Color Switch - Fortafy Games

This review of Color Switch was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 1 February 2016.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Color Switch 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

This app was reviewed for approximately 1 hour of game play.

App description

Color Switch is an obstacle-based gaming app. The objective of the app is to play through levels of increasing difficulty, by tapping a small ball of a certain colour through shapes of a matching colour. The skills required to use the app include quick reflexes and and motor skills.

Reviewers comments

When the app opens, players are asked to sign in via Google+ before progressing through to gameplay. The game then presents a central home page, which contains a large Play icon in the centre, as well as other options such as ‘Challenge’ and ‘Race’ mode, in addition to icons related to settings, achievements, a link to liking the page on Facebook, as well as an in-game shop. There is also a link on the main page to a spinning wheel – players are able to return once every 12 hours to spin the wheel again, and receive prizes as a result. They can obtain additional stars, between 10 and 90 stars, as well as a potential bonus item.

After clicking on the Play icon, players are taken to a screen with a small coloured ball at the bottom, and larger circles comprised of various colours above. Players must tap on the screen to lift the ball into the air, and tap repeatedly to keep it floating in a particular place. In order to progress, players must only allow the ball to enter the circle through an area which is the same colour as the ball. Between the various shapes presented, the colour of the ball will change and players must be sure to only progress into the next shape when the ball can float over an area painted in the same colour. If the ball crosses over an area of a different colour, the level ends and players must start again. The game becomes increasingly challenging in regards to the shapes themselves (e.g. triangles instead of circles, different sized shapes, double-edges with different colours that must be passed through simultaneously, etc).

Players are given a score at the end of each attempt, and obtain stars as a result. Once they obtain enough stars, they can visit the in-game store to purchase new upgrades for their small ball – players will unlock balls that have the appearance of a peace symbol, for example. The game contains a leader board where players can compare their scores with those of their Google+ friends, as well as an achievements section containing goals such as ‘Get 10 points’, ‘Play 100 games’, ‘Finish 50 challenges’, etc.

During the Race mode, players have to stay ahead of another automated ball that is running through the same path. The Challenge mode conversely involves selecting a level of difficulty (easy, medium, hard or reverse) and attempting levels of varying challenges.

The app contains advertisements that appear between levels quite frequently. These ads are static advertisements that occupy the full screen and must be closed manually. They advertise things such as Kobo, an app for reading e-books. Players also have the option of watching video advertisements in between levels by clicking on a small video icon – this takes players to a full-screen video advertisement that must be manually closed (e.g. video ads for gaming apps such as Dragon City).

In App purchasing

No in app purchases at time of the review.

Online information

When the app opens, players are asked to sign in via Google+ before progressing through to gameplay. The game also contains a leader board where players can compare their scores with those of their Google+ friends.

Gambling

There is mild simulated gambling within the app, via a link on the main page to a spinning wheel – players are able to return once every 12 hours to spin the wheel again, and receive prizes as a result. They can obtain additional stars, between 10 and 90 stars, as well as a potential bonus item.

Advertising and product placement

The app contains advertisements that appear between levels quite frequently. The ads are static advertisements that occupy the full screen and must be closed manually. They advertise things such as Kobo, an app for reading e-books. Players also have the option of watching video advertisements in between levels by clicking on a small video icon – this takes players to a full-screen video advertisement that must be manually closed (e.g. video ads for gaming apps such as Dragon City).

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

N/A.

Coarse language

N/A.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

The presence of a free spin wheel to obtain stars may be of concern to some parents as this represents a gambling type device. The free spin wheel is only accessible every 12 hours and no in-game currency is used. This free spin wheel is not an integral part of game play.

Other

N/A.

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