Free games: Free to pay instead of free to play

As our cooperation partner checked4you reports, when it comes to app purchases, things can get expensive at some point.

First of all, play for money, have fun, but when it comes down to it and you really get going, it costs something: many online games and apps work according to this principle. Additional equipment, tools, clothing, skills, weapons... - depending on the game, the goods can look very different.

Then the incentive to continue is often great because you have already played so successfully up to this point. If you don't take good care of yourself, it can go very far. Some have already gambled away hundreds of euros in the gaming craze - and didn't even shy away from taking their credit cards out of their parents' pockets. At this point you should ask yourself whether something is completely out of control...

Bondage tricks: How games can bind you

What's very important is that such games often have no end, so you always want to progress. And then the good feeling of having achieved something again, of being able to or having more than before (and as other players...)!

Every now and then there is a reward so that you don't get too frustrated. At the same time, you always know that there are even bigger, greater things waiting on the horizon - you just have to stick with it long enough to get them. In addition, you may be part of a group and want their recognition – whatever the cost. Just like the recognition among friends when the others play the game too, right? 😉

Whether you stick with a game or not shouldn't be left to chance: As you on heise.de , incentives in the course of the game and the relationship between success and failure are controlled as precisely as possible by the game providers - and you as well held on to the ball for as long as possible (see box).

Which then leads to you paying at some point: the longer you stay, the more willing you are to pay. It's worth it: In the first half of 2017, the gaming industry in Germany generated 254 million euros through in-app purchases alone - 27 percent more than the year before!

So don't kid yourself, the game providers are not charities: they often want to milk you as much as possible. Your decision as to whether or how much you want this - or also the decision of your parents if you are under 18. Then they have a say in such expenses... We explain this in more detail in our article about the pocket money paragraph .

This is how you can protect yourself

First, self-control required. Is it really that important whether you advance a level today or tomorrow?

Then you have the option in the Apple App Store and Android Play Store to protect in-app purchases with a password or a PIN (can be found under “Settings”). This way you avoid accidentally spending real money with a thoughtless fingertip.

And last but not least, we recommend not saving any payment details in the stores. It's better to use prepaid cards , which you can get in supermarkets, gas stations and many other shops. This way you can keep a better overview.


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )