Fear of Missing Out
If you stop playing you'll miss out on something or be left behind and unable to catch up.
Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is an anxiety that occurs when you worry about missing something exciting or important. In games, this can happen when there are timed events. If the event gives a special participation reward, then this anxiety can be heightened. If the player misses the event, not only will they miss the excitement of the new experience, but they will also miss the special reward. If the reward provides a benefit to the game, then the player will be behind everyone else and it will be difficult to catch up.
This anxiety can drive people to play the game at times when they wouldn't otherwise. It may even keep them playing a game long past when they derive enjoyment out of it. For example, a player who has lost interest in a game may see the announcement for the next event and think to themselves that maybe this new event will make the game interesting again.
Many online games are under continual development with new content and updates being added all the time, so there is a constant trickle of new things that players are at risk of missing if they take a break from the game. This is a strong motivator to keep playing. Often these types of timed events provide an incentive to spend money on the game in order to fully take advantage of the event. This enriches the game developers at the expense of the players who may be playing for reasons other than enjoyment.
This anxiety can drive people to play the game at times when they wouldn't otherwise. It may even keep them playing a game long past when they derive enjoyment out of it. For example, a player who has lost interest in a game may see the announcement for the next event and think to themselves that maybe this new event will make the game interesting again.
Many online games are under continual development with new content and updates being added all the time, so there is a constant trickle of new things that players are at risk of missing if they take a break from the game. This is a strong motivator to keep playing. Often these types of timed events provide an incentive to spend money on the game in order to fully take advantage of the event. This enriches the game developers at the expense of the players who may be playing for reasons other than enjoyment.
Examples
The World of Magic"Events will give limited Power Creep for the duration of it most of the time, or sometimes it has exclusive rewards unavailable for a few months/years"
Star Trek Timelines - Strategy RPG & Space Battles"Most in-game events are publicised in advance and have a weekly cycle. Special events sometimes take place with little notice. Daily rewards encourage you to play regularly or miss out. The effect is cumulative over the course of a month, and if you miss your daily targets too many time you will be unable to reach the monthly target to unlock bigger rewards."
Soundmap: The Music Game"Daily coins/songs, and just drops in general"
GraalOnline Era+"Like I said, they do events randomly for op limiteds, then they also do auctions which is a worse pay to win method."
GraalOnline Zone+"Like I said, they do events randomly for op limiteds, then they also do auctions which is a worse pay to win method."
Flutter: Starlight"Events are frequent, and almost impossibly hard to complete even if you begin participation as soon as it starts, many exclusive moths and items are obtained this way. Certain moths have to be lured at certain days or months, and can't be lured without premium currency or until up to the next year."
SOULS"Limited time events and rewards"
Zombie Tsunami"Not really, but there are time-limited events where you could "lose" rewards if you don't play"
Overmortal-Idle RPG"With randomly timed events and no guarantee of getting more progression you kind of have to play daily to ensure you can mildly keep up"
Squad Busters"Feels like wasting chest keys and being at a disadvantage."