Fishdom - Playrix

This review of Fishdom was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 8 November 2016.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Fishdom 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 8

App description

Fishdom is a match-three puzzle app with multiple levels.

To play this game, players are requested to allow Fishdom to access photos, media and files on their device. If the player denies access, the app automatically closes. Players  must then  sign in via their Gmail/Google+ account.

Game play involves scoring points and earning in-game currency while swiping and matching items by shape and colour. Players require spatial awareness, problem solving skills and fine motor skills.

The aim of the game is to decorate your aquarium by purchasing decorations using gold coins from the game’s shopping cart and thus earning beauty points 

Players win coins for purchasing decorations by:

• matching shapes,
• completing matchboards,
• succeeding at challenges,
• achieving tasks and
• completing levels.

There are also bonus coins when completing matches and challenges in fewer moves than the game anticipates.

Reviewers comments

Fishdom requires access to the player’s personal information to start or the player can login through Gmail or Google+ accounts. Facebook sharing is also encouraged.

Children aged 4 – 14 are particularly vulnerable when playing online games that have interactive capabilities. There are many opportunities to connect to Facebook to share this game.

In-app purchases using real money as well as in game currency are necessary to progress in this game and therefore ACCM recommends ORANGE, parental guidance and co-playing for children aged 4 – 12. For children 12 – 14 it is recommended that parents learn about and engage at some level with the app. 

Children 14 and over should be fine to play this game independently as there is no other game playing behaviour of concern to parents. Parents should be aware, however, of the online interactivity.

In App purchasing

This app includes:

• In-game currency (gold coins and purple gems)
• Capacity to purchase items using real money
• Gameplay requiring purchases from in-game store
• A shopping cart icon on the first screen

A player commences the game with 5 lives, 800 gold coins and 40 purple gems.

To progress beyond the tutorial, a player is required to purchase a clown fish for 800 gold coins.

Players can further decorate their aquarium with items available for purchase from the shopping cart using coins they earn during the game.

Purple gems are another in-app purchase item within the game. Using these during the game increases the number of lives available. This enables players to extend game playing time, acquire additional moves and enhance level progression.  

Gems are available for purchase using real currency in packages of 10 ($1.49), 55 ($7.99), 120 ($14.99), 250 ($30.99), 530 ($62.99), or 1500 ($159.99).  

If a player fails to complete a board level challenge, their options are to exchange 9 purple gems for an additional 5 moves, or exchange nothing, which closes the game and results in forfeiting a life.

If a player expends their initial 5 lives, they are able to purchase more with purple gems, or they can wait a period of time for lives to be replenished.

 

Online information

Fishdom  requires access to the player’s photos, media and files on their device in order to load. The app also offers an alternate option for players to sign in via their Gmail or Google+ accounts.

The game requires players to enter their name prior to undertaking a brief tutorial highlighting the app features and functions.

After this, players go to a home screen featuring a link for connecting via Facebook and a large ‘Play’ icon in the centre of the screen.

Other Facebook interactivity includes:

• Invitations and prompts throughout the game to ‘Connect to Facebook and send gifts to friends’  
• The game also contains a forum which, when selected, takes the player to an Internet based forum page. 

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

N/A

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

N/A

Coarse language

N/A

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

This game encourages the use of in-game currency to purchase items in a store to decorate an aquarium.

• To progress beyond the tutorial, a player is required to purchase a clown fish for 800 gold coins (this is the amount of coins initially given to players).
  
• A completed level unlocks a new level and new aquarium decorations for purchase from the shopping cart and earns gold coins.    

There is functionality that:

•  Enables in-app purchases with real money

•  Promotes and allows connection to social media and email accounts

Other

N/A

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