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Pixter Multi-Media

(2006, Smart Toy - Art, Rated E, Play it on: Pixter)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 2, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Pixter system sparks creativity.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    To watch videos, parents will need to buy add-on software for $20. Some of the video software titles feature branded characters, including Dora and SpongeBob.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Pixter Multi-Media was written by Jinny Gudmundsen

Parents need to know that while this new version of Pixter can play short videos, they should not select this product for its video-playing ability. Rather, they should choose it for its ability to spark kids' creativity by encouraging them to create art projects. This product gives kids the ability to draw freely on the unit's screen using a wide variety of digital artist's tools, and even lets kids take snippets of videos and shuffle them to create new videos.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about -- and share -- the art and videos they create. Kids may be interested to hear about different kinds of career paths for artists (including animators, Web designers, music video directors, etc.).
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More on Pixter Multi-Media

What’s the Story?

Since its debut in 2001, the Pixter has excelled in providing children with an electronic platform on which to explore their creativity. The newest version, called the PIXTER MULTI-MEDIA, combines an electronic art studio, a gaming platform, and a video player in one device that can play the earlier Pixter software cartridges. The Pixter Multi-Media gives kids the ability to free-draw on the unit's screen using a wide variety of digital artist's tools including stamps and an assortment of brushes, and scene starters for drawing inspiration. Other options include filling in color-by-number pictures, connecting dots to create pictures and uncovering scratchboard pictures by using the stylus to scratch over the surface to reveal the picture underneath. Close

Is It Any Good?

To watch videos, parents will need to buy add-on software for $20. Each of the nine new video software titles lets kids watch about 20 minutes of cartoon or live-action footage, and the software includes a video creator that lets kids manipulate the video footage to create something new.

Watching video on the Pixter is not like watching it on a TV screen -- it is grainy, and the action does not flow smoothly. However, the video creator software is easy to use and kids will enjoy recombining snippets of video to create their own short movies. Don't buy Pixter Multi-Media for its video playing ability. Rather, select this handheld if you are looking for an excellent, highly portable, compact creativity tool. Its activities will spark your child's imagination.

Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 01/11/2006, price $90, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Sanjay407
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 7
    sadiekissingalex
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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