Petting Zoo by C. Niemann - Fox and Sheep GmbH

This review of Petting Zoo by C. Niemann was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 23 May 2019.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Petting Zoo by C. Niemann 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

All available features were considered in this review.

App description

This app is not a game as such but an interactive picture book featuring cartoons hand-drawn by acclaimed visual artist Christoph Niemann. There is no storyline or narrative – rather, there are 21 stand-alone chapters, each introducing one animal that reacts to the user's swiping and tapping – and the reactions are very creative, quirky, and often surprising. Examples of these include; a bug balancing or skateboarding on a rolling apple, an elephant in a bathtub, an octopus whose arms turn into musical strings and a Dachshund that can breakdance or twist its long back into a knot. The scenes are connected through quirky animated transitions - which only appear when flicking forward through the chapters (this feature can be turned off in the settings).

Reviewers comments

This app is quite simple yet capturing, thanks to the humorous and often surprising reactions the animals display upon touch. While there are no intellectually challenging or educational elements, this app is valuable for its entertaining quality. Interacting with the animals and taking in how visuals, as well as sounds, respond to the user's touch has an element of mindfulness to it. This may capture the user's attention and stimulate curiosity, engaging the player in an endearing, playful and visually appealing manner. Therefore, the app may offer children an opportunity for calming yet interactive and entertaining down-time.

In App purchasing

None. 

Online information

It is not necessary to create an account, provide any personal details, or connect with social media in order to play the game. Connection to the creator's website or app store is gated by written instructions.

Gambling

At time of review, the reviewer found no simulated gambling content. If you discover simulated gambling content in this app, please contact us with the details so we can update our review.

Advertising and product placement

The home screen contains a link to a section advertising related apps. The user has to follow written instructions before getting connected to the app store.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None. 

Coarse language

None.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

None. 

Other

N/A.

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