Digi Makeover (NR)

New looks get old fast; mixed message for tweens.

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Common Sense rates it
2
Played the game? Review it
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details
  • Publisher: Radica
  • Genre: Smart Toy - Girl Software
  • Release Date: 11/17/2006
  • Platform(s): Plug and Play TV games
  • Online Enabled: No
  • ESRB Rating: NR
  • Price: $60

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this software sends some mixed messages. Will girls who use it think they aren't pretty without makeup? Or will it educate them about billboard and magazine ads and how fabricated the beauty is that they find there? For some it may simply be another form of harmless dress-up, which allows tweens who are still looking for their identity to try out new ones digitally -- without resorting to the real and scary bathroom ear-piercing incidents and punk dye jobs.

Families can talk about beauty. Does this software make you feel like you aren't beautiful without makeup? Or does it reveal that many of the representations of beauty within our culture are fake? And, just for fun, what does mom look like with green hair?

Message

Social Behavior:

Does this software send the message that girls need to wear makeup to be pretty? Or is it just fun to see what you can do to alter appearances with hairstyle and makeup?

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Educational Value:

Violence

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Jinny Gudmundsen

With DIGI MAKEOVER from Radica, tween girls can digitally experiment with their own appearance and the appearance of six other models. Girls can try out different hairstyles, makeup, and accessories. The game works by plugging the Digi Makeover touchpad into a television using the audio/video input jacks. Girls make decisions by pushing buttons on the touchpad to select from possible options shown on the TV screen, and they use a stylus to apply makeup to a model's face.

Is it any good?

2

Girl testers said most of the hairstyles didn't look realistic. The makeup options also produced mixed results: While it was fun to change eye color, it was difficult to apply subtle eye makeup. And trying to undo previous actions often resulted in wiping clean all your previous work.

Parents will have to wrestle with whether Digi Makeover could lower their daughter's self-esteem by sending the message that girls aren't pretty without makeup. Or perhaps Digi Makeover might help teach that makeup can create fake beauty, so they should be skeptical of the glamour shown in magazines. Some parents, however, will probably consider Digi Makeover as simply another way for young girls to play dress-up. But Digi Makeover, while initially interesting, won't keep girls' attention for long given its clunky design.

How to play

  • Playability: Frustrating, because you can accidentally wipe out work.
  • Reading Required: None
  • Graphics: Fair. The hairstyles don't look natural.

Other choices

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 11 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/21/08 by MikaylaLovesEdwardCullen Kid contributor, age 13

I love this games! it is sooooo much fun! I like to make up myself, but the defalt girls are kind of more fun, because the makeuup and hair is set to them, and it matches perfectly. the only problem with the cemera is that you have to be in a really bright place to take a good pic o yourself. Overall a great game that kids of all ages will enjoy!
5


Posted on 12/07/07 by alb1995 Kid contributor, age 12
5

Posted on 07/31/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

5


Posted on 05/22/07 by kwildcat Kid contributor, age 10

You have to buy this for your daughter!

I think this is a wonderful game for kids that have a sense for hair or fashion! I reccomoend this to everyone
3


Posted on 01/08/07 by brianna Kid contributor, age 10
5

Posted on 01/06/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 8

a fantastic little game

i think there wicked! but they need more peswading so they sell more!
5

Posted on 12/30/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

i love it ||I play it with my 11 year old

0

Posted on 12/25/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

rip-off

Please don't waste money it will disappoint your daughter to tears. It is a great concept but doesn't work at all like described. It is very frustrating to use and the whole idea was to take a picture and give yourself a makeover but the camera didn't work.
5

Posted on 12/04/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

make up time

this game is about putting makeup on a girl to have some seious fun
5

Posted on 11/20/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 10

I really want my mom to bye me that game. Along with Desingers world. Do you thinkk you could put that on your website?

See all 11 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5

Posted on 07/31/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

0

Posted on 12/25/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

rip-off

Please don't waste money it will disappoint your daughter to tears. It is a great concept but doesn't work at all like described. It is very frustrating to use and the whole idea was to take a picture and give yourself a makeover but the camera didn't work.

Kids Reviews

There are 9 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/21/08 by MikaylaLovesEdwardCullen Kid contributor, age 13

I love this games! it is sooooo much fun! I like to make up myself, but the defalt girls are kind of more fun, because the makeuup and hair is set to them, and it matches perfectly. the only problem with the cemera is that you have to be in a really bright place to take a good pic o yourself. Overall a great game that kids of all ages will enjoy!
5


Posted on 12/07/07 by alb1995 Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 05/22/07 by kwildcat Kid contributor, age 10

You have to buy this for your daughter!

I think this is a wonderful game for kids that have a sense for hair or fashion! I reccomoend this to everyone
3


Posted on 01/08/07 by brianna Kid contributor, age 10
5

Posted on 01/06/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 8

a fantastic little game

i think there wicked! but they need more peswading so they sell more!
5

Posted on 12/30/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

i love it ||I play it with my 11 year old

5

Posted on 12/04/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

make up time

this game is about putting makeup on a girl to have some seious fun
5

Posted on 11/20/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 10

I really want my mom to bye me that game. Along with Desingers world. Do you thinkk you could put that on your website?
5


Posted on 11/18/06 by gennagirl123 Kid contributor, age 15
See all 9 kids reviews >
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