loot boxes

We wrap up our series on the economics of the video game industry with a triple roundup. Today, how the new ban on noncompete contracts could affect the gaming industry, whether young men are slacking off work to play games and the ever-controversial world of loot boxes.

Related episodes:
Forever games: the economics of the live service model (Apple / Spotify)
Designing for disability: how video games become more accessible (Apple / Spotify)
The boom and bust of esports (Apple / Spotify)
Work. Crunch. Repeat: Why gaming demands so much of its employees (Apple / Spotify)

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This week, we start off by discussing some of the better April Fool's jokes including our own Teslabot short and the Discord loot box fiasco. After that it's all about Apple. We talk about Apple trying to take over podcasts, bringing RCS to iPhone later this year, and an update that came to personas on the Apple Vision Pro. Lastly, we round it out by discussing the Xiaomi electric car before finishing up with trivia. Enjoy! Links:  SoKrispyMedia: https://bit.ly/4anqpjp Mode Keyboards April Fool's Joke: https://bit.ly/49rORid IGN Virtual Boy Pro: https://bit.ly/4aHYj1M Semafor Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4aiQrEg Google Podcasts is Dead: https://bit.ly/4aHYlGW KilledByGoogle: https://bit.ly/4aGWodV Google Leaks Apple News: https://bit.ly/3xmg7kS Cleo's Apple Vision Pro Video: https://bit.ly/4cN9mZu Telescope's Xiaomi SU7 Video: https://bit.ly/49r8ZkC Autofocus VinFast VF8 Review: https://bit.ly/49s5b2i Shop the merch: https://shop.mkbhd.com Socials: Waveform: https://twitter.com/WVFRM Waveform: https://www.threads.net/@waveformpodcast Marques: https://www.threads.net/@mkbhd Andrew: https://www.threads.net/@andrew_manganelli David Imel: https://www.threads.net/@davidimel Adam: https://www.threads.net/@parmesanpapi17 Ellis: https://twitter.com/EllisRovin TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@waveformpodcast Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/mkbhd Music by 20syl: https://bit.ly/2S53xlC Waveform is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices