Monster Trucks Game for Toddlers and Kids - Chris Razmovski

This review of Monster Trucks Game for Toddlers and Kids was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 26 February 2017.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Monster Trucks Game for Toddlers and 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 review focusses on levels 1-20

App description

This is a driving game that rewards the player for crushing cars along the navigated track, with a gold coin earned for every car that is crushed (maximum of 5 coins available per level). Coins are also earned by popping balloons at the end of the level, where the player is intermittently rewarded with the discovery of an additional coin inside the balloon.    Gold coins are used to buy additional trucks and access to all 30 levels.

Large accelerator, reverse and jump buttons are pressed, often simultaneously to navigate the track and crush cars. Interactive horn and music buttons are also available. The game requires good hand-eye co-ordination and the ability to use both hands simultaneously.

TIPS: Players can experiment with alternating pressing the accelerator button and allowing the car to coast, to avoid missing some of the vehicles.

Reviewers comments

The home page features a banner ad across the top and buttons to access more games by the developer. Users can also remove ads and unlock all content by purchasing the paid version.  All of these functions require online connectivity (to the app store or product website), but actual play does not and no personal information is sought to begin game play.

At both the home screen and balloon pop game, players are able to click on ads for apps and sometimes products, often inappropriate for children, which take them to the App store or product website. Closing the ad launches a data collection request as to why the ad was closed, with this information shared with Google ads.

The game is described as “simple” however, very young children would find using two hands simultaneously to play challenging. The App does offer the opportunity to develop this skill. Due to the high level of advertising and online connectivity, this app is not recommended to children under 13. Parental Guidance is recommended for 13 – 17 year olds.

In App purchasing

• The paid version ($1.49) removes ads and unlocks content such as new levels and two new worlds.

Online information

• Unique device identifiers are collected, without personally identifiable data.
• Access to the app store is available to make in-app purchases and/or to buy other apps by the developer.
• Adverts provide access to the product’s website.

Gambling

• Coins are intermittently earned in the balloon popping game which simulates games of chance.

Advertising and product placement

• Irrelevant advertising for children such as petrol and taxi Apps.
• Inappropriate advertising such as a “bikini body app” , Sweat with Kayla and “Pretty little liars App”, which is an interactive relationship game involving suggestive content and is rated 12years +.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

• The final image shows a male driver only.

Coarse language

• No coarse language was observed

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

• Game play rewards destructive behaviour with the more cars destroyed, the more coins earned, facilitating access to more trucks and additional levels. Coins are also sometimes earned in the balloon popping game, which simulates games of chance using intermittent rewards

Other

N/A.

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