming from. Maybe we should let it be in this chat--the only thing that matters is the law and that's what LL is following. We have to get with that like it or not.

Also not wrong.

[16:49] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: or go to the market place and sell out 5x the price lol
[16:50] sxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: agree [Lxxxx]
[16:50] Cxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: AMEN change happens in life.
[16:50] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: Ether was gatchas can still be sold just as normal products now so if anything i think the revenue will..most likely stay the same if retailers jack up the price from 75 to whatever htye think its worth
[16:51] mxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: QwQ my gachas ahhhh!!!!
[16:51] Txxx Mxxxxx: From a shopping perspective, it'll be nice to just be able to see a spiffy thing and buy said spiffy thing for a set price with one click.
[16:51] Rxxxx Uxxxx: I must have missed it... did they ban gachas?

Yep.

[16:51] cxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Agreed. Plenty of things I've wanted to buy, but never got to because resale prices were WAY too high
[16:51] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: from my perspective i can finally buy some of the gatchas i want in black with out it being rare lol

Maybe, but for the next month, we're still in the land of play the machines or pay on Marketplace, assuming the spiffy item we want is actually listed. Or on the Gachaxchange site. (Which, btw, I am really liking--it's easier to set up on than Marketplace, you can just link image URLs from Marketplace for their service, and I've already made sales.)

[16:52] cxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: They're banning Gacha in a month
[16:52] Rxxxx Uxxxx: YAY!
[16:52] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: or 5k
[16:52] mxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: is not about the price, is about the experience, this try your luck thing, friend's competition to see what they get it will be lost forever
[16:52] mxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: just because people who doesn't buy gachas doesn't like people to buy them
[16:52] Lxxxxx Uxx: No. That's not the reason.

No, that's definitely not the reason. It's all tied up in EU regulations. As far as I'm able to ascertain, it specifically relates to a set of laws passed in Germany in March. See also similar restrictions in place or soon to be in Spain, Belgium and Holland. But of all of these, Germany is the worry, because Germany absolutely does not play in arenas it considers illegal. They are far likelier to simply ban anyone in Germany from playing SL, period, and--the Lindens do not want that to happen.

[16:52] mxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: wth oh my
[16:53] mxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i know is not LL thing, but is still sad, is one experience killed
[16:53] sxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it's LEGAL stuff and as [Lxxxx] said it's upsetting for many
[16:53] Lxxxxx Uxx: The reason is because LL is just trying to comply with global laws restricting games or any online platform from having any sort of gambling aspect. LL is just one out of many games to have adapted this.

Yet more nanny-state lawmaking, in a sense, but it is meant to be a protective measure in large part.

[16:53] Txxx Mxxxxx: could still do that [Mxxxxx]. just don't use Lindens for it.
[16:53] cxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Its not really something killed, just not available here
[16:53] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: i bought gatchas off the MP cause i didnt like the chances but i like now i just dont need to shell out 5k lindens for something in a color i want that costs...less than that lol
[16:53] mxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Is there infol I missed somewhere?
[16:53] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: https://community.secondlife.com/blogs/entry/8586-policy-change-regarding-gacha/
[16:53] Wxxx Axxxx: 30 days!
[16:54] mxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Thanks :)
[16:55] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: There are more scummy ways around that policy i can already think of one off hte top of my head
[16:55] jxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Maybe it was an image problem, they might have called them something other than "Gatcha" you fool
[16:55] Lxxxxx Uxx: It wasn't image.
[16:55] Lxxxxx Uxx: It's things being sold by chance.
[16:56] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxx: coulda been another name the fact that its gambling woulda slammed it ether way
[16:56] Axxxx Ixxxxxxxx: oh my I'm going to have to get my christmas shopping done early this year. transfer items used to be soo expensive before gachas became a thing
[16:56] mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thats good that they ban this gatcha stuff , and hope they ban other things where you not know what you get for the price :)

Then the AII group chat weighed in:

[11:00] Cxxxxxxx Vxxxx: Group Notice Sent by: [Cxxxxxxx Vxxxx]

Regarding Gacha's and SL TOS (Important)
As of August 31st Gacha’s will no longer be allowed within second life, source - "https://community.secondlife.com/blogs/entry/8586-policy-change-regarding-gacha/
Aii and Ego Gacha Discontinued Date - August 20th 2021

Since this change is being made we've decided to leave our gacha's up until august 20th after this date, we'll be canceling the gachas and they will no longer be acquirable. We may consider re-releasing some of the gacha items again as regular products in the future.

[11:01] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: YAAAAY Ding dong the gacha witch gacha witch! Ding dong the gacha witch is DED! :D
[11:02] Sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: What?
[11:02] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: We should celebrate the DEATH of SL gachas! :D
[11:02] Axxxx Ixxxx: Gachas just got the axe from LL
[11:02] Sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: How, when, why..i need details
[11:02] Sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: That is amazing!
[11:02] txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Gachas are banned from SL starting on the 30th~!
[11:02] Pxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxx: HAH
[11:02] Pxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxx: GET REKT GACHA SUCKS
[11:02] Pxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxx: G G
[11:02] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lols
[11:02] Axxxx Ixxxx: https://community.secondlife.com/blogs/entry/8586-policy-change-regarding-gacha/ [11:03] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: YAY! Gachas are like how mobile games are getting banned in other countries

Virtually sure that's due to microtransactions, but I haven't found anything that specifically points to new law.

