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The absolutely shameless notion of in-app purchases inside games aimed at kids has hit the headlines big time, after one five-year-old boy managed to spend £1,710.43 on miserable £69.99 bundles of in-game junk.
The boy in question is called Danny Kitchen. The game is Zombie v Ninja, which is “free” for download on iTunes. When he asked for the iTunes password Danny’s parents typed it in, saying they were reassured by the fact that the game was listed as being free, so left him to get on with playing the thing.
Danny then went in-app purchase bonkers in a Brewster’s Millions style, buying loads of the £69.99 in-game keys and weapon packs, and racking up an enormous credit card bill for his mum. “I was worried and I felt sad,” said Danny, when he found out, adding: “I’m banned from the iPad now.”
Apple has agreed to refund the money. While it’s nice of Apple to do that, it would be nicer still if it stopped publishers putting abysmal, money-grabbing bundles of £69.99 crap in games aimed at children. It’s like pulling a Christmas cracker and finding a Council Tax bill and a crown of thorns inside. [BBC]
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That kid’s lucky to have survived the initial 15 minutes after his parents saw the credit card bill
LOL!
See, while Apple are at fault for allowing it, maybe the kid’s parents should have been a bit more savvy about it as well.
I would have taken the iPad and put the password in myself, for example. Giving a child the password to something that can be paid for, no matter how well-meaning you are, can only lead to disaster.
I think the problem was, that after the password is entered, it is kept open for a shortish period of time. The kid probably bought those packs within the time limit…
Maybe the parents should have pout restrictions on the device, like you know, restricting In-App purchases? If you allow you allow your child unrestricted access to an internet enabled device, don’t be surprised when something goes wrong.
Its your kid, you should be looking after it properly.
Of course. I’m not defending the parents’ stupidity. I’m just saying these things are easier than people may realise.
This is probably what happened, I think by default (though it might have changed now in response to all this) you don’t have to enter your password in a 15 minute window. Of course you can change this via restrictions but it seems that many of these “my kid spent money on in app purchases” seem to boil down to the fact they didnt set it up.
is it apple’s fault or the developers or the parents? IMHO they all share blame in backwards order to which i just wrote them.
Easiest thing to do is to disable in-app purchasing by default on iOS. Large majority of apple users are not the most tech savvy, those that are can switch it back on easy enough. But maybe it’s not in Apple’s interest to do this because maybe they get a cut of the in app purchase and maybe they can point the finger of blame at the developer when it goes wrong and maybe they actually dont give a monkeys about their customers as long as they are making money (not saying MS or Google are better either). Just thinking out loud.
agree with everything you have said, in app purchases should be banned *even more so in kids games)I would rather pay for a game in advance and that’s it
Thats not what he said.
Parents should take more responsibility in these things, would you let your 5 year old kid play with your wallet alone and unsupervised for an hour?
i know
that’s why I added ‘in app purchases should be banned *even more so in kids games)I would rather pay for a game in advance and that’s it’ because that was my opinion over and above what he said.
and as he rightly pointed out some apple users are not the most tech savvy so they would not know this, nor even consider that the kid could possibly spend money in an app.
I don’t agree. if you look in Settings > General > Restrictions, you will find a comprehensive menu of different restrictions you can apply to your iOS device. In-app purchases is ONE of them. If you are giving a five year old child an iPhone for example unsupervised, you are not giving them a toy you are giving them a very powerful tool. Unfortunately these people do not have common sense and they have been charged £1,700 for being dumb.
Oh but shouldn’t the manufacturer offer better protection for such occasions? You mean like password protection and a whole system of restrictions in the settings?
Totally agree that the responsibility is with the owner of the device. However, Apple markets itself as being so simple that anyone can use it. As such, they should also take some responsibility for making sure that this is the case. What I am saying is that if they truly thought it was a problem worth fixing then its very easy for them to do it, but it’s not in their interest as a money making organization to do this and no amount of sugar coating will make it seem otherwise. Gary, in the article, is asking for this to be ‘in-app purchase’ mechanism to be banned in kids games. My point is why would Apple ever do that?
apple make money for a living (a business) and they don’t need to make any excuses. i think the safeguards against this are in place (settings and passwords). like you say it is the owner who has responsible. these parents were stupid / irresponsible and paid the price (until they got a refund and therefore didn’t pay the price!).
we just heard a story about parents sending kids to school with cold chips in their lunchbox. that is way worse. society has a responsibility to try and educate these dumb asses, not legislate around them all the time.
Sisters just been hit by her kids for the same thing on her galaxy tab to the tune of £250
pin number added to stop it now.
The PIN is the first thing I set when going into the Google Play store. I barely trust myself, let alone anyone else.
The fathers look is priceless.
I wonder what the caption would be
the kid has just said “I told you to buy me my own iPad didn’t I, maybe you will listen to me next time”
he needs to chill out and take an Ecstasy Bomb.
An Ecstasy Bomb for 23p sounds like a bargain
Fer does from Apple refunding the money, I don’t blame Apple or them game makers, the parents are stupid full stop.
I mean 333 keys for £69.99, quite a good deal really, might try to get a price match from locksmiths.
I bet they wish they got Windows Phone 8 now.
Is that because there aren’t any apps to make in app purchases from?
That works too but I meant for the kids zone thing they have built in.
So kid is stupid enough to spend loads of money, parents are stupid enough to leavehim alone with a game where he can spend loads of money….and it’s all Apple’s fault?
It’s Apples responsibility to not let this happen on their OS. You can claim people are stupid all you want, kids don’t understand the value of money and not every adult is tech savvy. Most people probably have never heard of micro transactions or even know you could spend inside an app.
If he’s not old enough to understand the value of money, he’s not old enough to play on an iPad in the first place.
Because you need to be old enough too know when you are about to be scammed by a dishonest app developer?
Yes it is Apple’s fault.
Only a dishonest crook would intentionally put £69.99 in app purchases into a children’s game that would allow a 5 year old to spend £1800 inside 15 minutes, and only a dishonest crook would allow such an evil product onto their marketplace.
and how would you describe the parents?
Deceived by Apple into thinking that they were honest.
haha, that is ridiculous! although i can’t really argue against a statement which is so abstract. anyway, keep sticking it to da man dude.
Hang on… £69.99 for a single in app purchase? Jesus. I could get 2 new Playstation games for that. In fact they could probably pick up a Wii for less then not have to worry about their son playing on the iPad.
Apple giving a refund a Miracle. I also received a Miracle I got a full refund for a faulty iMac screen. I had been fighting them for 3 yrs,and i have had 3 brand new iMacs. If you don`t believe me go to a site called dirtyscreens.com and you will see what i mean,or you can Google it. It`s a design fault from the beginning. They still will not admit it.
Those parents don’t deserve that refund. They were daft enough to improperly educate their child, it’s their own fault. It just legitimises foolishness.