Aggressive advertising messages aimed at children urging them to purchase
goods for the game “Runes of Magic” are not permitted, the German Federal Court
ruled.
The Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV) sued game maker Gameforge because it tried to sell armor and weaponry directly to children, the VZBV said in a news release on Thursday. The offer was made on the Runes of Magic website. After a link was clicked, a Web page offering various products was opened, the VZBV said.
Direct exhortation to children in this way is prohibited, ruled the German Federal Court on Wednesday, said court spokeswoman Dietlind Weinland in an email on Thursday. Therefore, Gameforge should refrain from using terms like “grab the opportunity to...” while advertising paid in-game items to children, Weinland said.
Runes of Magic is a game that can be downloaded for free. Gamers can then purchase upgrades and accessories in the game to advance, the VZBV said.
By marketing paid items in a game that make the participation more attractive, game makers exploit the inexperience of children, said the VZBV. But the ruling means that advertising messages aimed at children with a link to paid accessories for the computer game “Runes of Magic” is not permitted, the VZBV added.
The virtual goods have to be paid for with real money, the federation said. In 2009 for instance, purchasing 3,000 diamonds for Runes of Magic cost the player almost €100 ($130), while a riding animal could be bought for 199 diamonds, it said.
Buy more stuff! The decision of the court is not yet final, Weinland said. Since the defendant was not represented by counsel before the Federal Court, a “default judgment” was given, she said. The company can oppose the decision within two weeks, after which the matter would be considered further by the Federal Court, she said. If the verdict is not opposed it will enter into force.
Gameforge on Thursday did not immediately comment on the verdict.
People in the game industry have been discussing the marketing of game items to children for a while.
“Children in some cases are being monetized MUCH more aggressively with in-app purchases than adults are, because developers understand that children are more vulnerable and wish to profit on this. There is nothing illegal about this in any country that I am aware of,” said Ramin Shokrizade, an Applied Virtual Economist and Monetization Designer who consults game makers, in an email on Thursday.
The Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV) sued game maker Gameforge because it tried to sell armor and weaponry directly to children, the VZBV said in a news release on Thursday. The offer was made on the Runes of Magic website. After a link was clicked, a Web page offering various products was opened, the VZBV said.
Direct exhortation to children in this way is prohibited, ruled the German Federal Court on Wednesday, said court spokeswoman Dietlind Weinland in an email on Thursday. Therefore, Gameforge should refrain from using terms like “grab the opportunity to...” while advertising paid in-game items to children, Weinland said.
Runes of Magic is a game that can be downloaded for free. Gamers can then purchase upgrades and accessories in the game to advance, the VZBV said.
By marketing paid items in a game that make the participation more attractive, game makers exploit the inexperience of children, said the VZBV. But the ruling means that advertising messages aimed at children with a link to paid accessories for the computer game “Runes of Magic” is not permitted, the VZBV added.
The virtual goods have to be paid for with real money, the federation said. In 2009 for instance, purchasing 3,000 diamonds for Runes of Magic cost the player almost €100 ($130), while a riding animal could be bought for 199 diamonds, it said.
Buy more stuff! The decision of the court is not yet final, Weinland said. Since the defendant was not represented by counsel before the Federal Court, a “default judgment” was given, she said. The company can oppose the decision within two weeks, after which the matter would be considered further by the Federal Court, she said. If the verdict is not opposed it will enter into force.
Gameforge on Thursday did not immediately comment on the verdict.
People in the game industry have been discussing the marketing of game items to children for a while.
“Children in some cases are being monetized MUCH more aggressively with in-app purchases than adults are, because developers understand that children are more vulnerable and wish to profit on this. There is nothing illegal about this in any country that I am aware of,” said Ramin Shokrizade, an Applied Virtual Economist and Monetization Designer who consults game makers, in an email on Thursday.
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