Castle Cats - PocApp Studios AB

This review of Castle Cats was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 30 October 2017.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Castle Cats 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 amount of levels/quests was played over several days.

App description

Castle Cats is set in the fantasy kingdom of Catania. The player has to recruit and manage heroic cat warriors to defend their world against evil dog villains. The story, as well as tasks, are explained in comic dialogue sequences. The player has to fulfil quests in which one, or several cat heroes, oppose an enemy. Here, game play is limited to assigning one or more characters and then tapping on the screen to increase attacks on a static opponent. Alternatively, the player can simply sit and wait because the quest is eventually fulfilled automatically, thus the term "idle" role-playing. There are no specific skills required; the game has no educational elements.

Reviewers comments

Castle Cats belongs in the relatively new genre of "idle" role-playing games: actual game play is minimal and interaction optional. Instead, rewards can be earned by logging in regularly and spending time on the platform, by connecting with social media, watching ads for other apps with links to the app store, or by purchasing items for money. Players have access to a chat room to discuss the game with other players. The reviewer came across numerous requests from users to be added as friends on Facebook in order to earn rewards. Chatting and adding strangers on Facebook in the case of an existing account poses potential risks – parental guidance is therefore highly recommended.

In App purchasing

Various additional Cat Heroes:

$7.99 each

In-app currency:

Handful of Gems: $2.99 Pouch of Gems: $7.99 Chest of Gems: $14.99 2 x Chest of Gems: $22.99

Game accessories:

·         Metal Bundle: $2.99

·         Wood Bundle: $2.99

·         Cloth Bundle: $2.99

·         Gold Nugget Bundle: $4.49

·         Oldwood Bundle: $4.49

·         Silk Bundle: $4.49

Common Embers: $4.99 10 Rare Embers: $14.99 40 Rare Embers: $46.99

Special Event Accessories (e.g. Halloween Specials)

Various items ranging from $1.49 to $4.49

Online information

The app is linked with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. There is also a chat room to communicate with other users

Gambling

N/A.

Advertising and product placement

Rewards can be earned by watching ads, e.g. for other apps. There are also ads for Castle Cat merchandise products with links to buy them at amazon.com

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None noted.

Coarse language

None.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

N/A.

Other

N/A.

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