Koda Quest - A Fingerprint Network App
By Mieke VanderBorght,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Real-world missions for environment may need more context.
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Koda Quest - A Fingerprint Network App
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Based on 1 parent review
Fun app & great intro to climate change
What’s It About?
In KODA QUEST - A FINGERPRINT NETWORK APP, Koda is a polar bear on an ever-shrinking iceberg, and kids perform tasks to help him. First, kids choose a generated screen name. Then, on each of 20 levels, they play mini-games, play with Koda, and perform offscreen missions. The mini-games involve fishing trash out of the ocean and swiping away "carbon critters." Missions include activities such as drinking tap instead of bottled water or using cloth napkins instead of paper ones. Depending on the mission, kids must let a certain amount of time pass before they can tap "did it"; they can continue to play the mini-games and interact with Koda while time runs out if they choose not to do the mission. They'll have to say they did it to continue playing, however. Kids also interact with Koda by giving the bear food, exercise, baths, and naps to complete levels. Every activity awards points; if parents register to monitor and play along, kids can rack up even more points. Users also can participate in an unrelated, internal social network.
Is It Any Good?
The app has a worthy goal -- get kids to establish environmentally friendly habits, and a creative combination of screen play and real-life activities may actually get kids taking some concrete steps toward that goal. If parents play along, kids get more rewards. Yet the app is segmented, and content coverage is fairly superficial. For example, there's no background or explanation behind the missions or games. Why use a reusable water bottle? How do we recycle, and what other ways can we reduce trash? Missions -- even ones to, for example, draw a picture of Koda's home -- all are introduced in the same way: Complete this mission to "help stop global warming." Interactions with Koda are fun but woefully unrelated to the missions, and the social network feature is separate from the game. For example, kids can't progress through the levels under their personal user accounts. This is simple fun with a good cause, but parents will want to provide a lot of support and background information to connect the dots.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why it's important to think about climate change and what concrete changes the whole family can make, and maintain, to help.
Play with kids and help them complete the missions. Discuss what they're doing and why and what impact it can have.
Explore the social-network element together, discuss why it can be fun, and talk about what precautions kids should take when participating.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Subjects: Science : animals
- Skills: Self-Direction : achieving goals, Collaboration : meeting challenges together, Responsibility & Ethics : honoring the community
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: May 5, 2015
- Category: Educational Games
- Topics: Science and Nature , Wild Animals
- Publisher: Fingerprint
- Version: 1.3
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 6.0 or later; Android 2.3 and up
- Last updated: July 12, 2020
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