Cupcakes! XL - Maverick Software LLC

This review of Cupcakes! XL was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 24 November 2016.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Cupcakes! XL 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

N/A•

App description

In Cupcakes! XL the user is guided through the different steps of making virtual cupcakes, including choosing from different recipes in a virtual cookbook, dragging the ingredients into a bowl, mixing, baking, decorating and eating them. With its great range of choices of ingredients and decorations, the game fosters creativity and interest in baking. 

The user can collect "Achievements", which are baking tasks like "Delicious Dozen - Made a dozen cupcakes" or "Double Rainbow! - Make & eat cupcake with rainbow batter & rainbow liner", for which points are awarded. These achievements can be used for inspiration as to what to make but the user is free to create whatever amount and variety of cupcake they like independent of these missions.

Reviewers comments

Cupcakes! XL does not require a user account, provision of any personal information or internet connectivity. Children get a fun insight into which different steps are involved in making a delicious treat and can express their own taste and preferences in choosing ingredients. It gives users the opportunity to get creative and experiment with different decorations. 

In-app purchases are limited to a one-off extension pack and can be disabled through activating Parental Restrictions. Cupcake creations and achievements can be shared on Facebook, which requires logging into an existing account. Upon pressing "Share" the user is directed to the Facebook login page. Although the actual content of the app is appropriate for young children, parental guidance is useful for pre-school children to explain some written instructions or prompts and suggested for children up to 9 due to online interactivity and in-app purchases.

In App purchasing

• Users can purchase a one-off "Holiday Expansion Pack" for $ 1.49 which includes more options for ingredients and decorations.  

Online information

• Cupcake creations and achievements can be shared on Facebook, which requires logging into an existing account. Upon pressing "Share" the user is directed to the Facebook login page.

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

• The game is free of pop-up ads. However, there is a "News" section on the start page advertising related apps with a link to the AppStore.
• Product placement is limited to Jelly Belly® jelly beans.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

There are no sexual references or gender stereotypes in the game.

Coarse language

• There is no coarse language. 

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

• There was no game playing behaviour which may be of concern to parents found during this review.

Other

N/A.

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