Imagine: Fashion Designer - New York (Nintendo DS)

common sense media says

Poor graphics hamper this look at the fashion industry.

parents & educators say

33% say language is an issue
33% say they noticed product placement

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this game is part of a series of DS games produced by Ubisoft to help girls figure out what they want to be when they grow up. To an extent, the game presents the fashion industry through rose-tinted glasses, playing up the fact that everyone is happy and supportive, and playing down negative stereotypes like hyper-competitiveness, egos, and health issues with models. The all-female cast of models represent various ethnicities, but share the same rail-thin body type. Players can use the Nintendo DS's local WiFi capabilities to trade cards, garments, and photos with each other.

Educational value: Players will learn useful fashion tips, like what hairstyles go with certain face-shapes, what colors compliment brunette hair, and so on.

Positive messages: Colleagues generally friendly and helpful. The worst you'll get if you do a poor job is a comment like "Her poor work was a disappointment." Models are only female, and represent various ethnicities, but share the same rail-thin body type.

Violence & scariness: Not applicable.

Language: Mild lyrics in the game's soundtrack, such as the line "Suddenly I see / why the hell it means so much to me" in KT Tunstall's "Suddenly I See."

Consumerism: Since the game is about the fashion industry, there's an emphasis on looking good through trendy clothing, accessories, make-up, and hairstyling.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about whether they would enjoy working in a fast-paced place like New York, or a less hectic and less exciting town. What were some of your favorite hairstyles and "looks" that you created for the game? Do you think the game fairly represents the fashion industry.

What's the story?

Ubisoft's Imagine series is a collection of Nintendo DS games aimed at letting young girls and tweens explore professions like animal doctor, rock star and teacher. In IMAGINE: FASHION DESIGNER – NEW YORK, players experience what it's like to work at a bustling fashion agency in the Big Apple.

Players will get to see many different sides of the fashion industry as they juggle tasks like organizing photo shoots (snapping pictures of models as they pose), designing clothes (snipping and sewing with the stylus and choosing colors and patterns), supervising make-up sessions (using the stylus to apply nail polish, lipstick, eyeshadow and blush), styling hair by choosing different styles, dyes and streaks, and helping models strut their stuff on the catwalk by performing a set of pattern-matching mini-games. Players keep track of tasks and tips through a handy smartphone that also offers helpful tips about fashion do's and don'ts. In between tasks is a light storyline where you can interact with colleagues and pursue a budding romance with a handsome photographer named Mark.

Is it any good?

Imagine: Fashion Designer - New York could have benefitted from better graphics, since some of the outfits really don't look very good. Also, if players make a mistake (such as choosing the wrong hair color), they have to start the entire task over again which can get tiresome. On the other hand, the assignments are varied and fun, calling for players to meet different sets of criteria each time. For example, a photo shoot at the Japanese embassy calls for an Asian model in a kimono with red lipstick and eyeshadow, white blush, and no accessories. Overall, Imagine: Fashion Designer – New York is a fun, but not spectacular, peek into the industry.

Game themes & details

Game Details

Available on: Nintendo DS
Not available online
Genre: Girl
Developer: UbiSoft
Released on: October 7, 2008
Price: 29.99
ESRB Rating: E for Mild Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes

This review was written by Erin Bell

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:

33% say language is an issue
33% say they noticed product placement

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Maddie U.
teen, 14 years old

Iffy Scence Makes it Out of Little Kids Reach

Well, actaully, there was one mild situation when a guy asked a girl if he could live with her, and I thought that was silly that they had to put it in a kid's game :( But in the end, they end up marrying and it's really sweet. Easy to play, took me awhile to get used to it, but it is actaully pretty easy to play!

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Imagine: Fashion Designer - New York (Nintendo DS)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Imagine: Fashion Designer - New York

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Game themes & details

Game Details

Review It

Review Imagine: Fashion Designer - New York

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Iffy Scence Makes it Out of Little Kids Reach

Bre

It's perfect for kids i love it

Good game for many ages

Imagine fashion designer

pretty fashion edvist

perfect for everybody

it's good for young kid's

HATE THIS GAME!

love

Okay I guess for older kids, but not for tweens

Could do without the soap opera

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