Dragonbox - Elements - WeWantToKnow AS

This review of Dragonbox - Elements was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 26 January 2017.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Dragonbox - Elements 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 reviewer played 20 levels.

App description

Dragonbox-Elements is an educational problem-solving game where players use geometry to free creatures and fight the dragon Osgard. The players learn to draw different shapes (triangles, quadrilaterals, etc) and are taught the basics of Euclid’s geometry in a fun way.

The beginning levels include tutorials explaining how to play the game. For example, the player draws the required shape by swiping with their finger. The games teaches players the properties of different geometric shapes. For example, the player must find an isosceles triangle by identifying which triangle has two equal sides

 Additionally, the game also develops children’s problem solving skills by asking them to solve certain geometric puzzles.

The player can click the hint button to help them with their puzzle. 

Reviewers comments

Dragonbox-Elements is beneficial in developing children’s understanding of geometry, pattern recognition skills and problem solving skills. The app also offers the option for multiple languages and multiple players. The game can be played without an online connection.

Parental guidance is recommended for ages 5-8 due to scary monsters and cartoon violence. The puzzles in this game are aimed at ages 9-12.  

The developer advertises that it takes children’s online security seriously. 

In App purchasing

None

Online information

None required

Gambling

At 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

• On the main menu of the game, it advertises more app games by the same developer.

 

 

• If clicked, it will show the player the ‘parent lock’.

 

 

• If the player passes the lock it will then take them to their app store. However, parents can bypass this by turning off the Internet connection on their device. 

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

•      At time of review, the reviewer found no gender stereotypes or sexual references in the game. 

Coarse language

• At time of review, the reviewer found no coarse language in the game.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

• The narrative of the game is to collect creatures to fight Osgard the dragon. After each set of 10 levels the player ‘fights’ Osgard’s minions by swiping the creatures towards them.  

 

• When hit, the minions disappear in a puff of green sparkle. Some young children may be scared by the ominous music and dark atmosphere. 

 

Other

• The game includes supernatural themes (dragons and monsters).

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