 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Tiny Tower
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Price: Free
- Category: Simulation Games
Common Sense Media says
Adorable sim playable without in-app buys -- with patience.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Tiny Tower is a simulation game where users control the lives of several onscreen characters and look to raise revenue through charging rent and running various businesses. The app generates in-game cash naturally, but players who don't want to wait 45 minutes for an action to complete will eventually be tempted to purchase more for real-world dollars. And given the game's addictive qualities, this can add up quickly. Users can share high scores via the Game Center social network, but participation is optional.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn a little about budgeting and spending money wisely as they build residences and businesses to grow their building in Tiny Tower. They can also practice a little time management, strategy, problem solving, and decision making. Kids will need to make decisions about whom to move into their tower (and whom to evict), how to staff their businesses so they'll run efficiently, and how spend their Tower Bux, which players earn slowly in-game or purchase with real money. Tiny Tower touches on thinking skills in a tiny but fun way.
Skills
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Creativityimagination
- Emotional Development
- Health & Fitness
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Self-Directiontime management
- Tech Skills
- Thinking & Reasoningdecision-making, problem solving, strategy
What's it about?
Players build a skyscraper over time that includes restaurants, retail stores, apartments and more. Stocking stores and adding floors costs in-game cash as well as time. To "hurry" along construction or a shipment, premium currency is used, which is much more valuable -- but also quite rare.
Is it any good?
TINY TOWER is a darned cute game. Mixing old school pixilated art and smart gameplay mechanics, it is a very enjoyable simulation game that brings the original SimTower game to mind. The game smartly balances tending to the needs of its "Bitizens" and the economic aspects. But by utilizing the in-app purchase model, it hits problems.
While nothing goes haywire with the game if you choose not to spend real-world cash to buy in-game bux, the game will progress slowly, as finances don't build up quickly naturally. It's still possible to enjoy the game without spending real-world cash, but you'll need to be patient -- plan to close the app and come back to it when you get an alert.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn a little about budgeting and spending money wisely as they build residences and businesses to grow their building in Tiny Tower. They can also practice a little time management, strategy, problem solving, and decision making. Kids will need to make decisions about whom to move into their tower (and whom to evict), how to staff their businesses so they'll run efficiently, and how spend their Tower Bux, which players earn slowly in-game or purchase with real money. Tiny Tower touches on thinking skills in a tiny but fun way.
Subjects
- Arts:
- Hobbies:
- Language & Reading:
- Math: arithmetic, estimation, money
- Science:
- Social Studies:
Skills
- Collaboration:
- Communication:
- Creativity: imagination
- Emotional Development:
- Health & Fitness:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Self-Direction: time management
- Tech Skills:
- Thinking & Reasoning: decision-making, problem solving, strategy
How kids will learn
Like many building sims, Tiny Tower by its nature encourages kids to return to the app often to keep everything running smoothly. The app empowers kids to make key decisions about the operation of their tower, from which "Bitizens" reside there to how to best allocate their resources. Because the game is ongoing and relatively slow-paced, kids will have plenty of time to reflect on their decisions and how they impact the game.
How parents can help
- Talk with your kid about Tower Bux. Early in the game, it's easy to run through Bux quickly. What's your stance on using real money to buy Bux?
- Encourage kids to go beyond basic gameplay to improve the efficiency of their tower. They can group and order floors, color-code characters' clothing, and assign more Bitizens to their dream jobs.
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Fun, but boring after awhile
Edit: I liked it a lot at first, but it gets kind of boring after awhile. It's pretty realistic, though. You'll get more customers if you own a tower that sells what's popular. Nothing too bad, except for the consumerism. You don't have to buy anything, but it makes the game easier and they encourage it.
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Kid, 12 years old
January 29, 2012
AGE
cool game
this game is sooo fun i like adding floors though you have to wait and the charaters are so cute
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Kid, 11 years old
January 26, 2012
AGE
Sigh
Teaches patience. boring after playing too long. But i got a hack anyway! :P
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Kid, 12 years old
January 26, 2012
AGE
Innovative
This app is strategy! It may, though, take weeks to get off the ground if you refuse to purchase tower "bux". Bux can be accumulated, though. Warning-this app where you build a tower buy buying floors and stock, not to mention apartments where "Bitizens" move in to help you run your stores, and place them in dream jobs, is highly addictive. Check it every hour or, for the devoted gamer, 15 minutes, for optimum results.
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| Category: | Simulation Games |
| Platforms: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android |
| Price: | Free |
| Size: | 13.50 MB |
| Publisher: | NimbleBit |
| Version: | 1.5.1 |
| Release date: | November 23, 2011 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 3.0 or later |
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