[Kikawala]

https://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-science/eu-consumer-grou...

This one give slightly more information.

"Today, premium in-game currencies are purposefully tricking consumers and take a big toll on children. Companies are well aware of children's vulnerability and use tricks to lure younger consumers into spending more,"

Gacha games.

[CobrastanJorji]

Gacha is a good example, but those base builders that feature fun characters and start slowing and slowing you down more, promising you can unlock the next level of cannon or whatever for just a few cents more, those are nasty.

Or the ones that offer a way to battle baddies with your friends but your weapons are just not quite good enough, but there's a premium upgrade...

I remember my kid playing a little "My Little Pony" game on iPad that was free and pleasant and then four levels in, suddenly "oh, you need Twilight for the next missions. Parents, Twilight costs $5."

[sixothree]

I downloaded a puzzle game for iOS and was enjoying it. I was maybe 5 or 8 levels in and of course it got harder. But the last level was literally impossible to complete without some additional purchase. I tried a few ways just to prove that it was a trap. And it was.

I have literally not played an iOS game since that moment.

[musicale]

"Getting more with less: 6 high-yield design patterns for f2p games"

https://turbine.games/2020/04/22/getting-more-with-less-6-hi...

Basically the MMO playbook.

Unfortunately my brain actually thinks some of these things are "fun". (Spending/losing $1M in a game is probably not fun however.)

The whole blog is interesting reading, if you have a strong stomach.

[rf15]

> Pokemon GO players spend hours, weeks, months happily repeating the same behaviors, over and over, without the need for additional content.

I honestly can't do it. This game is so shallow, I played it for two hours and felt like I've seen everything there is to see. Player's minds are incredibly different in the way they approach and consume media like that, including the willingness and ability to go through days of grinding for very small rewards.