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CharacterArcade (http://www.characterarcade.com)

common sense media says

Simple, fun games heavily promote USA TV shows.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the NBC/Universal Studios-owned USA Network runs this site as a promotional tool for their shows and star actors, and an advertising vehicle for sponsors. Many of the games have character tie-ins, including Character Sudoku or Solitaire, which display the faces of actors from shows like Monk, Psych, and Prison Break on the spaces and cards. Players who join the free site can upload a photo of themselves or create a cute WeeMee Character, which players can dress up in outfits, including an "I (heart) Monk" T-shirt. Some of the games featured are gambling ones.

Educational value: Solitaire and Sudoku involve some brain cells.
Positive messages: The WeeMee Avatars that players can design to represent themselves are relatively cute and harmless, compared to some other teen and adult game sites. A couple of the games, such as "Wack-an-Ex" or "Flippin In-Laws" may push the envelope. A few games involve gambling.
Violence: Other than a few games of questionable taste, like "Wack-an-Ex" or "Duck Wrangler," most games are harmless fun. See warning in Sexual Content about link to USANetwork.com.
Sex: None related to the games, but the site has a link to USANetwork.com, where webisodes of some adult shows, like Prison Break and others, may include inappropriate content for kids.
Language: See warning in Sexual Content about link to USANetwork.com.
Consumerism: Players have to sit through ads while each game loads and then click "continue" to leave the ad and proceed to the game they've been awaiting. Banner ads and other ads for NBC/Universal and USA Network, as well as many other products, dominate this site. And, of course, many of the games themselves have promotional aspects related to the USA Network.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on CharacterArcade

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about why this site has so many ads. Since it's run by a TV network, help your kids make the connection between the amount of ads flashed in front of them during a TV episode and the number of ads peppered throughout this site. Which seems to have more? Why?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
If your teen arcade game lover can stand all of the ads and USA Network references, the games on CHARACTERARCADE.COM are quite harmless and the avatar-style WeeMee-creating process can be quite fun. None of these games will win any innovation awards, but you'll find some creative twists (often related to USA shows, of course) on some stock arcade games. Up to now, the message boards aren't a big draw. Links to larger sites for USA shows and an NBC/Universal site are much more highly promoted. But if kids only want to play games it's easy to avoid the boards and these other related sites.
This review was written by Dana Villamagna
 
 

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Ashtray 1028
kid, 12 years old
2
 
The best website for adults and kids!
I think that this website is very good and fun for kids!
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mjacksongurl
teen, 17 years old
15
 
i love it
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lili 224
teen, 18 years old
 
best thing ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love characterarcade* it is not a bad website for kids thirteen and up it is a great website
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