Mad libs - Pengin Random House LLC

This review of Mad libs was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 31 May 2016.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Mad libs 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 1 hour.

App description

Mad Libs is a story writing game based around a variety of comedic topics. The objective is to input specific kinds of words to create various kinds of amusing stories. The skills required are creativity, comprehension, and motor skills.

Reviewers comments

When the app is first opened, the player is met with a screen where they can enter their date of birth. Once this is entered, the player is instructed to fill in the blanks and create the “funniest stories you’ll ever tell”. The player is told that their first Mad Libs book is ready, and that they will get more in the future.

Gameplay is divided into stories, which players can initiate from the main menu. When players open a story, they are prompted to put in various types of words, such as verbs, adjectives, group nouns, and adverbs. The player can swipe left to receive a definition of the required word type, and can swipe right to be given suggestions of words to use. Once the player has filled in a large number of words, a story is presented using the words and the player can read through it, share it via Facebook, Twitter, Email, and save an image of the story to the device memory. Players can input any words, and there is no moderation.

On the main screen, players can enter a bookstore, where they can purchase other books, each containing 21 individual new stories for $1.99. To purchase these, players must answer a mathematical equation. At the bottom of the main app screen, players can see ads for other mad libs apps, such as WWE, Hello Kitty, and Family Guy. Some of these apps are inappropriate for children due to the rating of the subject matter.

In the top left hand corner of the screen, players can enter a menu screen where there are instructions for how to play, tips on words, the ability to change the set age, as well as credits and a privacy policy for the app. Players can also disable in game special effects and background music.

In App purchasing

Yes: Packs of new stories within the app cost $1.99

Online information

Stories can be saved and sent to others via Facebook and Twitter.

Gambling

No gambling content was found during this review.

Advertising and product placement

Advertisements for the other Mad Libs apps can be seen on the main screen of the app. These are not removable.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

N/A.

Coarse language

N/A.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

This app features no moderation based on words that can be input into the app, saved, and sent to others via Facebook and Twitter.

Other

N/A.

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