Free To Play Marketing Tricks
Premium Currency Packs
Comparative packs
Nonsensical comparative packs that make more expensive packs seem better.
For example, 1 pack costs $4.99 and gives you 1000 coins, another pack costs $9.99 and gives you 1500 coins, but another costs just $12.99 and gives you 4000 coins.
Timed Discounts
Discounts on virtual packs that have a limited time that uses FOMO.
Multiple currencies
Multiple currency types that are not interchangeable that confuse the player and incentivize them to buy the premium currency that is convertible between all types.
Timed boosters
Boosters that have an expiration date even though they are not physical goods that degrade incentivize the player to buy more of them on regular basis.
Slow idle progression
Slower idle progression on skill or on points that unlock rewards. That incentivizes the player to speed it up with premium currency.
Licensing Characters
Framing the owning of characters or items as licensing them instead of owning them, suggesting that the license might be revoked or run out.
Loot Boxes
Loot boxes with random rewards, that inhibit gambling behavior.
Season Passes
Locking content with a timely release and offering pre-orders of future promised content.
Free** Bonuses
Free bonuses to paid content, making paid content look more appealing and more of a deal.
Constant Notifications
Notifications that show a the bare minimum of information trying to make you check the game, like "You got a reward, check it out".
Showing Friends Activity
Showing what your friends are doing making you feel like you are missing out.
Tailored Discounts
If you are not a big spender and rarely buy stuff from the game, it is possible to give more appealing discounts on an individual level so you are more likely to buy an item. And once you buy an item they got you.