Disney Sorcerer’s Arena - Glu Games Inc

This review of Disney Sorcerer’s Arena was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 12 June 2020.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Disney Sorcerer’s Arena 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 game was played for over 6 hours, however, the reviewer did not enter any of the Club options or the Summoner’s Challenge. The reviewer reached level 13.

App description

Disney Sorcerer’s Arena is a PvP (player versus player) RPG (role playing game) that involves battling an opponent team to win battles and ultimately campaigns. The game utilises Disney characters with which the player builds a small team to battle a computer-generated opponent team or a friend or club member. It uses a variety of colourful backdrops and mild cartoon violence when battling. The player chooses actions for each character by touching an icon and the battle is won by the team that first wipes out the other. As the game progresses the player earns more sophisticated actions for each character and also gains new characters with which to fight.

The game relies on colourful artwork, looped character behaviour and situation videos, and brassy melodic stings to keep the energy up and a sense of exuberant activity. Some strategy is required for this game though it really doesn’t come into play until level 12 or so. Players will need to read reasonably competently as there are a lot of rewards, equipment and currency that need to be understood and managed if they wish to be successful.

 

Reviewers comments

Disney Sorcerer’s Arena has quite a few different forms of currency which can be confusing initially and, as the game progresses, the player earns access to new battle quests and new characters with which to build their team. Notably, however, the reviewer did not need to purchase any currency or boosts to reach level 13, though running out of ‘energy’ will result in having to wait some time to further access the quests.

Much of the play time is taken up with upgrading the characters and their equipment and managing rewards, coins and potions. This was a bit frustrating as the purpose of each item and the equipment was not very clear and seemed to be automatically managed by the game.

Parents should be aware that links are available that take the player to other websites without requiring passwords (see Online Information) and can access video advertising through the ‘store’.

In App purchasing

There is In-App purchasing in this game, examples include:

• Packages of in-game currency – 240 Gems for $2.99, 7,370 Gems for $79.99 etc. Coins, Chests and potions cost Gems.
• Passholders to seasonal battles – $14.99 and $30.99 (these contain potions, coins etc).
• Onward Coins – 15,000 for $7.99, up to 12,000 for $79.99
• Starter Bundle – containing a variety of things including gems, coins, chest tokens and potions - $14.99
• Players can purchase 30-day VIP Cards that afford the player rewards on a daily basis including gems, lightening etc - $38.99

Online information

There is some online connectivity, such as:

• The game automatically links into the Apple Account of the device holder and so purchases can be made to the registered account without password protection.
• There is a Chat Room available where the player can talk about strategies etc. The player uses their game handle so anonymity may be preserved.
• Players are encouraged to join or create a club where they can invite other global players or friends. They can exclusively chat with these club members in the Chat room.
• When the player selects the ‘Free Gem Offer’ they are taken to a page where there are links to advertising which require the player to do various things such as take surveys or quizzes and purchase items, plus it may require them to sign up to sites. One site asks the player to spin a lucky wheel. On this page Gambling sites are advertised and the player must answer quiz questions and change page regularly. It looks like a ‘Chocolate Wheel’ but it does not spin or have sounds.

• The information required includes the players name, billing address, and payment details.

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.

Just a reminder to parents that the player can link to outside sites that do advertise and present gambling style activities.

Advertising and product placement

There is advertising in this game, including:

• Video Ads for rewards are available through the store. These tend to advertise other games that the player may be interested in.
• Ads for buying in-app purchases pop up after matches.
• Ads for purchasing real items (eg. Watches, Apparel and Shaving products as well as surveys) are found when following the ‘free’ chest icon in the diamond page of the store.
• The player can elect to view up to 10 Video Ads per day for rewards. Ads for games such as Merge Dragon, Merge Magic, Hotel Empire Tycoon, Funky Bay, and Emma’s Adventure are shown.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None noted.

Coarse language

None noted.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

Please see reviewer’s comments above.

This game is a battle game and so there are displays of combative behaviour and mild violence, however, there are no explicitly disturbing results from the violence, with the characters fainting when eliminated.

Other

N/A.

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