Is it really Oops or is it a way to tap into the Fear of Loss / Fear of Missing Out pack pushing?

It has been a state of mind since the first human started to roam the Earth. It is a part of our genealogy and it is in our DNA. No matter what we do, once we realize that we are about to lose something or someone, an emotion (subconscious desperation or primal instinct) comes into our mind asking us to act and ACT FAST. It is known as Fear of Loss (one of our Primal Instincts - Fear of loosing the next meal may have played a factor in all of us acquiring it regardless of how many generations have passed).

It could even be Fear of Missing Out aka FOMO. Here is what I found on Wikipedia. They even have it's own section about how Video game makers utilizes the FOMO. 

In video games[edit]

The video game industry utilizes FOMO to get consumers/players to engage in the medium. Video game publishers will create release windows with early access for those that pay for their subscription service. An example is the publisher Electronic Arts. On their main website they have posted, “Try new EA games before launch day. Your save progress carries over to the full game if you decide to buy.”^[38] This can be seen in the release of the game Anthem, where Electronic Arts released a chart depicting the various ways to purchase the game and which would grant early access to the game.

The games themselves are also designed to create a fear of missing out. There are a few ways that FOMO is utilized, such as with daily login rewards. Again, Anthem is an example, having daily, weekly, and monthly challenges to complete for various levels of rewards, prompting players to return. “Daily login rewards are a type of system that rewards players for simply logging in to a game each day. Some games will give a player a set reward every day, while others will build up to better rewards the number of consecutive days logged in.”^[39]

Mobile games are another example of products that use FOMO to retain large numbers of engagement. Mobile games are well known for timed exclusives of one sort or another. “If there's a chance a player might miss a one-time event, it generates FOMO.”^[40] As an example of a mobile game that utilizes FOMO tactics, Crab Wars has a timed currency booster that lasts for three hours, so any time where it’s not active is time spent “losing” money. Compounded on top of this mechanic is a bonus for stacking three of these boosts together at any given time. There are also daily rewards for logging in, which get more rewarding for consecutive days logged in.

Sounds familiar? Now, you know why all sale packs have timers.

There are many articles written about the Fear of Loss in various forms: Could be a person, item, car, house, money, etc… People chose to cope (or act) differently based on their personal experience (if you ask my wife, she would say “BUY them all!” will be her response) while some may say if it's meant to be, it's meant to be or let's wait and see if it's get better or I can live without it.

Many companies employ tactics or capitalize on this basic human instinct for their gain. American Psychological Association published an article in 2013 about Internet Gaming in their Diagnostics and Statistical Manual if Mental Disorder (DSM-5) and recently, WHO had designated the Gaming Disorder as Mental Health Disease. Many of those companies even employ Psychologists to help aide them in this endeavor. (See Job Opening from MZ Here)

Machine Zone aka MZ is no exception! Many retailers advertise on Newspaper, on their web sites, send out emails (if you subscribed), etc… however; since MZ doesn’t not advertise in Newspapers, on their web site, or send emails with offers, they offer “OOPS” packs to drive sales up (Again, it is this writer’s speculation that  “Oops” packs are purposely released instead of being the actual oops to make players think that they could be pulled at anytime.)

(You can see the advertisements for the Best Buys, Amazon, Honda, Bass Pro, and Frys Electronics. They were taken either from their web sites or email being sent to me)

Here are SOME examples of MZ’s Oops packs. EVEN ONE OF THEM SAID "INSTANT FIRED!"

The Best Buy

Amazon

Honda

Bass Pro

Fry’s Electronics