Stick Tennis - Stick Sport

This review of Stick Tennis was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 15 February 2018.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Stick Tennis 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

Played through to first level of World Domination mode

App description

This sports app allows players to challenge tennis stars from across the globe, with increasing levels of difficulty. Fine motor skills are required to tap the screen to toss the ball in the air and swipe a direction to serve, and then swipe again to return until the point is won. Stick Tennis offers a selection of modes, including a basic practice mode, a “World Domination” mode which pits you against tennis champions, and a “Slams” mode which allows you to defeat a series of opponents. Whilst the game itself is free to download, payment is required to unlock the full World Domination mode. Players also need to pay to unlock better racquets, which assist to speed up shots and reduce the likelihood of hitting the ball out of the court. These purchases are easily accessed in one step without any parental controls.

Reviewers comments

This app provides some learning opportunities to understand the game of tennis, including the meaning of different terms such as “love” “fault” and “out”.  However, it is limited in its utility for these skills. Players can also play against friends by sharing their game play on Facebook and Twitter, therefore this game is not recommended for children under 13 years.

In App purchasing

Only one racquet is free, other racquets can be purchased in the Pro Store. Racquets range in price from $1.49 to $46.99 for the “Willy Beacher” racquet. Purchasing is a one step process, with no parental control unless settings are adjusted on the device. Clicking on the “We made this” link takes players to a credits section and another link to more Stick Sports games. Clicking on these takes the player to the app store immediately to purchase the game.

Online information

• Identity details
• Other: receive data from the internet
• Connectivity with social media

Players can access better racquets and replay lost games by watching ads for other games and apps.

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

Advertising of other apps by the same developer and other developers is frequent. Users of this app can get ahead in the game or avoid having to pay for in-app items ie a better racquet if they watch a certain amount of video ads. In addition, parents may be concerned about the content of some of the advertisements. For example one of the ads the reviewer watched depicts Donald Trump pushing a button to launch nuclear weapons.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

Although the avatars are generally small (see close-up in commentary pictures), it is clear that all the female players are small waisted, large breasted and wear with short skirts.

Coarse language

None.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

N/A.

Other

N/A.

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