The Fascinating Realm of Dark Design in Mobile Gaming

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In this ever-evolving landscape of technology, mobile gaming is an entertainment source for people of all ages. There is a rise in dark design in the gaming industry as players completely immerse themselves in captivating gaming experiences. Deceptive design often misleads the players into doing something they usually would not.

The Concept of Dark Design in Mobile Gaming

Nielsen Norman Group defines a deceptive pattern as a design pattern that prompts users to take an action that benefits the company by deceiving, misdirecting, shaming, or obstructing the user’s ability to make another choice. The concept of dark design also known as deceptive design was coined by Harry Brignull in 2012. Brignull explains the source of the term is based on ‘design pattern’, this is a common, re-useable solution to a problem. Dark patterns take root in purposeful deception and manipulation [1]. In the world of gaming, particularly freemium games generate revenue from in-game purchases or from showing ads [2]. It is a type of UI/UX approach that uses deceptive and manipulative techniques to influence users into making unnecessary choices. Dark design if used responsibly can enhance the gaming experience, but when misused can create great dissatisfaction for the user.

Dark Design Types in Gaming

• Nudging- Often related to in-app purchases, designers nudge the users towards certain actions.

• Fake urgency- Countdowns or timers are used to persuade users into making urgent decisions that may not be necessary.

• Gamification- Instances where mundane tasks are made engaging by adding a gamified element.

• FOMO- Fear of missing out, situations where things or events are made exclusive to manipulate users into buying them.

Not all dark design in gaming is about monetization, if used creatively and ethically these elements can create an immersive and engaging gaming experience. Karagoel et. al. in their paper implies that most of the time game designers design games ‘player-centred’ that is with players' interests at heart to entertain them [4].

Image Source- 8 Ball Pool

Image Source- 8 Ball Pool

On the contrary, Zagal et al. (2013) came up with three categories of Dark Game Design Patterns which are different from Bringull’s original definitions.

1. Temporal Dark Patterns- Dark patterns related to time, excess or reduced use of time also referred to as ‘waste of time’ [3].

2. Monetary Dark Patterns- As the name suggests, patterns where players are deceived into spending money unexpectedly more than their anticipated amount [3].

3. Social Capital-Based Dark Patterns- These patterns are related to the users' awareness regarding their social standing and relations [3][4].

The Impact of Dark Design on Player Experience

Dark design has a significant impact on player experience, if implemented effectively it can enhance player experience. It can create an immersive and gripping atmosphere, which can encourage users to spend more time and foster player loyalty. In the research conducted by Aagaard et. al. (2022), most participants shared positive responses about mobile gaming but many shared a negative perception where they felt manipulated due to dark patterns. Like there are two sides to a coin, overuse of dark patterns can create frustration and annoying feelings in the player's mind. Creating an efficient balance can be the difference between a captivating game and one that players give up on.

Dark Design Ethics and Critical Considerations

Manipulative tactics that are used to push in-app purchases create ethical controversies in the world of gaming. Especially with younger user groups, it raises more concerns when it comes to unethical monetization tactics. This also has a psychological impact on young impressionable users as it can be addictive, which harms their mental health. Games like Fortnite by Epic Games use deceptive techniques to manipulate users into making unintended purchases, a large user group are young children. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint against Epic Games and they had to pay 245 million dollars in fines. Laws like Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) protect children who are manipulated using deceptive patterns.

The Future of Dark Design in Mobile Gaming

Looking at the future scope, the potential of deceptive design is immense and intriguing. As technology is advancing into the world of Augmented reality (AR) and Virtual reality (VR), it opens up new dimensions for implementing deceptive techniques. It is very likely to be more customized because of the machine learning models and user data that is extracted, they will probably be tailored to each player's behaviours and preferences. Considering the awareness of the ethical aspect of dark design, developers will need to carefully navigate ethical boundaries to create responsible game development practices.

Conclusion

The fog of dark design in mobile gaming is a complicated layer of suspense, intrigue and psychological manipulation. Its power lies in nudging users into either a positive or even negative narrative. While the unethical exploitation cannot be overlooked, if used responsibly, dark design can enrich the gaming experience. It can create user loyalty. There is a thin line between nudging and manipulating, engaging and exploiting, the developers should tread carefully while creating. Stricter laws and proper awareness for users can help them navigate the world of gaming. Websites like https://www.darkpattern.games/ help users understand which games are healthy and which contain dark patterns.