Shelf placement and product displays are surface-level nudges; FOMO in gaming is a deeper psychological lever built into the design loop itself. It’s not just “things on a shelf,” it’s an intentionally engineered system that ties identity, time investment, and social belonging to a ticking clock. That’s far beyond “simple arithmetic”, players aren’t just weighing a price tag, they’re pressured by manufactured scarcity and the knowledge that missing out means permanent loss. And yes, it’s technically “out in the open,” but so are casino odds and junk food labels; transparency doesn’t mean the tactic isn’t manipulative.
It’s definitely admirable to want to encourage personal accountability! Lots of people lack that. But putting on blinders to manipulative behavior and dark psychology that have been employed across the industry is putting too much of the onus on the players. Which is borderline victim-blamey.
Not a super good mindset!