Olaf's Adventures - Disney

This review of Olaf's Adventures was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 20 July 2016.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Olaf's Adventures 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 through the all free to access levels.

App description

Olaf’s Adventure is an adventure-based app, based on the Frozen film franchise. The objective is to collect all ten snowflakes by exploring the entire area and tapping on objects. The skills required to play the app predominantly involve motor skills to utilise the central functions of the app.

Reviewers comments

When the app is first opened, players are presented with a small pop-up message stating “This mobile app contains in-app purchases and advertising messages. In-app purchases cost real money and are charged to your account.” After this, they are shown a home page of four images – three of these have a small lock icon, and must be unlocked via an in-app purchase. When one of these is clicked, players are shown a different screen with various payment options – players can buy individual levels (Spring, Summer, and Ice Skating) for $2.99, or they can buy a Super Pack for $7.99 (containing all three options).

On this screen, there is also an option labelled ‘Connect’. This brings up a screen for ‘Grown-Ups Only’, and users must type in the digits corresponding with a statement such as ‘ZERO SIX SEVEN FIVE’. From here, players can opt to ‘Receive updates from Disney Books’ or to ‘Try our other apps’. Players must enter another grown-up code in order to access the advertised apps (e.g. Disney Karaoke: Frozen, costing $10.99).

Upon clicking on the single unlocked option on the home screen, players are met by Olaf the Snowman, who informs them that they must find the ‘special snowflakes’ are hiding in the snow. Players are then directed to tap on various spots on the ground where Olaf will walk towards to explore – eventually, after reaching certain areas, snowflakes can be seen above ground. It is possible for players to click on these and collect them.

Along the way, there are large items (such as a random stack of boxes) which take players to a screen asking if they would like to make in-app purchases to ‘Own the full app experience!’. During their exploration, players can gain some direction in regards to where to tap by clicking on a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. This highlights activities within the game for players (which also afford snowflakes as a reward), so they may be more easily found.

For example, upon clicking on one of these, Olaf comments that Marshmallow (a creature in the distance) is not very happy, and that players should “Stay out of the way”. A timer then appears on the left-hand side of the screen – balls of snow begin to fall from the sky, and players must tap to make Olaf move out of their way before they land on him. This lasts for approximately 1 minute, and a snowflake is offered at the end as a reward. There are other activities, such as one where players are able to click and drag snowballs towards Olaf in an effort to hit him – they must aim and swipe to do this. When users find all ten snowflakes, they are shown a screen with an image of Elsa from ‘Frozen’, and the text states ‘Tap to continue: Spring, Summer and Ice Skating are available for purchase.’

Players are also able to click on each part of Olaf’s body (his head, arms and legs) and to separate them – he makes amusing comments such as “Man am I out of shape”, and “Oh this again? This is fun”. However, this does not appear to serve any functional purpose within the app.

The first level is the only option which can be played without making an in-app purchase – the game is therefore extremely limited.

In App purchasing

When the app is first opened, players are presented with a small pop-up message stating “This mobile app contains in-app purchases and advertising messages. In-app purchases cost real money and are charged to your account.” After this, they are shown a home page of four images – three of these have a small lock icon, and must be unlocked via an in-app purchase. When one of these is clicked, players are shown a different screen with various payment options – players can buy individual levels (Spring, Summer, and Ice Skating) for $2.99, or they can buy a Super Pack for $7.99 (containing all three options).

On this screen, there is also an option labelled ‘Connect’. This brings up a screen for ‘Grown-Ups Only’, and users must type in the digits corresponding with a statement such as ‘ZERO SIX SEVEN FIVE’. From here, players can opt to ‘Receive updates from Disney Books’ or to ‘Try our other apps’. Players must enter another grown-up code in order to access the advertised apps (e.g. Disney Karaoke: Frozen, costing $10.99).

Online information

N/A.

Gambling

No simulated gambling content was found during this review. If you find simulated gambling content within this app please contact us with the details so we can update our review.

Advertising and product placement

Apps by the same developer are advertised within the ‘Grown-Up’ portion of the app. These include apps such as ‘Disney Karaoke: Frozen’, costing $10.99. There are also various times within gameplay that a pop-up screen appears which advertises the in-app purchases.

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 behaviour which may be of concern to parents was found during this review.

Other

N/A.

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