Homerun Battle 2

Review

Common Sense Media says

App strikes out with aggressive stance, in-app buys, chat.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Homerun Battle 2 is a homerun derby style game that ignores all but the most thrilling part of baseball -- the deep hit. Figuring out the targeting system is fairly easy, but mastering timing is another affair. The game, however, objectifies women and is very aggressive in its marketing of in-game currency (which can be purchased using real-world money). And the multiplayer mode allows unregulated chat between players. Users can also share high scores via the Game Center social network, but participation is optional.

  • Ease of use4
    Positioning the bat where you want to swing is easy -- as is actually swinging it. Perfecting your timing, though, takes a while.
  • Violence1
    In one game mode, the player and opposing pitcher catch on fire, but it's meant to signify they're on a hot streak, and has no violent meaning.
  • Sex1
    An unlockable female player is very busty and wears a miniskirt instead of a uniform.
  • Language3
    Players can be exposed to inappropriate language during chats with other players, but multiplayer mode is optional.
  • Consumerism4
    The game very aggressively pushes in-app purchases, with pop-up ads.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
  • Privacy & safety3
    Some concerns. Multiplayer games connect you to a server that has a matchmaking service pitting you against other players. But aside from a nickname of your choosing, no personal information other than your country is transmitted. Players can, however, chat with others -- and while obscene language can result in bans, children can still be exposed. Players can also opt in to Apple's Game Center to track scores and achievements, and for some games, challenge friends. Players can send and receive friend requests using an email address or Game Center nickname, revealing the first and last name associated with each party's Apple ID and, in the case of email requests, the sender's email address. With iOS 5, players can opt to have a private or public profile, which can include a photo. With a public profile, your real name is visible to all other players, and Game Center will recommend you to other players using your real name. With a private profile, only your friends can see your real name, and Game Center will not recommend you to other players.
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Is it any good?

 

When it comes to gameplay, there's really not a lot of difference between HOMERUN BATTLE 2 and its predecessor. That's bad. The game also takes an oddly aggressive stance against players from the get go, forcing them to agree to a user requirement that includes the condition that they are "required to report bugs." (Isn't that the developer's job?) That's bad, too.

It's a multiplayer focused game that has unregulated chat between players. For adults, that's fine, but if your kid is playing, it could be bad. And it is one of the most aggressive marketers for in-app purchases around, sending pricing lists as notifications. The currency doesn't buy much (new hats, etc.), but the game demands a lot. And that's really bad. The gameplay's fun, but on the whole, this is an app with one too many strikes against it. 

This review was written by Chris Morris

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This review was written by Chris Morris
Topics:sports and martial arts
Category:Sports Games
Platforms:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Price:$.99
Size:60.70 MB
Publisher:Com2uS Inc.
Version:1.0.2
Release date:December 14, 2011
Minimum software requirements:iOS 3.2 or later
This review was written by Chris Morris
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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