In-game purchase options are referred to as microtransactions and have become a common revenue for modern video games. Microtransactions refer to small payments made inside of video games to acquire game content. The phenomenon of microtransactions is often related to "loot boxes". The definition of loot boxes are items in video games that players can buy with real-world money, the loot boxes, when opened contain randomised rewards. The rise of microtransactions has led to concerns for vulnerable users overspending with currently no regulation or consumer protection. The chance-based nature of loot boxes has arisen discussion regarding the similarities of loot boxes and gambling. The apparent similarity is that the player is risking the loss of real-world money for a small chance of getting a valuable reward. The thesis aims to research video game players motivations, experiences and gameplay habits, to establish guidelines for loot box systems later. Empirical methods, such as surveys and semi-structured interviews, were used to collect data. Established theories Hedonic motivation-system acceptance model (HMSAM) and Theory of planned behaviour (TPB) were used as a theoretical framework to understand the collected data. The results of the empirical data display negative attitudes towards loot boxes. Themes were made to make sense of the attitudes and provide an understanding of the negative attitudes. A design solution in the form of guidelines was developed based on the themes. The guidelines were implemented in a design prototype and thereafter evaluated by participants with a user experience questionnaire. The results of the user evaluation illustrate a positive attitude towards the design, but not convincing enough. Participants raised concerns about a few features of the design and had difficulties to see the features be implemented in the future. Therefore, arguments for further research of the guidelines were established / Alternativ för köp i videospel kallas mikrotransaktioner och har blivit en vanlig inkomstkälla för moderna videospel. Mikrotransaktioner avser små betalningar inuti videospel för att skaffa spelinnehåll. Fenomenet med mikrotransaktioner är ofta relaterat till "loot boxes". Definitionen för loot boxes är föremål i videospel som spelare kan köpa med riktiga pengar. Loot boxes, när de öppnas innehåller slumpmässiga belöningar. Ökningen av mikrotransaktioner har lett till oro för utsatta användare som överkonsumerar med för närvarande ingen lagstiftning eller konsumentskydd för mikrotransaktioner. Den slumpmässiga karaktären hos loot boxes har lett till diskussioner om likheterna med loot boxes och gambling. Den uppenbara likheten är att spelaren riskerar förlusten av riktiga pengar för en liten chans att få en värdefull belöning. Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka videospelspelares motivationer, erfarenheter och spelvanor, för att senare fastställa riktlinjer för loot box-system. Empiriska metoder, såsom enkät och semistrukturerade intervjuer, användes för att samla in data. De etablerade teorierna Hedonic motivationssystem acceptance model (HMSAM) och theory of planned behaviour (TPB) användes som ett teoretiskt ramverk för att förstå den insamlade data. Resultaten av empiriska data visar negativa attityder för loot boxes. Teman gjordes för att skapa förståelse till de positiva och negativa attityderna. En designlösning i form av riktlinjer utvecklades utifrån dessa teman. Riktlinjerna implementerades i en designprototyp och utvärderades därefter av deltagare med ett frågeformulär för användarupplevelse. Resultaten från användarutvärderingen illustrerar en positiv inställning till designen, men inte övertygande nog. Deltagarna tar upp bekymmer över några funktioner i designen och hade svårt att se funktionerna implementeras i framtiden. Därför upprättades argument för ytterligare forskning av riktlinjerna.

This master's thesis describes the use of microtransactions in video games and their influence over the game design, player experience, and virtual goods presentation. The goal was to compare the titles that use different monetization methods (paid and free to play games) and different types of microtransactions (functional and cosmetic), and to identify which parts of those games could be influenced by microtransactions and how. The research focuses on five titles - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, Anthem, Warframe a Path of Exile. The first part of the thesis summarises the historical evolution of monetization models used in video games and defines the terms microtransaction, micropayment, virtual goods, or loot box. It also contains a typology of microtransactions, describes their implementation methods, and possible consequences tied to their use. The second part focuses on the analysis of the chosen five games. The research used the following methods - analysis of my own gameplay and mutual comparison of each game. Each game was examined over the course of ten hours, in sessions about 45-60 minutes long - the gameplay was accompanied by video recordings of the gameplay, screenshots, and a journal that contained detailed information about each gaming session. The research...

In recent years, many PC and console video games have seen a shift towards live service models as a means of generating recurring revenue through in-game purchases called microtransactions. Microtransactions have been linked to the concept of dark patterns—design patterns that favour the service at the expense of the end user—due to their possible negative impact on the user experience. One widespread yet poorly studied microtransaction is the battle pass, particularly from a player perspective. In order to investigate playerattitudes to dark patterns found in battle passes, we conducted two studies, by looking at battle passes found in 19 games, and by carrying out a series of discussion workshops, to identify dark pattern commonalities in battle passes, and to find out how players perceive and experience dark patterns in battle passes, respectively. Data was analysed by means of reflexive thematic analysis in both studies. The results show that battle passes attempt to drive increased player engagement and spending in a number of ways, and further that players have complex—and often contradictory—relationships to battle passes.

