How free games are designed to make money - thexpgamer.com

How free games are designed to make money

Vox
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“Freemium” games can end up gaming gamers.

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The “freemium” business model allows us to use an app for free with the option to purchase additional features. In the case of games, that model can fundamentally alter the user experience, from gaming to getting gamed.

By collecting troves of data on how users play their games, developers have mastered the science of applied addiction. And with the rise of “freemium” games that rely on micro-transactions, they have good reason to deploy the tools of behavioral psychology to inspire purchases.

In the video above, I spoke to Jamie Madigan, author of a blog, podcast, and book about the psychology of video games. We take a look at some of the mind tricks that some of these games use to convert players into payers.

You can find more of his work here:

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15 Comments

  1. the whole 'cash is harder to spend than by card' thing is so weird to me, bc for me its the opposite! my bank account is the money i "actually have", and any physical cash just feels like extra, free money! i imagine it has something to do with being gen z, growing up with tech…

  2. Alden Richards is a Philippine celebrity estimated to have spent equivalent 30k USD in Genshin Impact

  3. Youtube has got real aggressive with Youtube Premium by giving people 4 ads a video.

  4. That Pokémon incense is roughly to about 72 cents cents.

  5. South Park literally did an episode on this

  6. Go to … and apply job as promoter. Flexible working hours, all you need is social media and internet. Do that before considering playing a mobile game or an ea game. Those games can cost you a fortune nowadays.

  7. We could all agree we hate ingame purchases

  8. I miss early mobile games like temple run,angry bird,subway surfer,jetpack joyride,hillclimb racing,fruit ninja and more

  9. Look if you don't pay how can developers earn money . After all its your choice whether you pay or not

  10. We need money games because they are f2p but we also want games that are free and f2p

  11. I will never stop being amazed how most modern marketing strategies are just "socially acceptable deception schemes" that target people with below average IQ.

  12. 🤔why dont i belive ppl would pay so much for a game, but how else can apps make millions, so ill just accept this info.

  13. Why tf do people think freemium is evil? Like they gotta make money somehow, if they wouldnt the game would not exist

  14. Stop naming the videos vox in the name, and stop making the name for your channel vox in the name or to be done entire name

  15. I think it’s good to support something you love and/or have put a lot of time in. If you’re able to of course. Niantic recently had mass lay offs. I mean if we want awesome games to continue to exist then pay up what you feel you can offer. Even just a one time purchase of $2. I just started playing Niantic’s Pikmin Bloom and I love that game. I want it to keep going for as long as possible but it won’t if we always have that mindset of never paying for digital items.

  16. Free to play is a delusion granted to the weak (players) by the strong (money makers). Or… so I've heard.

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