Real Basketball - MobileCraft Sports

This review of Real Basketball was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 4 June 2017.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Real Basketball 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

Approximately 1 hour of game play.

App description

Real basketball is a simulated basketball game where the player shoots the ball into the hoop with varying degrees of difficulty, winning points and trophies.  The player can earn credits for new balls and basketballs and can play single player or online against real people. 

Reviewers comments

The game itself is relatively child friendly, but the in app purchasing and advertising that appears during game play can include inappropriate material such as gambling games and dating sites to name a few.

The player can choose to play single mode or online mode against real opponents.  In each of these choices there is more opportunity to select other play modes. The idea of the game is to shoot hoops from varying positions and the player can choose to progress through more challenging levels or stay at the easier levels. The player earns points and trophies for their efforts. The easier levels are quite simple to use for any age group but others may be more difficult for younger players. The action of swiping the screen to shoot the basketball may be beneficial for developing fine motor skills and timing. However, the game play is quite limited and repetitive.

Parents also need to be aware that children may be able to connect this game to Facebook without a password (if using their parent’s device, and the parent has not logged out of Facebook). Doing so will display the name of the Facebook account holder in the game for other online users to see.  

In App purchasing

You can purchase more credits and features within the game.

Online information

• Log ins - needed to log in with Google Play account details.
• Phone – downloaded and played on phone.
• Connectivity with social media.

Gambling

There is pop up advertising that promotes simulated gambling games within this game - including direct links to Sports Bet. Ads for gambling apps and websites are becoming increasingly common for many sporting apps. Even though children may not be able to access these links without adult verification, the constant association between sports and betting may impress upon the child that winning in games is the most important factor beyond that of exercise, working together as a team and just having fun.  

Advertising and product placement

Ads are constantly appearing throughout this game, there are ads for other games (including simulated gambling), dating sites, apps and many other adverts.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

The basketball players available are only male and one advert for another game included inappropriate images of females. 

Coarse language

None.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

See: "Gambling Content". 

Other

None. 

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