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Dark Pattern Games

(www.darkpattern.games)
350 points robotnikman | 2 comments | 16 Nov 25 19:38 UTC | HN request time: 0.406s | source
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swi ◴[16 Nov 25 22:31 UTC] No.45949064[source]▶
Chris Wilson released a video on this topic yesterday - "Dark Patterns: Are Your Games Playing You?". He has an interesting perspective having been the lead of Path of Exile. A free to play, decade long, popular, action role playing game.

While opinions vary on the correct use of these patterns, the video is a helpful and easy to digest, reminder of them. The video description contains additional links.

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"Dark Patterns: Are Your Games Playing You?" - https://youtu.be/OCkO8mNK3Gg

replies(1): >>45949657 #
protocolture ◴[16 Nov 25 23:58 UTC] No.45949657[source]▶
PoE seems to be an outlier, having probably the softest freemium model in existence. I dont recall having been even slightly tempted to spend money in that game.
replies(6): >>45949766 #>>45949838 #>>45950039 #>>45950071 #>>45950108 #>>45953085 #
1. loveparade ◴[17 Nov 25 01:16 UTC] No.45950039[source]▶
You absolutely need to spend money in PoE to buy stash tabs. It's basically mandatory if you play regularly. The difference to most dark patterns is that the spending has a very low cap. Once you've spent $50 or so on stash tabs you are set forever and never need to spend again. So it's not so different from buying a $50 game, just that you get to try it out for free first.
replies(1): >>45951357 #
2. oreally ◴[17 Nov 25 06:51 UTC] No.45951357[source]▶
$50 is exaggerating it nowadays. With async trade you could buy a single merchant tab to gain access to trade (stuff sells pretty quick with async trade!), and maybe a currency and scarab tab for the bare minimum convenience. Around $20 and you've got yourself a meaty beast of a game.