Bee-Bot Pyramid - TTS Group

This review of Bee-Bot Pyramid was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 6 September 2018.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.

ACCM review

This review of Bee-Bot Pyramid contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

The reviewer accessed all available levels.

App description

Similar to the original Bee-Bot app, Bee-Bot Pyramid is also a digital version of the Bee-Bot programmable floor robot, designed to introduce young children to basic programming.  Users are required to control the movements of the ‘Bee-Bot’ by entering in a sequence of directional commands (forwards, backwards, left/right 90 degree turns). Once the ‘go’ button is pushed the ‘Bee-Bot’ then carries out the sequence to perform a task. This version is set in an ancient Egyptian Pyramid and the tasks are more complex than the original. The ‘Bee Bot’ needs to collect treasure by navigating longer, more difficult pathways, find keys to unlock doors and avoid mummies. Each of the 12 available levels are timed and become progressively more difficult as the user completes them. The faster each one is completed the more ‘stars’ the user can earn as a reward.

Reviewers comments

Following on from the original Bee-Bot app, Bee-Bot Pyramid provides a more advanced platform for children to develop programming skills, spacial awareness and an understanding of directional language and concepts. The Egyptian Pyramid setting of this app introduces another level of story development and will appeal to children with more advanced programming skills than the original. The complexity of the movement sequences needed to complete each level has also increased, requiring children to use problem-solving skills to manoeuvre the ‘Bee-Bot’ through the various tasks (such as getting a key to unlock a door).

Again, the sequential movements of the ‘Bee-Bot’ need to be pre-programmed before it moves, requiring children to have the ability to visualise the sequence of the ‘Bee-Bot’ in advance (i.e. it does not do one movement at a time). Whilst this is a good learning opportunity it could potentially be difficult for some children to do correctly, causing frustration. There is a pause button that can be used during a sequence but unless the clear button is pressed new instructions will be added to the existing sequence. Instructions for game play within the app are found on the home screen, although young children may require support to understand them.

In App purchasing

N/A.

Online information

Log ins – requires password to download the app from iTunes

Gambling

At the time of review, the reviewer found no simulated gambling content.  If you discover simulated gambling content in this app, please contact us with the details so we can update our review.

Advertising and product placement

On the game instruction page there is a link to the original Bee-Bot app by the same developer.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

No gender stereotypes or sexual references were observed during the review.

Coarse language

No coarse language was observed during the review.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

No concerning game playing behaviour was observed during the review.

Other

Due to the increased complexity of the required Bee-Bot sequences the reviewer recommends an age limit of 6+.

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