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Imagine Artist (Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi)

common sense media says

Excellent art sim lets players' creative sides flourish.

parents & educators say
  • 60% say it's educational
  • 40% say there are positive role models
See all 7 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Imagine Artist is a very creative and educational game geared for girls. Players learn how to draw, paint, craft, and create other works of art while engaging in skill-building mini-games, such as tracing and color-mixing challenges. And the game’s primary characters -- including an interning art student, the owner of a local studio, a museum curator, and a gallery owner, are all excellent role models. They’ve all got good hearts and are interested in helping the player.

Educational value: It’s surprisingly instructive. Players will learn not just basics such as tracing, but also concepts including color wheels and how to draw specific still-life subjects. What’s more, many of the game’s lessons transfer well to the real world; learn how to paint a butterfly or a branch in the game and you’ll probably be able to achieve a similar accomplishment with canvas and acrylic.
Positive messages: This game aims to teach children the basics of a variety of visual art forms, from drawing and painting to crafting and collage.
Positive role models: Players take on the role of an aspiring artist who works under a patient and helpful mentor at a local art studio. Both serve as fine role models for young girls—boys, too, should any happen to give the game a whirl.
Ease of play: It’s very easy to learn the ropes. Each day players are provided new lessons, and virtually all of the controls revolve around the touch screen and stylus. Plus, it’s art, so there’s not really any failing involved. Even in the skill-building mini-games players don’t lose, but instead simply earn bronze and silver medals. So long as the player can read, it should be very easy to get into the swing of things.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: This game is part of Ubisoft’s expanding line of Imagine games for girls.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Imagine Artist

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the sort of art the game lets players create. Were you provided enough pen and brush tips to make the sort of markings you wanted? Were you proud of your works? Proud enough to share them with friends? Did you prefer creating original pieces over working on the subjects the game provides?
  • Families can also discuss whether they think they learned anything about art while playing. Would an art student get less out of it than someone who has never taken an art class before? Do you feel you’re a better artist for having played?

What's the story?

What's the story?
IMAGINE ARTIST puts players in the shoes of a fledgling visual artist working under the guidance of a woman who owns a small art studio. Kids begin by learning how to trace pictures before graduating to painting, stenciling, and crafting, among other lessons. The game progresses through a six week calendar with each day offering players new lessons and challenges, such as working on commissions for clients. Most days culminate with a finished work of art, which players can save and upload to a website, as well as a skill-building minigame or two, such as one that has players tracing objects and another that involves recognizing the specific colors that need to be mixed to create others. As the game progresses players earn more paints and brush tips and the ability to create original works. They can even take pictures using the DSi camera and use them in their art (assuming they have the DSi version of Nintendo’s handheld).

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Ubisoft has released plenty of good games in its Imagine series, but Imagine Artist might be the best yet. It’s a wonderfully powerful and comprehensive art simulator. The tools you've been provided -- stencils, pencils, brushes, and more -- are useful and simple to learn. It won’t let budding artists create a perfect replica of the Mona Lisa, but players can still create beautiful and original pictures. And it’s surprisingly educational; most young players will likely come away with a much better idea how to go about drawing and painting a variety of subjects, if not through theory then via repetition.

If there is any issue with the game it’s that it was created with an aim to attract girls. A couple of simple tweaks -- such as the ability to choose the gender of the player’s character -- and it could have been a great unisex game. Even as is, we have little difficulty recommending Imagine Artist to any girl or boy with a passion for the visual arts.

Online interaction: Players can upload art to their own online galleries. They can share the gallery's URL with friends or email individual pictures.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi
Available online
Genre: Girl
Developer: UbiSoft
Released on: November 17, 2009
Price: 29.99
ESRB Rating: E for (No Descriptors)
Screenshots
This review was written by Chad Sapieha
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8
Based on 5 parent & educator reviews:
  • 60% say it's educational
  • 40% say there are positive role models
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

neworleans rule
teen, 14 years old
13
 
perfect for older kids.
i thik this game is more mature than the under age kids.
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (7)
CrazyBlu4Eva
kid, 10 years old
6
 
Love it.My parents say I'm getting creative in my coloring and drawing.
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (6)
velveta
parent of 8 year old
7
 
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (6)
nduns
adult
6
 
I just have to write this to tell you how bad these games are
Seriously, the Imagine games are disturbing. They're insulting to people's intellect and they're just plain creepy. They seem to appeal to younger players but also feel as if they're aimed at older gamers. Not to mention these games are a tad sexist. Besides, video games are supposed to be fun, not educational. Imagine games are stupid. There, I said it and I mean it. They are stupid beyond all compare. My friend made me try one of these out as a joke and if I wasn't such a softie, I'd get back at her for that. But I guess some good came out of it. After all, I never paid for it and I can give you this message: Never buy yours kids any of the Imagine games. Also, parents, most female gamers tend not to aim towards the girly games, so don't insult your daughter's intelligence.
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (5)
user 101
adult
10
 
the review of a life time
it is fantastic
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
Jinny Gudmundsen
adult
7
 
This game offers kids a unique way to learn to express themselves through art. Its art lessons can be easily applied to real art. And it creates such a supportive environments. Perfect for both girls and boys.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
mygrlzandboy
parent of and 4 , 8 , 11 year old
8
 
9 year old loves it, needs a little help with some of the reading
My 9 year old loves it. She needs a little help with reading some of it. She is learning some new vocabulary words, though!
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (2)

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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Our child development rating guidelines