Gummy Drop - Big Fish Games

This review of Gummy Drop was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 7 August 2016.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Gummy Drop 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

Gummy Drop is a match-three puzzle app. The objective is to play through multiple levels, swiping and matching items of the same shape and colour on a board in order to obtain as many points as possible. The skills required to play the app include spatial awareness, problem solving as well as motor skills to utilise the central functions of the app.

Reviewers comments

When the app is first opened, players are shown a video animation of small gummy drops falling from the sky across a map of the world. Players are then told to ‘Get set for sunny Sydney’. They are introduced to a character named Sam, who explains that gummies are ‘replacing famous Australian sites’ – and if players don’t gather the gummies, ‘the world will never stop bouncing’. Players are then directed to click on the Level 1 icon, where the first level of the game is unlocked.

This takes players to the central gameplay component of the app. Players are prompted to sign in via Facebook before clicking Play, so as to ‘not lose progress, earn 500 coins and one extra life!’. Upon clicking Play, users are provided with a board of different coloured and shaped gummy items, and are told to ‘match 3 by swapping gummies’ – this can be done by identifying two same-coloured gummies in a row, and by swiping on a third gummy to move another similar-coloured gummy into the line. Players are encouraged to match as many sets of 3 as possible within a predetermined number of moves, and each match earns them points. Once the gummies are matched, they disappear from the board. If in doing this, player’s line up other sets of 3 gummies as a result of them simply falling into place, they obtain points for these also. Before each level, players are given a number of points to obtain before they complete the level. If players are unable to achieve enough points in the allotted moves, players can utilise one ‘life’ (players begin with three lives) to extend their gameplay within that level without needing to restart from the beginning once more.

Players also have the option of utilising in-game coins to purchase ‘boosts’. These allow players more options during gameplay, and include things such as ‘Use line Crush to turn 1 gummy into an up/down or left/right projectile’, ‘Move all souvenirs three cells down’, ‘Blast all gummies of the same colour off the board’, etc. Boosts are also progressively unlocked as players complete more levels (e.g. one boost is unlocked every 5 levels, approximately).

Once the level is completed, players are given their total score, as well as an option to ‘Connect via Facebook’ and ‘share and receive extra lives, coins and more!’. Players are also given a reward in the form of gold coins, which they can claim at the end of each level.

The app contains a store where players are able to make in-app purchases of gold coins for real-life currency. These coins can be used within the game to purchase boosts for gameplay. Coins can be bought in packages of 100 for $1.49, 530 for $7.99, 1100 for $14.99, 2900 for $38.99, 6100 for $64.99, or 12500 for $129.99. Furthermore, players are offered the chance to increase their maximum number of lives from 3 to 5 by spending $14.99. Players are also told they can have a ‘Free spin with every purchase’ of a small wheel in the top left-hand corner of this page – this appears to be a simulated gambling feature where players are gifted additional rewards for making in-app purchases. It is not a compulsory component of the app, however, it appears to be encouraged through the use of rewards.

In App purchasing

The app contains a store where players are able to make in-app purchases of gold coins for real-life currency. These coins can be used within the game to purchase boosts for gameplay. Coins can be bought in packages of 100 for $1.49, 530 for $7.99, 1100 for $14.99, 2900 for $38.99, 6100 for $64.99, or 12500 for $129.99. Furthermore, players are offered the chance to increase their maximum number of lives from 3 to 5 by spending $14.99.

Online information

When beginning the game, players are prompted to sign in via Facebook before clicking Play, so as to ‘not lose progress, earn 500 coins and one extra life!’. A prompt to sign in via Facebook is given each time a level is started and completed.

Gambling

There is a feature within the in-game store that allows players to have a ‘Free spin with every purchase’ of a small wheel in the top left-hand corner of this page – this appears to be a simulated gambling feature where players are gifted additional rewards for making in-app purchases. It is not a compulsory component of the app.  However, it appears to be encouraged through the use of rewards.

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 match three puzzle play features of the game would not be of concern to parents, however the opportunity to achieve the goal objective of the game through the use of coins earned or purchased through in app purchases may be of concern to some parents.

Other

N/A.

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