Dumb Ways to Draw - Metro Trains Melbourne Pty Ltd

This review of Dumb Ways to Draw was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 9 June 2019.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Dumb Ways to Draw 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 several hours.

App description

Dumb Ways to Draw is an entertainment app which requires moderate strategic thinking skills. Players are to draw a line (or in some cases multiple lines) on the screen to save the walking beans from numerous obstacles - e.g., bugs, falling down ledges, falling onto spikes etc., and guide them to safety. Players are to guide the beans successfully to the heart on the screen so the bean can collect it and move to the next level. The hearts act as coins, and coins are collected which unlock new levels. The bean is purple, and has a face, arms and legs. Each level is in a different setting, for example, train stations etc, and once the bean reaches safety in a previous scene, it will move on to the net one. Essentially each scene acts as a level. Coins are collected through successfully keeping your bean alive.

Reviewers comments

If players' line drawing is unsuccessful and the bean cannot reach the heart safely, it results in the death of the bean. This is depicted in various ways, including the bean being squashed/falling from a height or falling onto spikes, in which then a splatter of red blood appears on the screen. Whilst this is not overly graphic and is considered as fantasy violence it may affect younger players. These scenes may be distressing for younger children as they see the bean they were supposed to be saving die, therefore parental guidance/supervision for younger children is recommended. Whilst the first few levels provide hints for where you should draw your line, as you get further up in levels there are no hints. These levels become particularly hard and may not be appropriate for younger children, they may result in frustration and an inability to complete and therefore move to the next level. Parents should also be aware that children are presented with countless opportunities of bonus hints on where to draw the line and bonus points if advertisements are watched, or other games by the same developer are downloaded and played from the App Store. Also, as players complete a level there may or may not be advertisements, again for other similar games which you have no choice but to watch in order to get to the next level. In app purchasing can be done with the click of one button, if the child is aware of the password for the App Store or similar purchasing whilst playing the app is extremely easy, there is no parental lock system option for this.

In App purchasing

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

• Starter pack $5.99
• Option for no advertising $4.49
• Sketchbook Unlock $2.99
• Hint pack x3 (provides 3 hints to win) $4.49
• Handful of coins = $2.99
• Chest of Coins = $49.99
• Carriage of Coins = $159.99

Online information

The app requires no online information, however caution is urged around the In App purchasing as the process is very easy and purchases could easily be made by a child.

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

There is advertising in this game, including:

• Advertisements for similar type games, which if you download and play, act as bonus points for Dumb ways to Draw
• Pop-up options for watching advertisements for 2 free hints on what line to draw on your current level

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None noted, the bean has no gender.

Coarse language

None noted.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

Please see reviewer’s comments above.

Other

N/A.

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