MSQRD - Masquerade Technologies Inc

This review of MSQRD was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 16 May 2016.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of MSQRD 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 45 minutes.

App description

MSQRD is a photography and animations-based app. The objective is to take pictures or videos whilst utilising the app’s pre-designed face masks, and to then share these images with friends via social media. The skills required are knowledge of basic motor skills.

Reviewers comments

When the app is first installed, a pop-up appears which must be manually closed – it states ‘We’re joining Facebook! We will add new masks and features soon.’ After this, players are taken to their device’s camera within the MSQRD game. The camera is automatically in selfie/front-facing mode, and there is a range of ‘masks’ to choose from. These masks are presented as images below the camera screen, and players can tap on each small image to view the mask on themselves. These include things such as: a Batman mask, a Charlie Chaplin hat and moustache, a rugby hemlet, etc. There are 23 masks to choose from. Some may frighten younger viewers, such the face of a tiger, a deformed/zombie-looking face overlay, etc. Players can automatically select to send their image (or short video) through to other people via various social media outlets, such as Facebook, Twitter, Email or text message.

Within the app, there is also a menu which can be accessed via a small icon in the top left-hand corner. This contains options to Share the App (via social media), Send Feedback or Masks, Rate the App or Visit the Website.

The app has limited functions, but allows players to experiment creatively with the photographs they take of themselves. The app does not appear to have any advertising or in-app purchases.

In App purchasing

No: No in app purchasing was found during this review.

Online information

 Online Information: The purpose of the app is to take photographs with a range of pre-created masks, and to send these images (or short videos) through to other people via various social media outlets, such as Facebook, Twitter, Email or text message.

Gambling

No simulated gambling content was found during this review.

Advertising and product placement

N/A.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

N/A.

Coarse language

N/A.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

No game playing behviour that may be of concern to parents was found during this review.

Other

N/A.

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