[11:03] Lxxxxxx Exxxxxx: stupid
[11:03] Pxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxx: ^ what?
[11:03] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we gotta celebrate guys! anyone got a good place to party?! :D
[11:03] Pxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxx: yeh but it's 1000L per person to enter
[11:03] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: this means gacha exclusives may one day be sold publicly :D
[11:03] Bxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxxxx: This sux
[11:03] Pxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxx: GACHA SUCKS

Still the two main reactions.

[11:03] Pxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxx drops mic and dips out
[11:04] lxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: true uwu
[11:04] sxxx Rxxxxxxx: Ayyy
[11:04]cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: guys this is GOOD news. Gacha dead so limited no copy exclusive stuff may now be sold to us all soon
[11:04] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: come on we gotta celebrate. anyone know a good place to party in SL? :O
[11:04] uxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: areeeggggg nuuuuuu i love the Neko Neko gacha i play it lots just to get tails to pass out to everyone!!! [11:04] txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Here's to hoping this nudges folks towards making more stuff modifiable as well.

Yes, please, let's definitely have more things moddable on SL. The modding community would be overjoyed.

[11:05] kxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ^that
[11:05] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hehe that'd be the day
[11:05] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: let us hope
[11:05] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but still party? Dx c'mon this is a momentous occassion
[11:05] txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: "Oh, damn, that looks nice- Oh, [f**k] that then, can't even tint the damn thing..."
[11:26] Pxxxxxxxxx Wxxxxx: aw maaan, I love gachas!
[11:27] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i do too
[11:27] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: cant afford most stores otherwise
[11:29] Bxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Oxxxxxx: you want to depend on chance for something good?
[12:06] Lxxxxxx Kxxxxx: Mon, Aug 02 2021 10:49:59 AM PDT

Hi all - as gachas will be banned in SL from August 31

Read more here: https://community.secondlife.com/blogs/entry/8586-policy-change-regarding-gacha/

[12:09] kxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but i have many gacha from aii, they stay in my inventory right?
[12:09] Kxxxxx Kxxxxx: yeah

Yes, we can still own gacha items; we can still trade them or sell them; we just have to have a picture on the vendor that does so.

Though this does bring up another point--there's a LOT of gacha items being sold on Marketplace, and now seeing it on Gachaxchange, where there's no picture. Will that be struck by this ban as well?

[12:09] kxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: fiiuu
[12:09] kxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: XD ty
[12:09] kxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i love them
[12:14] Zxxx Ixxxxxx: I think they'll just stop doing them in the future
[12:14] Axxxx Ixxxx: Yep all this change means is in the future you get to know exactly what you're buying. No more taking a chance on getting the wrong color or item or what have you, just pay for what you want.
[12:15] Zxxx Ixxxxxx: Can't wait. I did that anyway, just found it on MP
[12:16] Axxx Fxx: thats the thing, i'd rather pay 500 for an item i actually want, than 75L x ???? pulls to try and get it

So would many of us.

[12:16] Axxxx Ixxxx: That might just be one of the biggest benefits, no more having to remember to check "exclude limited quantity" to get rid of the gacha hell when searching on MP :P
[12:17] Axxx Fxx: and no more getting an orange left shoe, a lime green sleeve, a poop brown jacket, and still missing the ultrrare pants
[12:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That, I won't miss leaving
[12:18] Zxxx Ixxxxxx: lol
[12:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Though I do search a LOT on MP for gacha items, simply because it's usually easier to buy what I want THERE
[12:18] Axxx Fxx: yeah i do that too, its like "oooo i like that gacha" ... i hate that the creator made it a gacha, so i'll give my money to resellers instead
[12:19] Zxxx Ixxxxxx: unfortunately true
[12:19] Zxxx Ixxxxxx: I'd rather reward talented creators but let's not be rediculous.
[12:19] Bxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Oxxxxxx: yes
[12:19] Axxx Fxx: while giving the creator the big middle foam finger for being greedy with gachas
[12:23] Bxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Oxxxxxx: the resellers are the ones that are hurt the most tbh
[12:24] Lxxxxx Uxx: not just resellers.. but stores that are strictly gacha only

Or events that are largely relying on the draw of gachas for traffic, or bigger events like the Arcade, Epiphany, and Gacha Garden, whose sole trade is gacha designers...

[12:24] Lxxxxx Uxx: or make the most out of selling gacha's vs regular releases
[12:25] Cxxxxxxx Vxxxx: It's about equal, if not more on a creator part, Resellers can still re-sell gacha's infact it may drive value up for them since 'supply' + demand. they can still resell there items at lower prices than what I might imagine some fatpacks, or re-releases will end up costing.
[12:25] Axxx Fxx: see now stores that are gachas only kinda deserve whats coming, gachas should never have been a 100% sales method
[12:27] Lxxxxx Uxx: I with you on that one. I know a lot of store owners are currently in panic mode. I've seen a few "I might shut down posts" on facebook from creators that are almost gacha only
[12:38] axxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: tbh i never liked gacha because it was an excuse to put subpar content with good content to get more L
[12:39] axxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i only really spent L on gacha that i was happy with 90% of outcomes when playing

Coming up: part V when I have more time to edit!