Your assumption is wrong- games companies (clarifying- the exploitative ones) will generally take advantage of the fact that the majority of customers actually DONT know what they're getting. A free game is expected to be free. Ridiculous concept, I know.
A free game with ads should be considered free. That's simply how free services are categorized on the internet (facebook, twitter, reddit, etc).
Purely cosmetic items not affecting a game is a hard one to classify. Could go either way. A free game with optional IAP's is also hard to classify.
A game with a pay GATE is definitely not free.
So the hard to classify cases, if they are more pronounced to show that they are in fact, not completely free games, but free game with in app purchases available, the description or reviews can then go on to describe how that works. At the moment, the "offers in app purchases" in small subtext and a huge FREE DOWNLOAD button is insufficient and cause for much of the (I would argue, intentionally designed) confusion.
IAP created a breed of game developers that preys on spur of moment purchases on the part of the consumer. Yes, this exists in other businesses, but that doesn't make it acceptable or non-manipulative of consumers. A Lite version of a game, clearly specified, followed with a Full version paid version, is currently my preferred method of selling a game. No confusion is created on the part of the consumer, and they know what they're getting in either case.
A free game with ads should be considered free. That's simply how free services are categorized on the internet (facebook, twitter, reddit, etc).
Purely cosmetic items not affecting a game is a hard one to classify. Could go either way. A free game with optional IAP's is also hard to classify.
A game with a pay GATE is definitely not free.
So the hard to classify cases, if they are more pronounced to show that they are in fact, not completely free games, but free game with in app purchases available, the description or reviews can then go on to describe how that works. At the moment, the "offers in app purchases" in small subtext and a huge FREE DOWNLOAD button is insufficient and cause for much of the (I would argue, intentionally designed) confusion.
IAP created a breed of game developers that preys on spur of moment purchases on the part of the consumer. Yes, this exists in other businesses, but that doesn't make it acceptable or non-manipulative of consumers. A Lite version of a game, clearly specified, followed with a Full version paid version, is currently my preferred method of selling a game. No confusion is created on the part of the consumer, and they know what they're getting in either case.