Marvel Contest of Champions - Kabam

This review of Marvel Contest of Champions was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 11 March 2015.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Marvel Contest of Champions 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 review focuses on levels 1-6.

App description

Marvel Contest of Champions is a turn-based combat game. The objective of the game is to unlock as many Marvel heroes as possible, and these characters may be used to battle opponents. The skills required are motor skills, as well as quick reflexes and timing skills.

Reviewers comments

When installed, the app requests that players sign in via a Google+ account in order to play. There is a comic book-style animation, where multiple Marvel characters are seen to be looking for an item that is both difficult to find as well as hard to secure. Characters are labelled ‘Champions’, and ones such as Deadpool, The Hulk, and Gamora are all mentioned as ‘Status: Capturing’. Players are then told that they themselves have been chosen to represent Earth in a cosmic Contest of Champions against Kang the Conqueror. Winning battles results in ‘untold power’, whilst losing will lead to players being ‘placed in a collection permanently’.

Players are instructed that they must first master the basics of combat. In order to play, they place both hands on the sides of their device. Lightly tapping the right side completes a light attack, while swiping right creates a medium attack. In order to block, players must press and hold on the lefthand side of the screen. Pressing and holding on the righthand side creates a heavy attack that can break through an opponent’s block. Players may also swipe left to dodge attacks, or swipe right in order to dash forwards. After completing a few attacks, players gain enough power to enact a final Special Attack that causes a large amount of damage.

Upon winning a fight, players receive 50 units of silver – these units can be used to purchase Champion crystals from the Collector’s vault, from which the Champions themselves are hatched and retrieved. Fights are quite physical and involve considerable animated violence – the Champions fight with weapons (e.g. Thor’s large hammer) and beat each other with kicks and punches. The violence appears to be quite glorified, as once the opponent falls dead, the winning Champion has a small cut scene where they flex their muscles or display general pleasure at having won.

Players utilise their coins to unlock more and more Champions, such as Spiderman and Hawkeye. Before a fight, players are shown their opponent, and given statistics on both their and their opponent’s levels of defence and health. They may choose to fight with any of the Champions that they have on their team. After a player wins a fight, they are given gold as well as Experience Points. Gold can be used to upgrade current Champions. It is possible to upgrade, inspect, or sell any of the collected Champions.

In regards to the battles players can engage with, they have the option of choosing from Story Quests (battles that form part of an ongoing storyline), Special Events (time-limited, unique events – a  place to rank up Champions) or Versus (a place where you can enter multiplayer battles with other individuals also playing the app).

In App purchasing

Yes: The app contains a store within the game where it is possible to spend real-life currency on in-app purchases. These include 135 silver for $6.49, 275 silver for $12.99, 850 silver for $64.99, or 3100 silver for $129.99

Online information

This app encourages players to join the alliance for access to chat. By choosing a username and joining or creating an Alliance, players gain access to chat with other players. This chat function appears to be unmoderated and may pose a potential risk. The app also has a multiplayer component, where players can battle against other individuals who are using the app.

Gambling

No gambling content was found during this review.

Advertising and product placement

Although the app functions as an advertisement for the Marvel Comics and feature films involving these characters, there are no external ads that advertise other children’s apps.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

Women are presented in  a sexualized, stereotypical way. The male heroes are very muscular.

Coarse language

N/A.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

Contains animated violence.

Other

N/A.

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