2.3. Small Money, big Impact? – Microtransactions in Gaming
Already in the 1970s, the success of microtransactions in gaming began with the so-called arcade video games: In public arcades, games like Donkey Kong or Pac-Man could be started by inserting a coin into a machine. Today, so-called free-to-play games – which dominate the market – are initially offered at no cost and financed through microtransactions that allow players to purchase progress, items, or characters within the game.