Are you serious? You're comparing micro-transactions in Candy Crush to Versace/Starbucks/Cadillac. Do you honestly think that's a reasonable comparison?
There is a comparison. Both companies purposefully attempt to persuade people to pay money for their products. Like every other company that has ever existed.
there's a difference though. In one, you get a useful product: a car. And a good feeling that goes with it.
What king does, and what is being called manipulation, does not result in satisfaction or good feeling. A person simply spends money in order to progress, but ultimately does not actually get an enjoyable experience or useful product out of spending the money. It's borderline gambling.
Loyalty programs are very similar psychologically to what King and other game makers do in their games to get you to buy from them. Give someone a reason to spend money and they will and without realising it, you've spent more than it cost you to give away that free coffee are purchasing 5 coffees.
starbucks relies on providing the user a quick fix of doamine when they feel stressed or unfocused, which keeps them coming back.
versace and cadillac rely on providing their customers a feeling of superiority and social status. cadillacs are arguably better engineered than other brands, but versace is clearly all about status.
i think it's a reasonable comparison, but as others have said, this is what most companies do anyhow.
baddox|12 years ago
TheZenPsycho|12 years ago
What king does, and what is being called manipulation, does not result in satisfaction or good feeling. A person simply spends money in order to progress, but ultimately does not actually get an enjoyable experience or useful product out of spending the money. It's borderline gambling.
DigitalSea|12 years ago
MarkPNeyer|12 years ago
versace and cadillac rely on providing their customers a feeling of superiority and social status. cadillacs are arguably better engineered than other brands, but versace is clearly all about status.
i think it's a reasonable comparison, but as others have said, this is what most companies do anyhow.