Whats the Difference? Spot it - Candy Writer

This review of Whats the Difference? Spot it was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 3 May 2018.

About the app

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

ACCM review

This review of Whats the Difference? Spot it 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

The reviewer played for 2 hours over several days.

App description

This puzzle style app is easy to use and requires only gross motor skills with the player using one finger to point to the differences in the two photos presented on the screen ie a different coloured hat, a change in words on a street sign, a man wearing glasses (or not). The theme of the photos in the game is ‘a race around the world’. As the player works their way through 10 puzzles at a time, they are offered ‘lifelines’, or clues, some of which are free and some of which can be purchased online with real money. Once they complete each level they are offered a gift pack with more life lines ie a time freeze card, all of which need to be purchased online. The player can choose to either play the game with a timer ticking, or to play in relaxed mode without the timer. Ads can be removed in the settings section if the player makes another purchase ie a lifeline, but otherwise the ads cannot be removed.

Reviewers comments

At a basic level this app offers some educational value challenging the player to use their observation skills to highlight differences in the two photos presented on the screen. However, the frequent offer of free hints does little to encourage the player to persevere long enough to solve the puzzle independently. Also, the opportunity to pay for hints makes the game unsuitable for children under the age of 9 years old.

In App purchasing

Parachute $0.99
Glider of Lifelines $0.99
Rowboat of Lifelines $1.99
Tugboat of Lifelines $2.99
Balloon of Lifelines on Sale $1.99
Balloon of Lifelines $3.99
Freighter of Lifelines $4.99
Ocean Liner of Lifelines $9.99
Zeppelin of Lifelines $9.99
Premium Package $1.99

Online information

 

• Other: receive data from the internet.
• Log ins

 

Gambling

At the 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

There is a scrolling banner ad along the bottom of the screen (mostly for flight packages and hardware stores) that can be removed in the settings section once the player makes any other in-app purchase.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None noted.

Coarse language

None noted.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

N/A.

Other

N/A.

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