Join the movement for gaming transparency! The $75 billion microtransaction industry isn't fading away, but neither is our power to make a change. Learn, share, and speak out against deceptive patterns with the Deceptive Patterns Calculator. Let's foster awareness and build a community that keeps video games honest, together.
Answer 5 easy questions about your chosen video game, and let the Deceptive Patterns Calculator go to work. It quickly examines your responses, shedding light on the likelihood of deceptive patterns in your game.
[Game Title] is [very likely or unlikely] to contain deceptive patterns. Heres why:
While microtransactions themselves aren't inherently deceptive, they often signal the potential for deceptive patterns. Video games without microtransactions lack the profit motive to use these tactics.
Your game is unlikely to have deceptive patterns because there are no microtransactions. Without the profit motivation, there is little reason to intentionally implement deceptive patterns into the game.
In-game stores use limited-time sales to leverage FOMO, encouraging purchases by creating a false sense of urgency.
A rotating storefront motivates users to buy due to the fear of missing out, as items for sale change regularly with no indication on when it will return for purchase.
Virtual currency can obscure the real cost of items, making it challenging for players to make informed purchasing decisions.
Virtual currency can obscure the real cost of items, making it challenging for players to make informed purchasing decisions.
Ready to combat deceptive patterns? There are many strategies we can use to help recognize and reduce the amount of time and money spent on these games. Here is a preview of three actionable strategies to help reduce spending on video games:
To learn even more strategies and see why they help fight against deceptive patterns visit our Self-Help Tools page.
Our quiz only looks for 4 of the X amount of deceptive patterns in video games. Learn what to look out for using the Deceptive Pattern Glossary and prepare yourself with strategies on how to counter them. Here is a preview of actionable strategies to help reduce spending on video games:
Learn even more strategies and see why they help fight against deceptive patterns: Learn about strategies to counter deceptive patterns or even expand your knowledge with our deceptive pattern glossary.