Microtransactions is a relatively new concept within the gaming industry witha very large monetary value for businesses. Companies utilize persuasivedesign strategies such as time-based scarcity in order to incentivize players tospend money on microtransactions which in turn creates addiction towardsmicrotransactions. The purpose of this paper is to explain the addictiveinfluence limited time scarcity possesses on purchase intention for randomizedvirtual cosmetics (RVC) or definite virtual cosmetics (DVC), and which ofRVC and DVC carries the stronger influence. To arrive to a fitting conclusion,a quantitative method was utilized in order to collect the data required. Sincethis research is explanatory in nature and built on existing research, a crosssectional approach was utilized. Two hypotheses were tested, and aquestionnaire was conducted. The findings from this study suggest that bothRVC and DVC has an impact on purchase intention, however RVC proves tocarry a stronger influence than DVC.

Transparens är avgörande för att förbättra hållbarheten förmikrotransaktioner i spel, eftersom det gör det möjligt för spelarna att fattainformerade beslut. Men det är viktigt att ha en balans eftersom för myckettransparens kan ha negativa ekonomiska konsekvenser för företagen, då detkan avskräcka köp. Syftet med studien är att skapa förståelse kring hurtransparens kan användas som ett verktyg för att spelutvecklare ska kunnadesigna hållbara mikrotransaktioner. I studien genomfördes intervjuer medåtta spelare och fyra spelutvecklare. Dessutom användes en probe för attfördjupa den empiriska insamlingen av upplevelser kring transparens. Istudien definieras även hållbart spelande, genom att fokusera på att designamikrotransaktioner utefter ett hållbart spelande kan datorspelsindustrin bidratill en ökning av den sociala och ekonomiska hållbarheten. Fem temanidentifierades genom en tematisk analys där transparens kan stödjainformerade beslut: valuta, värde, varningar, kommunikation och tillit.Studiens resultat kan användas av spelutvecklare och andra aktörer inomdatorspelsindustrin för att främja informerade beslut med en mer transparentoch hållbar spelkultur. / Transparency is crucial to improving the sustainability of microtransactionsin gaming, as it enables players to make informed decisions. However, it isimportant to strike a balance because excessive transparency can havenegative economic consequences for companies, as it may discouragepurchases. The purpose of the study is to generate an understanding of howtransparency can be used as a tool for game developers to design sustainablemicrotransactions. The study involved interviews with eight players andfour game developers. Additionally, a probe was used to further enhance theempirical collection of experiences related to transparency. The study alsodefines sustainable gaming, as designing microtransactions based onsustainable gaming can contribute to increased social and economicsustainability within the gaming industry. Five themes were identifiedthrough a thematic analysis where transparency can support informeddecision-making: currency, value, warnings, communication, and trust. Thefindings of this study can be utilized by game developers and otherstakeholders in the gaming industry to promote informed decision-makingand foster a more transparent and sustainable gaming culture.

In recent years, microtransactions have become a norm for monetization and a standardbusiness model in free-to-play games. This is something that affects multiple individuals andhas caused quite a stir among players. Through this research, we want to gain anunderstanding of why some microtransaction types might be considered more acceptable thanothers. In addition, to gaining potential data that could possibly give us a look into the futureof the design of microtransactions. We have gathered our data by conducting online chatbased semi-structured interviews with current and former university students studying gamedesign at Uppsala University.The research found that game design students have a predominantly negative opinion aboutmost microtransactions, especially when they were affecting the gameplay, contrary to whenthey were not.

Spel är en av de största underhållningsbranscherna, vilket ger utvecklare möjlighet till stor lönsamhet. Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera faktorerna för varför spelare känner behov avatt göra köp av virtuella produkter i onlinespel och hur det kommer att påverka spelupplevelsen.Detta hjälper spelutvecklare att skapa en bättre affärsmodell med mer optimerade produktergenom att ge spelarna vad de önskar. Denna studie kommer att använda en kvalitativ forskningsdesign eftersom det gör det lättare att ta del av olika spelares åsikter. Resultatet från studien visar att emotionella och funktionella faktorer har störst inverkan på beslut att köpa virtuella produkter i onlinespel, och att spelupplevelsen gynnas så länge inte produkter påverkadespelmekanismer. / Games are one of the biggest entertainment industries, which provides an opportunity for developers to generate a lot of money. The aim for this study is to identify the factors why playersfeel the need to make in-game purchases of virtual products in online games and how this willaffect the gaming experience. This will help game developers create a better business modelwith more optimized products by giving players what they desire. This study will be using aqualitative research design since it will make it easier to take part in different players' opinions.The results from the study show that emotional and functional factors have the greatest impacton decisions to buy virtual products in online games, and that the gaming experience benefitsas long as products do not affect gaming mechanisms.