Bubble Heroes: Starfish rescue - Fat Fish Games

This review of Bubble Heroes: Starfish rescue 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 Bubble Heroes: Starfish rescue 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

A representative number of levels played (42).

App description

At Rockford Reef, starfish and other sea creatures need to be saved from the evil octopus Boris or dangerous currents. The player can do this by shooting bubbles towards the top of the screen which is filled with bubbles of different colours. If a cluster of two or more bubbles of the same colour is hit, the bubbles pop. Each level sets a task, for example destroying all bubbles surrounding a sea creature, collecting starfish at the top of the screen, or working against a rising current, and needs to be completed within a limited amount of moves. At the time of the review the game comprised 395 levels. As the player proceeds through the levels, new challenges and boosters become available.

Reviewers comments

The game has an entertainment focus rather than an educational or learning focus – some fine motor skills are required to aim and fire at the bubble, and strategic thinking helps to collect more points and reach the level's goal within fewer moves. Actual game play is free of ads. There is a section that advertises related apps – clicking on an icon leads to the app store. There is also a link to an external website selling merchandise products and connectivity with Facebook. The player can purchase in-game currency, which can be exchanged for extra lives and moves. Clicking on a product leads to the app store where one click confirms the purchase. Parents are therefore advised to disable in-app purchases in the device settings to avoid unauthorised purchases.

In App purchasing

In-app purchases include various packages of in-game currency ranging from $1.49 to $149.99.

Online information

The player is not required to create a user account or to provide any personal information. The app encourages the player to connect with other players on Facebook in order to share game progress and to exchange lives. This requires creating or logging into an existing Facebook account.

Gambling

At the time of review, the reviewer found no simulated gambling content.

Advertising and product placement

Game play is free from ads and product placements. There is a specific section which contains ads for related apps as well as a link to a website selling merchandise product.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None noted.

Coarse language

None noted.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

None noted.

Other

N/A.

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