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
King of Thieves"limited deals in the shops and events"
Township"Lots of timed events/deals"
Egg, Inc."The game holds frequent bonuses that give a boost to some stat. There are also contracts, limited time events where you play with others to complete them for semi-limited rewards - the rewards - primarily ‘eggs of prophecy’, do come back but not for a while and they are scare"
Monster Legends"The game constantly has limited time discounts and limited time events. Events include both generic ones such as Grand Prix, as well as specific, unique events."
Asphalt 8: Airborne"A lot of promos and deals, which are presented in an intrusive manner."
Assoluto Racing"Limited time cars that can be obtained from the gacha system."
Clash of Clans"bundles"
Single City: Life Metaverse"limited vip events reguarly"
War Robots Multiplayer Battles"the game will welcome you with minimum 10 different limited discount screen every day"
The Tribez: Build a Village"examples include. Volcano of Fate, These premium building are supposedly offered for a few days, but the offers regularly reappear (sometimes with a different name)"