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  • $29.99
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Diary Girl (Nintendo DS)

common sense media says

Digital diary can't replace pen and paper.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this game is the equivalent of the average 'tween girl fashion magazine in terms of depth. There's an online component where players can play mini-games and chat with friends (by typing text or drawing pictures) either locally or over WiFi, and add friends to a buddylist. To add a friend they will have to know them already and specifically ask for that player's "Friend Code" that comes with each game.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Not applicable.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.

More on Diary Girl

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about why it's fun to keep a journal, and brainstorm different topics to write about each day. Parents might want to use Diary Girl as a stepping stone towards a more permanent paper journal or online diary (where kids can additionally hone writing and typing skills).

What's the story?

What's the story?
DIARY GIRL isn't a game in the traditional sense, but rather a kind of all-purpose digital day timer targeting young girls. Opening up the application, which requires the Nintendo DS to be held sideways like a book, gives the owner access to a calendar (that goes all the way to 2020) that they can tap to add diary entries to a specific day of the week using a virtual keyboard, and add icons to represent feelings and weather conditions.

Users can personalize the "front cover" of the diary with stickers, draw or color in pictures with a Paint program, and create a personal avatar by customizing clothing and physical features. There's also a calculator and a horoscope, which offers monthly forecasts, love advice, and handy tips -- like the fact that you can stick your nails in a bowl of cold water if you want your nail polish to dry faster. Diary Girl also features a handful of mini-games that can be played either alone or with a friend wirelessly. These are extremely simple, though fun, diversions that include mah jong, a music game, a jigsaw puzzle, and a maze where the goal is to navigate through with the stylus collecting gems and keys. The diary can be "locked" with a password to keep out prying eyes, although the password can also be reset through a simple procedure, meaning information is never completely private.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Diary Girl is by no means broken or bad, but it comes off as simplistic compared to other application-like DS titles like Brain Age and Jam Sessions, and isn't likely to hold any long-term appeal. Furthermore, there's something special about a hand-written journal (or even digital files that can be stored and transferred to CDs) that a confined, cartridge-based application just can't match.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Nintendo DS
Not available online
Genre: Simulation
Developer: Konami
Released on: March 18, 2008
Price: 29.99
ESRB Rating: E for Mild Cartoon Violence

This review was written by Erin Bell
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

kij
kid, 12 years old
 
it is good for the age of 7+
I love it

Lilly765
kid, 13 years old
 
"I am ready!"
I am ready to dance in front of the school. MY school is called Dogwood Elementry school. "oh, my god, iI think I am going to be embarrase. We are going to performe of Friday maybe I've done this twice I did one in Step it Up and now I am doing it Hip Hop Fun it is in intersection so thats the whole thing what it is going to happen.

neenee123
kid, 11 years old
 

robot kid
kid, 12 years old
 
WELL
Why don't you just stick with a REAL journal, or if you like "diary of a wimpy kid", then you CAn get a "diary of a wimpy kid do it yourself book".

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age