According to a recent Ubisoft press release, they plan on launching a DS-based line of games targeting 14-16 year old girls called Imagine -- and I find myself somewhat amused by the content. Falling much into the stereotypical view of the adolescent female, the games expected to hit shelves in October will include such hits as: Fashion Designer, Animal Doctor, Babyz, and Master Chef. Figure Skater is slated to be released in early 2008.
I can already envision a sea of little boys making weird faces and referencing words like "cooties" and "yuck". No folks, I'm not making this stuff up. Well... maybe that last part about cooties, but you get the point. All jokes aside, Ubisoft hopes the Imagine line of games will cater to the somewhat overlooked young girl's market, as you can see:
“Ubisoft is excited to finally offer young girls a line of games that give them the chance to explore their hobbies and interests in interactive and creative experiences,” said Helene Juguet, senior director of marketing at Ubisoft. “Our consumer research revealed that the young girls’ market has been relatively overlooked. We are happy to introduce a variety of titles relevant to what girls in this age group have indicated they are most interested in.”
Who am I to question Ubisoft's extensive research? Little girls need games too, and this looks to cover the whole gambit. Catch the press release in its entirety after the jump.
[Via Gamasutra, and thanks to Topher for the photoshop work]
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced its all-new Imagine™ series of video games targeted at girls ages 6 to 14 years old. The Imagine line allows girls to explore their favorite interests and hobbies - as indicated in extensive lifestyle research on this audience – in an interactive and entertaining way. Ubisoft’s Imagine series is part of the company’s strategic expansion into the casual video game market.
The first games in the Imagine line will launch in October 2007 for the Nintendo DS™ system: Imagine™ Fashion Designer, Imagine™ Animal Doctor, Imagine Babyz® and Imagine™ Master Chef. Imagine™ Figure Skater will follow in early 2008.
“Ubisoft is excited to finally offer young girls a line of games that give them the chance to explore their hobbies and interests in interactive and creative experiences,” said Helene Juguet, senior director of marketing at Ubisoft. “Our consumer research revealed that the young girls’ market has been relatively overlooked. We are happy to introduce a variety of titles relevant to what girls in this age group have indicated they are most interested in.”
Imagine™ Fashion Designer invites players to become hip Manhattan designers handling all aspects of the fashion business, from creating their own line of clothing to directing photo shoots. Online gameplay allows players to share their designs and ideas with friends and fellow aspiring young fashionistas.
Imagine™ Animal Doctor puts young players in the role of a veterinarian, not only by treating and curing all types of animals, but also by creating new facilities to expand the veterinary hospital.
Imagine™ Babyz® is the first simulation game focused on caring for babies. Players take on the challenges of raising a baby throughout all stages of development and will also be able to take photos and exchange tips and clothing through a unique online component.
Imagine™ Master Chef allows players to create recipes from all over the world using the stylus to prepare, stir and cook ingredients. Players can customize their kitchens with utensils and appliances. Fun mini-games include cooking quizzes and kitchen challenges.
In Imagine™ Figure Skater, players live the life of a champion who needs to balance her life between training, school and friends. Girls take on the role of a professional figure skater and use the stylus to perform jumps, spins and a variety of skating combinations.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 21 countries and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. Ubisoft generated sales of 680 million Euros for the 2006-07 fiscal year. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
Contest:
12:07 PM on 07.13.2007
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Now they have a ubisaviour.
I mean Jesus Christ what happened to skirts?
I'm pre-orering Imagine Babyz right now. Finally, a game for me!
ubisofts offerings to girls ages 6-14 don't violate any of meghan's laws.
Have you ever seen the legs on those figure skating beauties? Hell yeah.
Yeah..that can be nice. But I am more of a fan of gymnastics...I don't think I need to say why.
I have to look at this like I look at the Wii. It's expanding the market by getting people who wouldn't have normally played games in the past. Once they like games and are used to the controls some will move up to the PS4 and 720 and Wii2.
These evil games are necessary for this expansion. EVIL games.
You make it sound like there is something wrong with girls or their interests.
True to some extent, but I don't see Ubisoft releasing: Construction Worker, Steelworker, Tractor Trailer Mechanic and Rodeo Clown in October.
I'm just commenting on the stereotype thing.
@ Dorian, You're definitely right about the boy games. But, in the past "girl" games didn't sell all that well. More likely a game that girls would buy was considered a "universal" title and not strictly a "girl" game.
More recently we've seen a lot of strictly girl games. Barbie games, cute animal games, Bratz, and even a makeup game in Japan. These games do further the stereotypes of the gender, but that's not always a bad thing. The bad thing is when people are dicks to those who don't fall into the stereotype. Dicks.
this is going to be an interesting investment for them.
True, I will give you that...boy games are much more refined and less stereotypical. They are more broad raged, sometimes with blood soaked carnage or boobfestual perviness. (boobfestual? awesome!)
Although I do like a good blood soaking once in a while. Makes for a good moisturizer. I just don't like it when girls are given a hard time for being girls. Boy games can be awesome too, don't worry. It's perfectly safe (and legal) to embrace your femininity.
ok, that's my last rant for today, I'll be in my trailer playing with fire and playing "Doctor".
But, it's a game for teenage girls.
What do I do? I am not sure.
Screw it, it will go on my shelf between Chibi Robo and MySims. Heck I will get Fashionz Designerz too.
I think companies hurt their sales by thinking male/female, just make an appealing game with an appealing box and people will buy it. If they put pink, z on the end, and star dust on it you immediately intimidate 90% the market from not buying it.
Once Nintendo gets the female segment to a larger portion of the game buyers than they can get a little more liberal with the color choices and so forth. However, the problem is men making games they think women and girls want. When I was in high school the 14-16 year old girls that liked "super girly stuff" were a small minority. Hello Kitty being the exception back then (I swear every girl and their mother had some hello kitty thing).
I read some where, but I am too lazy to look it up, that Resident Evil, Halo, and Mario, were the console games that female gamers are most likely to buy and play. (I still call my ex over to help me with RE, because I suck at those games) I wouldn't be surprised if in the next few years we see a few female developers and executives form a company together or atleast get more vocal.
It's one of the reasons I got a DS/
Video games are a hobby in and of themselves, that's the point! Most good hobbies translate poorly to other media.
MASTURBATE
I hope that's not crickets I hear chirping.
Those were some ugly ass kittens.
Make things cute, violent, and awesome, and girls will play them. Simple as that.