Erling Haaland was made into a character for the super popular Clash of Clans mobile game. Norwegian addiction prevention organizations were disappointed.
Soccer superstar Erling Haaland announced last week about the new territorial occupation. The Norwegian stalwart has been made into a character for Finnish Supercell’s Clash of Clans mobile game.
The Haaland character is the first in the game to be based on a real person. The hugely popular game has been downloaded more than two billion times, and according to various estimates, it has 75-100 million active players per month.
In the game, you build your own village and fight against the villages of others. Haaland, 23, has said that he has been playing the game published in 2012 since he was a child
– I’m really excited to be part of the game. I was about 10 years old when I first played it. I know all about it, Manchester City striker said.
Not everyone likes Haaland’s solution. Spillavhengihet Norgen, an organization that aims to prevent gambling addiction in Norway Magnus Pedersen thinks that the pursuit of Haaland’s playing figure can lead to uncontrollable spending of money.
– This is sad and frankly unnecessary. We are not satisfied at all, Pedersen said for NRK.
Like many modern games, the hit game is basically free. In it, you can earn prizes and characters just by playing, but with small micropayments you can progress faster. Haaland’s character costs around $10 in the game’s online store.
With its free nature, the game attracts a lot of children, whose judgment may fail at some point. The individual sums spent on the game are not necessarily large.
– But ten crowns here and there, and suddenly a lot of money has been spent, says Pedersen.
The director of Actis, an organization that prevents substance abuse and gambling problems, agrees Lise Hansen.
– It is cynical of Supercell to use an idol like Haaland in a mobile game aimed at children. They are taking advantage of the fact that young people buy Haaland’s character to gain respect, says Hansen.
The Finnish company told NRK by email that it wants its games to be played responsibly.
– Our games do not encourage excessive spending of money. We have created several tools that parents can use to limit their child’s gaming. About 80 percent of our players never spend money on our games, the company writes.
Head of the Norwegian Media Authority Mari Velsandin according to parents, it is important to get to know games, especially those where it is possible to spend money.
– If playing doesn’t affect relationships, schooling or sleep, I wouldn’t be too worried, says Velsand.