--- name: ethical-monetization-patterns description: "Ethical monetization patterns: a dark pattern audit checklist, a cosmetics-only store, battle pass design, a Godot and GodotSteam IAP purchase flow, a voluntary spending cap, and an explicit list of banned patterns. Use when building a store or reviewing monetization for exploitative design." --- # Ethical Monetization Patterns ## Dark Pattern Audit Checklist ``` MONETIZATION ETHICS AUDIT ========================== SECTION 1: Pay-to-Win Assessment [ ] All spending provides cosmetic/convenience only, no gameplay power [ ] No stat boosts, ability unlocks, or damage increases tied to spending [ ] PvP balance unaffected by any purchasable item [ ] Free players can compete with paying players in all core game modes SECTION 2: Transparency [ ] Real currency prices shown prominently (no hiding behind premium currency only) [ ] Premium currency amounts shown in real money equivalent during purchase flow [ ] No orphaned premium currency designs (bundles divisible cleanly by item prices) [ ] "What you get" fully described before payment, no mystery boxes unlabeled SECTION 3: Psychological Manipulation [ ] No countdown timers on non-scarce digital goods [ ] No "only N left" false scarcity on infinitely reproducible items [ ] No social pressure mechanics ("your friends bought this") [ ] No progress loss threats to prevent churn [ ] Loot boxes: are contents and probabilities disclosed? (required in Belgium, Netherlands, China) SECTION 4: Children's Protections [ ] Parental control spending limits honored (iOS Screen Time, Google Family Link) [ ] Purchase confirmation dialog before every transaction [ ] Opt-in spending limits (monthly cap user can set themselves) [ ] No targeted advertising based on spending patterns for under-18 SECTION 5: Cancellation and Fairness [ ] Subscriptions cancel in 2 clicks (no roach motel UI) [ ] Refund policy clearly stated and honored [ ] Account deletion removes payment data (GDPR) [ ] Premium content retained if subscription lapses (no retroactive removal) RESULT: ___ / 20 checks passed 0-10: Significant ethical issues requiring redesign 11-16: Some concerns to address before launch 17-20: Ethically sound monetization ``` ## Cosmetics-Only Store (Path of Exile Model) ```gdscript # Cosmetics-only item store - no pay-to-win class_name CosmeticStore extends Node # Purchasable items: visual only class CosmeticItem extends Resource: @export var item_id: StringName @export var display_name: String @export var price_real_currency: float # Show real price, not obscure currency @export var item_type: StringName # "character_skin", "emote", "title", "portrait" @export var preview_texture: Texture2D # NOT: damage_bonus, stat_modifier, unlock_ability func purchase(item: CosmeticItem, player_id: int) -> bool: # IAP flow - platform-specific # On success: write to player's owned_cosmetics save data # On failure: show clear error with reason return _initiate_platform_purchase(item, player_id) func apply_cosmetic(player: Player, item_id: StringName) -> void: if player.owned_cosmetics.has(item_id): player.active_skin = item_id # Change visual only - no stats affected ``` ## Battle Pass Ethical Design ```gdscript # Battle pass with ethical constraints enforced in data class_name BattlePass extends Resource @export var season_name: String @export var season_duration_days: int = 90 @export var free_tiers: Array[BattlePassTier] # Available to all players @export var paid_tiers: Array[BattlePassTier] # Available with battle pass purchase # Tier types allowed per ethical guidelines class BattlePassTier extends Resource: @export var tier_number: int @export var reward_type: StringName # Must be in ALLOWED_REWARD_TYPES @export var reward_data: Dictionary const ALLOWED_REWARD_TYPES: Array[StringName] = [ &"cosmetic_skin", &"emote", &"title_badge", &"player_icon", &"in_game_currency_small", # Small amounts of earnable