Dragonvale - Backflip Studios Inc

This review of Dragonvale was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 21 April 2015.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Dragonvale 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 up to level 10

App description

Dragonvale is a timer and quest app based around animated dragons . The objective of the game is to breed a wide variety of dragons together in an effort to obtain a many different hybrids. This is done by breeding different elemental dragons together. There are limited skills needed, but motor skills and creative thinking may prove useful.

Reviewers comments

When the app is opened, players are prompted with a screen that asks ‘When is your birthday?’ Through this, the app customises the experience for younger players. A pop-up then appears which states ‘Dragonvale is a free game, but some items cost money. These will be charged to your google play account’.

When the game itself begins, players are greeted by a wizard wearing a purple outfit and holding a small dragon. He encourages players to get started by ‘checking on’ their dragons. Players are instructed to tap various ‘habitats’ where dragons live, and are shown some of the basic dragons that they will be breeding in the game. After this, players are instructed to grow treats from a farm for their dragons, and are prompted to feed one of their dragons until it reaches level 4. Upon doing this, players are rewarded with a full screen ‘Level up!’ popup, indicating a range of new unlocked features.

Players are then taught about the breeding mechanic, where two elemental dragons can be combined to form a new dragon with both of their elements. The game progresses in this manner, with the player frequently being given full screen ‘level up!’ popups, unlocking new habitats, and breeding new dragons.

In App purchasing

The app contains a store allowing players to purchase in-app packages of items for real-life money. These include a beginner bundle, of 49,000 dragoncash, 980 treats, and 50 gems for $0.99 (only available for 24hrs from first use of the app), 50 gems for $1.99, 130 gems for $4.99, 275 gems for $9.99, 700 gems for $24.99, 1500 gems for $49.99, and 3750 gems for$ 99.99.

The store also enables players to purchase 100 treats for $0.99, 200 treats for $1.99, 550 treats for $4.99, 1100 treats for $9.99, 2800 treats for $24.99, and 6200 treats for $49.99.

Players can also buy 5000 dragoncash for $0.99, 10000 dragoncash for $1.99, 26250 dragoncash for $4.99, 55000 dragoncash for $9.99, 140000 dragoncash for $24.99, and 310000 dragoncash for $49.99.

Online information

It is possible to log in via Facebook, thus allowing players to save their progress to their account and log in through multiple devices.

Gambling

No gambling content was found during this review.

Advertising and product placement

N/A.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

N/A.

Coarse language

N/A.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

The extensive in-app purchasing and time-lag features may encourage the spending of real-life money in order to deal with potential impatience.

Other

N/A.

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