The Skinner Box
Gacha games (Genshin Impact, FGO, etc.) are casinos dressed up as RPGs. They rely on Variable Ratio Reinforcement: You know a reward is coming, but you don't know *when*. This floods your brain with dopamine in anticipation of the "Gold Light."
The Math of Pity
Most games have a "Pity System" (e.g., guaranteed 5-star at 90 pulls). * Without Pity: Probability is a cruel mistress. You could pull 1,000 times and get nothing. * With Pity: It turns gambling into a purchase... just a very anxious, expensive purchase.
Whales vs. F2P
- F2P (Free to Play): Pays with time (grinding).
- Whale: Pays with money (thousands of dollars).
- Leviathan: Pays with... we assume bank robbery proceeds.