Strawberry Meets World: Smash Dude; Friend or Foe?

A few years ago I downloaded the game 'Smash Dude' on my phone, but it didn't last long before I deleted it. Sold as "hilarious stress relief", I decided I couldn't justify peppering a chained up guy with bullets as stress relief. I mean, he's chained up! And what did he ever do wrong anyway? What could have justified this?

The boys, who have inherited our old phones, have unfortunately found this game in my iCloud.

At first I was cross, but they both gave a rather persuasive argument about him not being real and therefore feels no pain. I think it's super mature of them to be able to define fiction from non-fiction. The ability to do so will certainly help them when they delve into the abyss which is teenager computer games and help stop them from being the kind of people who take one of those 'shoot 'em up' games too seriously.

Ed also gave me the argument that he's chained up so he must be a prisoner, but I simply explained that we don't treat prisoners like that.

My kids like to break stuff. I'm not going to say it's because they're boys, because I'm morally against sentences like that. Girls like to break stuff too. Look at the fun I had only three weeks ago breaking down a wall in my house.

You smash a brick with the lump hammer until the mortar cracks, then you take it out and start on the next brick. Now, that's my kind of stress relief!

They play together, which is always nice. Side by side they compare weapons and destruction. They collect coins to save up and buy more weapons.

But the holes in their argument crack when they figure out they can make him laugh hysterically by tickling him with a feather. They've also found they can smother him with kisses.

Taking some rest bite from Smash Due to watch a story book.

It has 2,448 reviews with an average of four stars. Most of the reviews imply it's a lot of silly fun, some of the lower ratings are actually from people who want more weapons and better sound effects rather than those who are simple disgusted.

It used to be rated 12, but it's now 17 years and over, so I presume Firezoo (the game creators) listened to complaints and raised it, but it doesn't really make that much difference.

Here are some of the reviews;

Torturing a dummy for fun? Outrageous!

I found my kid playing this game and I'm shocked. I think it's outrageous that this type of game even exists. Hitting, burning, electrocuting a human shaped dummy with a sad face is sickening. This game shouldn't exist because it encourages bullying and gives ideas of things to do just for fun. Horrible. It should be banned.

mari.rivers 30/12/13

Great but you should be able to put a face on him from a photo.

smurf159 3/9/13

I think of my bully I can't hit him but I can go on this app and imagine it's him and kill him.

hariv1 24/3/15

I broke his head off both his arms off and both his legs off :D best game ever.

epic lords 20/7/13

This is massively messed up! Whether or not 'sack dude' is real or not is irrelevant. This app encourages you to gain entertainment and pleasure from torturing a chained character. I don't see the need for this app and actually think is should be banned.

kcb-24 20/4/12

I've also discovered that Smash Dude has his own Twitter account, where not only does he advertise Firezoo's new games, he also reminds us that he can take it and he actually kinda likes it. Mmmmm...weird.

I think the boys like this app simply because they have control over cause and effect, in the same way they love the talking robot who copies what they say (mostly the word bottom!). They love collecting the coins to buy new stuff and they particularly like the lightening bolts, which I can kind of understand because it looks great. While the little wooden guy remains inanimate, I'm not too worried. Especially when they flit between that and Minecraft, then back onto cute story books.

I'll keep an eye on it. Mr Strawberry doesn't like it at all so they may just find it gone one morning and strict parental controls installed on their devices.

A friend pointed out that simply deleting it is a waste of an opportunity, especially since they can't pretend them haven't seen it. It would probably be better to use it as a chance to talk about our personal choices as to whether or not we are kind or mean. You can cover him in kisses, plasters and tickle him. Or you can shot the hell out of him.

What do you think? Should I stop being such a prude or do you think it's damaging?