MoviePop - FreshPlanet

This review of MoviePop was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 26 February 2014.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of MoviePop 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

Not applicable

App description

This is a movie-based challenge social game.

Reviewers comments

In this game, the player must guess the movie being shown faster than their opponent.

There are many different playlists of movies covering different periods and genres. A number of playlists are included for free - more can be unlocked or purchased with game coins. Players collect coins by playing challenges – if they win by guessing the correct movie or actor quicker than their opponent, they receive more coins. Powerups, which help with challenges, can be bought with game coins. The player is presented with an opponent and a few playlists to choose from. A game consists of five movies clips, for which the player must select the correct title or actor from a choice of four. The winner is the player with the most points, determined by the number of movies/actors guessed correctly and speed. The two players take turns in choosing the movie playlist from a selection of presented. Parents should be aware that the opposing player may select a genre from their own playlist which they have purchased e.g. Horror.

The game will make suggestions of other players to challenge. The player can challenge them to play against. If the opposing player is not currently online, the game will record the player’s score. The next time the player rejoins the game, if the opposing player has played in the meantime the results will be shown.

Players have the option to chat with other players. It may be possible to watch movie trailers on YouTube. There is also a MoviePop Plus app, which costs $1.99.

In App purchasing

Players can purchase coins for $1.99 to $24.99. Players can sign up as a VIP, to receive benefits including unlimited chat, for $1.99 for a week to $39.99 for a year. Purchasing in Facebook games can be by debit card, credit card and Paypal. There is also the option to charge smaller purchases to a mobile phone account, however the purchase price is higher using this method as a significant fee is added. The mobile phone purchase transaction screen states “Customers under age 18 must have account holder's permission”. A text message is sent to the mobile number entered to confirm payment.  Parents should be aware that if they enter credit card details, the player can make more than one purchase. On making a credit card purchase, players are advised that “Facebook will save your payment information for future purchases. You can always remove or manage this information in your account settings.”

Online information

Players are invited to connect to Facebook and share achievements with friends or challenge them to play.  The player’s first name and surname initial and their profile photo are potentially able to be seen by any other players, not just Facebook friends. Players can click on another player’s photo to view their profile, which includes the option to chat with them. The chat option can be turned off in Advanced Settings

Gambling

Players may have the option to earn free coins by downloading and running other apps and games – these may include slot machine and other casino style simulated gambling apps.

Advertising and product placement

Ads are presented for other games by the same developer. Parents should be aware that games played in Facebook may have a panel at one side of the screen which has several sponsored links, effectively ads. These could be for products (e.g. posters) and other games (which may include war games).

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

Playlist genres include “Best Kisses”, “Teen Romance”, “Sultry Female Leads”, “Romance”, “Hollywood Hunks” and “Date Movies”.  One of the ads which appeared at the side of the screen was for a “Sexy MMORPG” (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game).

Coarse language

One of the movie clips played in a game included the wording “f***ing”.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

In this game, the player must guess the movie being shown faster than their opponent.
Some movie playlist genres include content which may not be appropriate for younger players. Opponents may choose a movie Playlist genres which contain content that may not be appropriate for the other player's age or maturity.

Other

Violence and scary material:
Playlist genres include “Horror”, “War Movies”, “Crime”, “Epic Battles”, “Disaster Movies”, “Gangster Movies”, “Martial Arts”, “Scary Halloween” and “Villains” – game clips from some of these movies may show violence and scary material.  Ads may be displayed which include war games.  Players may have the option to earn free coins by downloading and running other apps and games – these may include war gaming apps.

 

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