Comment by atonse | Hacker News Reader

Comment by atonse | Hacker News Reader

My 7 year old son started playing Tom Hero (and Tom Gold Run) since his friend plays it on her Fire Tablet. I installed it and agreed to let him play it before I realized the sheer number of ads and psychological manipulation in it. Want a power up? Watch this ad. Want to continue? Watch this other ad. Seriously f-ck these game companies that prey on mental weakness, especially those of children, for a quick buck. I have had numerous arguments with my son, so he's very aware of the ads and that they're trying to trick him, but not all parents will even know what's going on with these games. And he still falls for them. How can he not?

For the record, I would've been more than happy to pay Outfit7, the racket behind this game, a sum of money to just play the game without ads. That's entirely reasonable to just allow me to buy the game. But nope. I haven't seen that option.

Apple Arcade, which is the antidote and claims to not have any ads or in-app purchases, is like a cigarette company selling nicotine patches to get you off your smoking addiction. Every time Apple claims to give a sh-t about addiction, you can see how manipulative and scammy the top 100 games are on the App Store. Curation, my ass.

How are more Apple employees not put off by this stuff?

I disagree with your metaphor. Apple is less like a cigarette company making nicotine patches and more like a pharmacy selling cigarettes with warnings on the labels _and_ offering store-brand nicotine patches. A related note: it was only recently that CVS stopped selling cigarettes.

Does that distinction make Apple less ethically problematic? Heck yeah. And I imagine many people, myself included, are okay with where it lies on the gray line.

CVS stopped selling cigarettes in 2014.

Walgreens still sells cigarettes though.

I would expect this from the Play Store. But Apple makes a big deal about the fact that their App Store is curated from low quality apps.

And these are the worst kind. These are actively harmful to people's psychology.

Ditto on child comment, Apple doesn't get that pass as they sit high and mighty behind their walled garden argument to keep their users safe.

I think that Apple is aware of how this has turned out and wants to change course. This is probably why in-app purchases are not allowed in the games in their new game subscription service.

But don't you remember TV as a kid?

Sock'sm boppers, sock'sm boppers! More fun than a pillow fight

Wall to wall ads on every channel but Disney.

PS, I had a friend who got Sock'sm boppers. Way more dangerous than a pillow fight. Basically puffy boxing gloves

It's a bit different though.

* Those ads are not tied to an action, other than simply watching. You don't unlock anything or change the outcome.

* Those ads still need to meet broadcast requirements.

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