Imagistory-Creative Storytelling App for Kids - Imagistory Publishing Ltd

This review of Imagistory-Creative Storytelling App for Kids was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 12 May 2016.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Imagistory-Creative Storytelling App for Kids 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 for approximately 20 minutes.

App description

This app requires the players to create a verbal story following the image prompts on the screen. The app supplies pictures of different story lines and has them record their story with the microphone.

Reviewers comments

When this app is first downloaded it explains to a parent figure that this is a wordless picture book app that is designed to allow you and your child to be the storytellers. It gives a prompt to the parent to swipe the screen to turn the page (it shows 5 circles in the bottom middle of the screen explaining that there are another 4 pages for the parent figure to read through). It is then explained that the app is divided into two sections, “create” and “listen”. Create is being given the choice to choose from a range of books to create stories. Listen is to view and listen to all of your saved stories. Next it shows the parent figure that “creating a story is easy”, with 3 simple steps for the creator to follow, 1. Choose a book, 2. Add a name, 3. Smile for your photo. It explains that the story will automatically start recording after the photo has been taken and will be saved in the listen section of the app. The next page tells the parent figure that as a parent you have access to manage the app and what your child has created within it. It allows the parent to also learn more about the app, send feedback and read their Privacy Policy. The final page is to then allow the creator to select a story to create. This app begins by asking players to choose which story they would like to create. They have a choice between “The Little Red Bucket” and The Tree Boat Saga”. When player has selected the story they wish to create, they are asked to enter their name and then click “create”. Next, the player is given 3 seconds to be ready for their snap shot, and a photo is taken of the story creator, however, if they do not like their snapshot they do have to begin again from the home page as a retake option is not available. Next, the player is given their first picture. In the bottom right corner of the screen is a little flashing picture with “REC” below it, which tells the player that their voice is being recorded. On the right side of the screen a little speech bubble appears telling the user to “swipe for the next page” which prompts them to continue this action for more images. The player is able to read aloud or create a story on the spot by talking. Once they have finished with this first image, they are able to swipe the page to continue to the next image. The player is then required to complete the same steps of creating a story to match the images provided. This continues for roughly 15-20 pages. During the creating phase of the app, the user is given the option to pause the video, return to the home page or start the video again. The last page shows the user that it is the end and asks if the user would like to share or listen to their video. If the user clicks share, the parent figure is shown a page with 9 coloured symbols and an instruction to hold one of the images for 3 seconds (for more details see online information). If the user selects listen, they are taken to a page where they can review all stories, their favourites or ones that have been shared with them.

In App purchasing

Yes: As this app only supplies 2 free of charge stories to create, players are able to purchase more story lines to record. The stories that must be purchased to complete are faded, cost $2.99 each, and require you to click through pages in order to download and purchase. It gives the player a preview of what the story images look like before they download and pay for the new story.

Online information

This app allows players to upload their completed video and send as an email to an email address that they enter.

Gambling

No simulated gambling content was found during this review.

Advertising and product placement

Before creating their first story, a pop up ad does appear introducing Imagistory for Schools to the user. The user has the option of either closing this ad or to download it from the Apple App Store.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

N/A.

Coarse language

N/A.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

This app contains the ability to record voices with or without parental permission.

There is no moderation of voices or language.

The parent lock feature may not provide sufficient barriers to some children’s ability to access settings and to share content they have created.

Other

N/A.

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