Pocket Family: My Fun Dream House - Kooapps

This review of Pocket Family: My Fun Dream House was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 11 May 2016.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Pocket Family: My Fun Dream House 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 90 minutes

App description

Pocket Family My Fun Dream House is a timer and quest app. The objective is to build a dream house for an in-game family, which is done via a series of small missions and subsequently obtaining currency and resources. The skills required are motor skills to utilise the functions of the app, as well as comprehension.

Reviewers comments

When the app is first opened, players are shown a screen stating “Welcome to your new house!”. Immediately after this, a pop-up appears which encourages players to create a nickname to be displayed on any iTunes game with components such as leaderboards and online interactivity. The player is also asked about privacy, and whether ‘Game Centre’ (the plug-in that accompanies the app) should recommend them to other individuals and let their profile be viewed. Players are told that this includes their real name, and told that their profile will always be visible to friends. Players are then encouraged to import their mobile contacts so that they have friends within the Game Centre. Once this screen is completed, players are shown a tutorial which involves building a basic house within the app. The player is informed that the house requires a considerable degree of work, and are informed that they are the first person to move in – as a result, they should prepare it for the rest of their family.

Players receive texts within the game from family members – this is the app’s method of presenting missions to players. When players place objects within the game, a timer typically displays the length of time players must wait until the item is positioned. They are encouraged to speed up this process, and are informed by statements such as “Hurry up, mom isn’t getting any younger!” – this encourages players to utilise in-game currency. Once rooms are complete, players have a variety of customisation options. Players are able to purchase items in the in-game store for currency, and are able to purchase in-game currency packs for money. Packs of currency are divided into Coins and Hearts. Packs of coins cost $0.99 for 1000, $1.99 for 2200, $4.99 for 6,000, $9.99 for 13,000, $19.99 for 28,000, and $49.99 for 75,000. Players are also able to view ads occasionally to earn 25 coins. Players can purchase packs of 10 hearts for $0.99, 22 for $1.99, 61 for $4.99, 129 for $9.99, 275 for $19.99, and 720 for $49.99. Similarly, players are able to watch an advertisement for 1 heart.

Upon the completion of in-game missions, players will often be prompted with offers to purchase coins and hearts. These are typically $4.99, and the player must manually close these full-screen ads. At all times, players are prompted to spend money on in-game currency by both an “Ad” button in the top right hand corner of the screen, and a “Sale” button adjacent. The in-game ads are for various free and paid apps, such as Paradise Bay and Simcity Buildit (no inappropriate content presented during this review).

In this game, traditional gender roles are strictly adhered to. The quests given by the mother within the game revolve entirely around cleaning and maintaining the house, and her thoughts and desires often revolve around things such as “A new mop!” or sweeping the house.

In App purchasing

Yes: Packs of coins cost $0.99 for 1000, $1.99 for 2200, $4.99 for 6,000, $9.99 for 13,000, $19.99 for 28,000, and $49.99 for 75,000. Players are also able to view ads from time to time to earn 25 coins. Players can purchase packs of hearts for $0.99 for 10, $1.99 for 22, $4.99 for 61, $9.99 for 129, $19.99 for 275, and $49.99 for 720. Similarly to the coins, players can watch an ad for 1 heart from time to time.

Online information

The player’s online information can be seen and viewed in online leaderboards.

Gambling

No simulated gambling content was found during this review.

Advertising and product placement

At all times, players are prompted to spend money on in-game currency by both an “Ad” button in the top right hand corner of the screen, and a “Sale” button adjacent. The in-game ads are for various free and paid apps, such as Paradise Bay and Simcity Buildit (no inappropriate content presented during this review).

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

In this game, traditional gender roles are strictly adhered to. The quests given by the mother revolve entirely around cleaning and maintaining the house, and her thoughts and desires often revolve around things such as “A new mop!” or sweeping the house.

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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