Welcome to Pixalate’s CTV & Mobile App Manual Reviews According to COPPA, a series containing the detailed factors the Trust & Safety Advisory Board educators used to assess an app’s child-directedness.
The educators manually review thousands of mobile apps available in the Google Play & Apple App Stores as well as connected TV (CTV) apps from the Roku Channel Store and Amazon Fire TV App Store using the COPPA Rule factors shown below & make those results available to the public at ratings.pixalate.com.
This post takes a look at a game which is available from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Our reviewer discusses how the subjective factors set forth in the COPPA Rule apply to the app and factor into the reviewer's determination as to whether the app is child-directed or general audience (i.e., it is not targeting children).
The teacher will indicate the factors they relied upon in their assessment using the 10 factors shown below that reflect the 10 child-directed factors in the COPPA Rule.
Doofus Drop is an endless runner game, featuring an odd-looking character that starts on a bike, before launching into the air and eventually rolling down the hill. The goal is to keep him rolling down the hill and collect as many stars as possible. The doofus starts with one can of beans but earns additional cans as stars are collected. The can of beans helps the doofus to fart, which launches him back into the air to help the gameplay last longer and the doofus to go a further distance.
The app is primarily grayscale with pops of yellow throughout, giving off comic vibes that would appeal to children and some adults. The ‘doofus’ is something between an alien and a sea monster with bugged eyes and a large circular mouth with a tongue hanging out. The background that the player moves through is reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss book, with imaginative trees and scenery. The path that the doofus bumps through is littered with items like bones, giant eyeballs, abandoned vehicles, and even forks. All of which have a different effect on the doofus when it runs into them. The imaginative and somewhat silly style mostly appeals to children, but some adults may also enjoy it.
Upbeat, playful music can be heard throughout the game. There are also numerous sound effects during gameplay, such as bike peddling and shooting cannons. The doofus also makes grunting noises as he smashes into obstacles and flies down the hill.
And, of course, there are plenty of fart noises to satisfy the younger players.
Stars are earned at the end of each run based on how well the player has done during the level. The stars can be used to purchase items that assist during gameplay or avatar accessories.
Video ads are shown between levels and additional video ads can be viewed to continue the level after dying, earn stars, and other game incentives. The video ads are primarily for mixed audience games and apps.
The app itself does not indicate a targeted age range for an audience, but with language like, “Fart your way to the stars,” it certainly is appealing to children. The app is rated 9+ in the Apple App Store and Everyone 10+ in the American Google Play Store, both referencing crude humor. The European Google Play Store has a slightly lower rating of PEGI 3.
Reviews indicate a wide variety of ages enjoying this game, with quite a few parents saying they play with their children.
Privacy
According to the privacy policy, which was last updated on February 20. 2024, Curious Media specifies that users should be over 18 or have a parent or guardian review the privacy policy and consent to allowing a minor to play. They indicate that “We do not knowingly solicit data from or market to children under 18 years of age.” However, there is no age gate to restrict minors from accessing the app and no verifiable parental consent is obtained.
Curious Media indicates that they do collect user information, such as location information, device and usage information, and IP addresses. They also state that they use the information collected for a variety of reasons, including targeted advertising and marketing purposes, account management, and "other business purposes." They do share information with third parties and also obtain user information from any linked social media profiles.
Find Pixalate's full catalogue of reviews in our CTV and Mobile App Review Page
Screenshots of Doofus Drop
Pixalate’s Trust and Safety Advisory Board was created to bring in individuals with experience using child-directed apps in the classroom to review and assess which apps are child-directed. This manual review process serves to quality check Pixalate’s automated review process. See our full methodology for more information.
Disclaimer
This blog post published by Pixalate is available for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice. By viewing this blog post, the reader understands and agrees that there is no attorney-client relationship between the reader and the blog publisher. The blog should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in the applicable jurisdiction(s), and readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning any specific situation. The content of this blog post reflects Pixalate's opinions with respect to factors that Pixalate believes may be useful to the digital media industry. Pixalate's opinions are just that, opinions, which means that they are neither facts nor guarantees; and this blog post is not intended to impugn the standing or reputation of any entity, person or app, but instead, to report findings pertaining to mobile and Connected TV (CTV) apps.
