London (Game Nerd's Quarterly) - Anyone who is knowledgeable about the world of mobile applications knows that 'Candy Crush Saga' (developed by King Entertainment plc.) is a phenomenon. The game has nearly 750,000,000 downloads. However, the apparent popularity of the game might be grossly overstated.
According to data gathered by The Mobile Applications Institute (TMAI), an independent group that studies trends in mobile applications, the vast majority of the downloads of 'Candy Crush Saga' onto the mobile devices of adults who were also parents were unknown to the parent and apparently perpetrated by their children.
TMAI conducted research by asking to check the applications on the mobile devices of adults who were also parents. The data gathered was anonymous in that TMAI assured people that neither their name or telephone number would be recorded.
TMAI then asked those adults questions about seemingly random applications residing on their device. In virtually every case, the adult said they were unaware that 'Candy Crush Saga' had been downloaded.
The parents almost universally attributed Candy Crush's existence on their device to their children. Said Tim, a parent of three kids ages 4 to 10, "Those kids. They're always getting my phone and downloading stuff. Candy Crush, now, that's some sort of game, right? I don't know much about it. I've never played it. Ever."
Clarice W., a stay-at-home mother of three school-age children, had Candy Crush loaded on her mobile phone and it had been played to level 305. "I'm so surprised. I didn't even know it was on there. Imagine. Level 305 you say? Hmmm. I don't know much about the game, but progressing to a level that high seems like a really good score, don't you think? Don't you think the person who did that must be really good?"
