Popular gacha games are available for free, but you can spend a lot of money in them.
Recently, the Digital Expertise Center of Roskachestvo published the results of a study of several well-known games.
Experts concluded that "developers actively use psychological triggers to stimulate impulse purchases" and "even visual elements carry a manipulative load."
Researchers divided the existing types of manipulative game mechanics into three types:
- Light mechanics of involvement and retention.
- Mechanics of habit formation and pressure.
- Aggressive monetization mechanics.
The list of projects with aggressive monetization mechanics includes games from miHoYo (HoYoverse) — Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail.
Researchers noted the use of a gacha system with an "extremely low base probability (0.600%) of obtaining 5-star characters," which "encourages multiple and expensive attempts."
They also highlighted a multi-level currency system in which Creation Crystals are bought with real money — experts believe that the system is "deliberately confusing and makes it difficult to understand the real costs."
The "Start Trial" button, through which a player can temporarily gain access to a powerful character and test it in action, "creates a desire in the player to get it forever, pushing the user to donate."
The energy system in mini-games limits progress in real time, encouraging regular visits to the application.
It is noted that social pressure is exerted on the user through the friends system "with a clear indication of \"My friends 0/100\"", and receiving rewards is tied to the external resource HoYoLAB — this, according to experts, "further binds the user to the ecosystem."
