- they want repeat players (users)
- they repeat a formula that sells
- when it doesn’t, they look to “adjust” it with something new and preferably cheap
- they give free samples to spread word of mouth
- they try to lock people into their environment
- they always want people to chase the next high
- looking for ways to keep you hooked on something for as long as possible
- they try to use their formula in all their products
More like mobile game companies are like drug cartels
That is true, it did popularise the drive towards extracting large amounts of value for comparatively little effort