App review: ‘Heads Up!’ guessing game app a winning pick for families
Heads Up! app. (Handout)
Screenshot from the Heads Up! app. (Handout)
Parents need to know that Heads Up! is a party game distributed by "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." (Common Sense Media/TNS)
Parents need to know that Heads Up! is a party game distributed by “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The game does not have any content that’s overtly worrisome for parents, but since others in the room will be giving hints as to what’s on-screen, parents may want to supervise play. The app encourages people to post videos of the hint-givers to Facebook and send particularly funny ones to the talk show.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Players attempt to guess the words appearing on their phone or tablet through hints given by other players. As one player holds their device to their forehead, a person, song, or other answer will appear on the screen. His or her partner must give clues to the answer, without saying any part of the answer or offering an obvious rhyme. When the device holder gives the correct response, the player tilts the screen down for a new keyword — or they can pass by tilting it up. Rounds last one minute each. As the player guesses, the phone or tablet records video of the hint-giver, which can be viewed, saved, and shared after the round is over.
IS IT ANY GOOD?
Charades may not sound like a game that would do well in the app age, but leave it to The Ellen DeGeneres Show to find a way to successfully blend the two. Heads Up! is a terrific marriage of video games and gaming with friends in the real world, offering a wide assortment of options and for-pay add-ons for fans who can’t get enough.
Guessing the answers — and giving hints for them — is great family fun. Also, being able to watch hint-givers gesticulate wildly adds a layer of silliness that will keep kids (and parents) entertained for long periods.
CONTENT AND RATING
Recommended for ages 7 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Learning: 2 out of 5
Ease of play: 4 out of 5
Violence and scariness: 0 out of 5
Sexy stuff: 0 out of 5
Language: 0 out of 5
Drinking, drugs, and smoking: 0 out of 5
Privacy and safety: 3 out of 5
Consumerism: 2 out of 5 (Are products/advertisements embedded? Is the title part of a broader marketing initiative/empire? Is the intent to sell things to kids?)
WHAT KIDS CAN LEARN
- Thinking and reasoning
- Communication
APP DETAILS
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android
Price: $0.99
Release date: July 12, 2013
Category: Trivia Games
Size: 43.90 MB
Publisher: Warner Bros. Entertainment
Minimum software requirements: iOS 5.0 or later
