Addiction 1: The Psychology Behind Loot Box Mechanics

Hosts Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford explore the Labubu craze and the rise of blind box purchasing, essentially a gambling mechanism that is widely accepted in society. We talk to assistant professor Leon Xiao of City University Hong Kong about blind boxes, and the conversation evolves naturally to encompass loot boxes, one of the more controversial aspects of modern gaming. Leon explains the appeal of ‘pity mechanics’ that help players predict spending and highlights how these mechanics simplify complex probability information, making it easier for players to understand their purchasing decisions.As first episodes go, it’s a banger. What are you waiting for? JOIN US.Episode length: 1:11:59 ish.Leon Xiao on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-xiao/Dr Auer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-auer-51a48a/Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/Podcast website: http://localhost/dessert-island/addiction/