Understanding Crossy Road as a Mobile Game Application
Introduction
Crossy Road is a mobile game that has gained significant attention for its unique blend of gameplay, art style, and monetization model. While it may seem like just another casual mobile game at first glance, it actually belongs to the category of games with gambling themes, which have sparked controversy and debate among gamers, developers, and policymakers alike.
What is Crossy Road?
Crossy Road is an endless runner-style video Crossy Road casino game developed by Hipster Whale. The game was released in 2014 for mobile devices (iOS and Android) and has since become one of the top-grossing apps on both platforms. Players control a character, typically called “Chicken” or other characters like Frog, Fish, etc., as it navigates through various levels set in different environments such as roads, schools, zoos, farms, cities, and even airports.
Gameplay Mechanics
The gameplay mechanics of Crossy Road are relatively simple: players tap the screen to move their character forward. However, avoiding obstacles like cars, trucks, buses, animals, and other hazards is an essential part of the game. As players progress through levels, they can collect various items such as coins, hats, and accessories for their characters.
Monetization Model
Crossy Road’s monetization model is where it gets interesting – or rather, complicated. The game offers in-app purchases (IAPs) that allow players to buy virtual currency using real money, which can be used to purchase various items within the game. These IAPs are often presented as “batches” of coins or other rewards, with prices displayed in dollars.
One peculiar aspect of Crossy Road’s monetization model is its use of microtransactions (MTCs). Microtransactions refer to small-scale transactions where players spend a few cents or even fractions of a cent on virtual goods. The game uses this approach by selling bundles of coins at various price points, with each bundle containing an exponentially larger number of coins as the price increases.
Gambling Theme and Loopholes
The controversy surrounding Crossy Road centers around its similarity to games with more direct forms of monetization that resemble gambling activities like online slots or slot machines. The game’s microtransactions and their presentation in a way that blurs lines between spending small amounts for convenience versus large sums for luxury items have raised questions about responsible design and potential exploitation.
Some critics argue that the game exploits psychological weaknesses inherent to humans, particularly with regards to loss aversion, where players become motivated by trying to recover losses rather than making informed decisions. In 2015, Australia’s Office of Liquor Gaming & Racing (OLGR) took action against Crossy Road for allegedly promoting gambling-like activities in a minor way.
User Experience and Accessibility
Crossy Road has received praise for its intuitive design and accessibility features, such as simple controls that make it accessible to players from various age groups. However, the game’s primary issue is how these very same features can sometimes be misused by developers as mechanisms for encouraging spending rather than genuine engagement.
Legal and Regional Context
In some countries like Australia, Crossy Road has been scrutinized for possible regulatory breaches due to its perceived similarity with gambling activities. As discussed above, this led OLGR to take enforcement action in 2015, where they required the app’s developers, Hipster Whale Pty Ltd., to ensure compliance.
On other continents and regions, such regulations have been relatively absent or less stringent, leaving space for further exploitation through creative monetization strategies that push boundaries. Free Play vs Real Money
One of the most talked-about aspects related to Crossy Road is its juxtaposition of “free play” – which allows players to use virtual currency earned through gameplay without incurring additional expenses – and real money mode, where IAPs enable purchasing with actual cash.
Responsible Considerations and Consequences
When evaluating mobile games like Crossy Road that involve significant spending by their users, various stakeholders (parents, developers, policymakers) often debate the fine line between responsible monetization strategies and potential exploitation of vulnerable individuals. This concern is amplified in cases where cross-platform compatibility enables spending to occur through means other than just one device.
Misconceptions about Mobile Game Economics
The widespread adoption of mobile gaming has spawned many criticisms surrounding games like Crossy Road regarding their use as vehicles for microtransactions and aggressive monetization strategies that target children specifically or profit from an average user’s impulsivity.