currency ] # FORBIDDEN types (would make this pay-to-win): # &"stat_boost", &"ability_unlock", &"damage_increase", &"rare_equipment" # Validate pass before publishing func validate_ethical_design() -> bool: for tier in paid_tiers: if tier.reward_type not in BattlePassTier.ALLOWED_REWARD_TYPES: push_error("Pay-to-win item in battle pass: %s" % tier.reward_type) return false return true # Calculate daily XP required to complete at reasonable pace func daily_xp_required_free() -> float: var total_free_xp := free_tiers.reduce(func(acc, t): return acc + t.xp_required, 0) var gameplay_days := season_duration_days * 0.8 # Assume 80% of days playing return total_free_xp / gameplay_days # Target: < 90 minutes of average play per day to complete free track ``` ## IAP Purchase Flow (Godot + GodotSteam) ```gdscript # Steam microtransaction integration class_name SteamStore extends Node func initiate_purchase(item_def_id: int, quantity: int = 1) -> void: # Show confirmation with real price before initiating var price := Steam.getItemPrice(item_def_id) _show_purchase_confirmation(item_def_id, price, func(confirmed: bool): if not confirmed: return var purchase_id := Steam.startPurchase([item_def_id], [quantity]) Steam.purchase_result.connect(_on_purchase_result, CONNECT_ONE_SHOT) ) func _on_purchase_result(result: int, purchase_id: int, items: Array) -> void: match result: 1: # k_EResultOK _grant_items(items) _show_purchase_success() _: _show_purchase_failed(result) func _show_purchase_confirmation(item_id: int, price: float, callback: Callable) -> void: # MANDATORY: show real price before purchase # MANDATORY: show exactly what the player is buying # MANDATORY: provide prominent "Cancel" option equal in size to "Confirm" var dialog := ConfirmationDialog.new() dialog.title = tr("STORE_CONFIRM_PURCHASE_TITLE") dialog.dialog_text = tr("STORE_CONFIRM_PURCHASE_BODY") % [ Steam.getItemName(item_id), "$%.2f" % price # Always show real currency ] dialog.confirmed.connect(func(): callback.call(true)) dialog.canceled.connect(func(): callback.call(false)) add_child(dialog) dialog.popup_centered() ``` ## Spending Limit (Voluntary Self-Cap) ```gdscript # Let players set their own spending limits - ethical responsibility feature class_name SpendingLimits extends Resource @export var monthly_limit_cents: int = 0 # 0 = no limit @export var notify_at_percent: float = 0.8 # Warn at 80% of limit var _spent_this_month_cents: int = 0 var _month_key: String = "" # "2026-02" format func can_purchase(price_cents: int) -> bool: _refresh_month() if monthly_limit_cents <= 0: return true # No limit set return (_spent_this_month_cents + price_cents) <= monthly_limit_cents func record_purchase(price_cents: int) -> void: _refresh_month() _spent_this_month_cents += price_cents _save() if monthly_limit_cents > 0: var ratio := float(_spent_this_month_cents) / float(monthly_limit_cents) if ratio >= notify_at_percent: EventBus.spending_limit_warning.emit(ratio) func _refresh_month() -> void: var now := Time.get_datetime_dict_from_system() var current_key := "%04d-%02d" % [now.year, now.month] if current_key != _month_key: _month_key = current_key _spent_this_month_cents = 0 _save() ``` ## Anti-Patterns (Explicitly Banned) - **Loot boxes without disclosed odds**: Illegal in Belgium and Netherlands. Ethically wrong everywhere. Always show drop rates. - **Premium currency bundles with remainder**: Bundle 550 gems, items cost 500 - 50 orphaned gems push next purchase. Bundles must be exact multiples of item prices. - **Countdown timers on digital goods**: "Expires in 3:00:00" on infinitely reproducible virtual goods is a lie that exploits FOMO. - **Progress reset threats**: "Your account will be deactivated and progress lost if you don't pay" - pure coercion. - **Pay-to-win in any competitive context**: Buying power in PvP is fundamentally unfair and alienates the player base. Revenue will peak then collapse.