Played that new fantasy RPG last weekend. Got hooked fast. Beat the first boss, felt like a champ. Then hit a gear wall. My sword? Weak sauce. Enemies crushed me like bugs. Game whispered: “Buy a loot box!” Felt dirty but I caved. Got socks. Literal pixel socks.

This ain’t the arcades I knew. Remember saving quarters for *real* turns? Now it’s swipe-city. Games dangle shiny OP gear just outta reach. Makes grinding feel pointless. Why farm for hours when cash opens chests? But then… where’s the win?

My buddy Dave dropped $50 last month. Chasing some rare dragon armor. Never got it. Just mountains of healing potions. He quit cold turkey. Said it felt like slots. Can’t blame him. When did games become casinos?

Used to earn cool gear through skill. Beat that secret boss? Boom – legendary blade. Felt earned. Now? Secret boss drops a loot box key. Open it… get a hat. A dumb hat. Feels hollow, man.

Devs gotta chill with this. Make loot boxes cosmetic only? Or just sell full expansions like old times. Let me *play* my way to power. Not pay my way.