The Simpsons Tapped Out 12 cert, EA/Fox/Gracie, iPad (also iPod Touch, iPhone) ****

A nice skit about time wasting on freemium games introduces The Simpsons: Tapped Out:Homer is placing virtual plants in a Happy Little Elves game, and his negligence leads to a nuclear meltdown. He must rebuild Springfield, starting with his house on Evergreen Terrace. Like a self-aware Farmville, Tapped Outencourages world-building and comparing progress with friends, but also acknowledges the strangeness of this genre. "Cleaning? I can't believe what passes for fun in games these days," Homer groans.

A number of the show's writers have worked on Tapped Outand it shows. The countless references are to be expected, but the look, music and new gags get the pitch just right. Professor Frink informs us that there are alternate Springfields like parallel universes, which friends can work on. Donuts are the currency, which can be used to buy buildings and characters and to speed-up tasks. You can earn them with gameplay or (d'oh!) buy them with real money.