Bit slow to this - been offline for two days, nngh - and I haven't had time to have a proper rummage. But have a look: Mattel (famously resistant to Going Digital) have finally launched themselves into virtual space, with the pink and lilac overload that is BarbieGirls.com.
The second result on Google shows Barbiegirls.com as being a bit sordidly commercial in places:
Residents of BarbieGirls.com can earn money by customizing their avatar and by watching trailers and commercials in the Theater.
Oof. Just hit them with a branded sledgehammer with BUY MORE BARBIE written on it, might be quicker?
Barbie, too, has been MODERNISED. Avatarised. Brunettised. Shortenised.
She's also teaching girls technical terms:
... sort of. Their definition: "Right now we’re in “beta,” which means we’re still working on the site to make it even better. Some stuff might change, and some things are still being fixed."
It would be really nice if Mattel actually DID teach something useful. I'll have a play later, and if I find anything interesting, I'll let you know. Will it be all shopping, makeup and making-friends? Or will there be sports, nature conservation and architectural design? Because that's what I'd put in. I can hope.
I checked it out the other day. The first "game" is giving cheesy hooker-nails manicures to the four Barbie characters, where you earn 10 barbie-bucks or whatever they're called per manicure.
Aside from the 3 games they had, there wasn't much to do but wander around and buy clothes, makeup and furniture or just hang about and talk to little girls. Not my idea of a good time, but maybe it's interesting for the under 13 crowd??
Posted by: Melissa Della | April 21, 2007 at 18:36
you don't show people how to use them.
Posted by: kamaleena | April 24, 2007 at 12:10
i love barbie
Posted by: hasini | April 28, 2007 at 09:14
i want to make my character in my mail in youre game barbiegirls but ti laod for along time please help me and my e_mail sherywowcool
Posted by: shery | April 28, 2007 at 18:02
booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooyourcorny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: | April 28, 2007 at 21:12
put back on the game we want to play please put it back on
Posted by: | April 30, 2007 at 17:11
This game is so cool but it sucks because you get kidded off and only a little a mount of people can get on.
Posted by: Kayla | April 30, 2007 at 20:45
this game SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Kayla | April 30, 2007 at 20:46
play games
Posted by: jessy hwa | May 01, 2007 at 12:55
jessy jessy
Posted by: jessy hwa | May 01, 2007 at 12:57
Okayy, time to close comments.
x
Posted by: Alice | May 01, 2007 at 19:17