Artificial Scarcity
Limited time offers with unnecessary urgency.
One psychological trick that pushy salesmen use all around the world is artificial scarcity, and they often combine this with an unnecessary demand of urgency on the buyer. This is why you often see items listed for sale saying something like "Only 4 left in stock. Order now!"
Game developers use this technique to trick you into spending more time and money on their games. This often takes the form of limited time offers. The only reason for the short time limit is to make you rush into making an uninformed decision and prevent you from comparing the value of different items.
Games may also advertise items by saying that there are only a certain number available, "Hurry, only 47 magic daggers left in our inventory!" In a game where all the items are digital, there is no reason to artificially limit the supply of an item. In fact, often these numbers aren't even real and they may sell far more than the stated limit. The only reason for emphasizing the scarcity of the item is to make you hurry up and make a purchase before you think better.
Game developers use this technique to trick you into spending more time and money on their games. This often takes the form of limited time offers. The only reason for the short time limit is to make you rush into making an uninformed decision and prevent you from comparing the value of different items.
Games may also advertise items by saying that there are only a certain number available, "Hurry, only 47 magic daggers left in our inventory!" In a game where all the items are digital, there is no reason to artificially limit the supply of an item. In fact, often these numbers aren't even real and they may sell far more than the stated limit. The only reason for emphasizing the scarcity of the item is to make you hurry up and make a purchase before you think better.
Citations and Sources • Dark Patterns in the Design of Games
• Seven Psychological Sins of SimCity Social
• Seven Psychological Sins of SimCity Social
Examples
Rise of Cultures"There is always an event running for a limited time building that gives your culture various bonuses."
Ping Pong Fury"There are Events and Limited time offers in the shop that can be bought with reall money that give you ingame currency and diamonds"
Shadow Fight Arena"Epic weaponds , charachteres, skins, in general event that help you progress, marathons Which u must pay to acces"
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links"I hate selection boxes"
Ronin: The Last Samurai"Game contains a "Limited Offer" store with everything in it being timed."
State of Survival"Everything in the game is limited, with count down timers. Many times you do have to buy in order to remain relevant. Packs all count down and all have language making it seem vital, importance and portrays like a great one of lifetime offer"
Bloons TD Battles 2"Bundles of cosmetics, monkey money, and powers appear and disappear from the the shop with time limits on when they’ll stick around"
Potion Punch 2"The market is filled with « limited offers"
Bubble Rainbow - Shoot & Pop"Limited offers e.g. starter pack that costs money"
Top Drives – Car Cards Racing"Daily events, daily deals in the store for packs which are tailored to the events or challenges currently active"