We all know that the games we enjoy today weren’t always available to us. One of the most interesting aspects about game development is how it has evolved over time. It’s hard to imagine life without these amazing experiences, but they didn’t just pop up out of nowhere! Game developers borrow tricks from casinos and other industries all the time to make their games more addictive and engaging.
1. What are game developers borrowing from casinos?
There are two main goals that casinos have: to keep players hooked and to give them a real chance at winning. These are also the goals of game developers! By understanding how casinos operate, developers can create games that are more addictive and engaging.
The goals align, therefore it makes sense to use the same marketing schemes!
2. How do these tricks make games more addictive?
The most important thing for any game is to keep players coming back for more. If a game is too easy, players will get bored and move on. On the other hand, if a game is too difficult, players will get frustrated and give up. The perfect balance is what developers are always striving for, and it’s not an easy task. Casinos use a variety of tricks to keep players hooked, and game developers are borrowing these same tricks to make their games more addictive.
3. What are some of the most common tricks?
Some of the most common tricks used by casinos include offering bonuses, providing a sense of progression, and using social media to spread the word. Developers are incorporating all of these ideas into their games to keep players coming back for more.
4. Are these effective?
Absolutely! These concepts are designed to keep players engaged and coming back for more. If you’ve ever felt addicted to a game, it’s likely because the developers were using one (or more) of these tricks.
So game mechanics are really borrowed from these crappy slot games? Really? That can’t be true… can it?
Sadly it is, slot games are designed to give you just the right amount of dopamines whenever you win, to keep you playing. Games need to do exactly the same thing by making character development vital throughout the game progression. Another thing casinos do is have a sense of social media about them, for example, you can see how much people have won on the slot machines as you walk by. This encourages other players to try their hand at the slots and keeps everyone playing.
Leaderboards have been common in most games for ages, and a common “ladder” pushes players to compete against one and other. This sense of social media and “bragging rights” encourages people to keep playing in order to beat their friends.
So there you have it, next time you’re feeling frustrated because you can’t seem to put your game down, now you know why. The developers have just stolen another casino trick!