More girly goodness in the game-o-sphere.
Video Games Get a Fashion Upgrade
Geeksugar [Tagline: Geek is chic] posted about the Sims new partnership with H & M fashion. Geeksugar writes:
Your Sims characters can choose from FabSugar-approved H&M? fashions, then play with retail-themed items like mannequins, clothing racks, cash registers and even walk the runway. It’s a real makeover from the days of plain Jane Sims clothing and adds a fun, girlie touch to the game. I dare you to not get addicted.
While some gamers are most likely affronted by the addition of product placement to video games, most of the Geeksugar posters seemed enthusiastic about the addition to the game and the style upgrade for the admittedly fashion-challenged Sim world. For the fashion inclined, this news gets even better - the official press release indicates that players will be able to design their own clothes and showcase them using an online virtual runway.
Nintendo: Altering the Course of Your Life
Geeksugar posts about the new crop of DS games targeted to women in Japan:
Female Power Emergency Up! DS, which promises to “Change your destiny in three months!” by measuring skills in love, fashion, beauty, diet, and fortune-telling. Even more touchy-feely is Mainichi Kokorobics DS Therapy, which offers sessions with a digital psychiatrist. Need help with your waistline instead of your subconscious? There’s always Yoga Anywhere, which is like having a personal trainer and tips on daily workouts in your pockets.”
Maybe I’m just gullible (or maybe my yoga addiction has reached new heights) but this news almost made me buy a DS. I do not use portables, preferring to sneak reading time in on my morning commute - but if the DS can help me manage yoga and my life, it might be worth a purchase.
Some random news about women in gaming from around the web:
According to Geeksugar, popular R & B group Destiny’s Child is adding video games to the list of pop culture licensing:
Square-Enix just announced a new cell phone game called ‘Destiny’s Child Groove,” that will apparently keep us jumpin’, jumpin’, jumpin’ all day. Showcased on CrunchGear the game will feature photos of Beyoncé, Kelly and Michelle and include songs like “Survivor,” “Bug A Boo,” and “Lose My Breath” and my personal favorite, “Say My Name.” In “Destiny’s Child Groove,” you’ll be able to audition to become a backup singer for the group. To play the game you press arrows on the screen which are synchronized to the beat of certain songs.
It will be interesting to see how this video game-DC tie-in will be received.
Is Geeky the New Sexy?
Speaking of Destiny’s Child, Geeksugar reports that both Kelly Rowland and Amerie are both fans of the Sims:
In my defense, geek is chic people. My evidence? R&B superstar Amerie recently confessed she is hooked on The Sims. She is quoted in Contact Music as saying: “I am addicted to The Sims. I live out a virtual life online. I think it’s seriously cool, but I guess it’s kind of dorky. I’ve got Kelly Rowland into it too, and now we hook up in the game. Beyonce tried to join us, but she wasn’t into it. Also I love to read science magazines. It’s not very R&B I know.” I say anyone who can rock the mic and stage like these two need not worry. Chic indeed.
Nintendo Down Under - Australia Provides A Wii-Sponsored Model Call
Kotaku has decided that Nintendo is for girls. In a June 19th post, the guys announced:
Sorry boys. Nintendo? Not for you. Not anymore. This Touch Generations business, it’s taken the company from your sweaty, fumbling hands and given it over to image-obsessed, whiny, teenage girls. Read. And know that I, too, thought this was two separate press releases:
Nintendo have teamed up with Girlfriend [Australian teen girl mag], so you can sample the Nintendo DS and Wii at the Girlfriend Model Search and play some of the latest and greatest games!Make sure you get down to the 2007 Girlfriend Schwarzkopf LiveColour Model Search roadshow in your capital city for your chance to get discovered and become Australia’s next international modelling sensation! Bring all your mates, enter the model search and treat yourself to a full day of fun, glamour and pampering. Check out the locations and be sure to lock away the date in your dairy!
Aspiring models and Nintendo? I never thought it would come to this. —Luke Plunkett
I’m loving the random pic from Mean Girls, used by Kotaku to illustrate the post - but does a product association really mean that you can pigeonhole a product into a gender?
If Nintendo partnered with someone like Bawls or Yorkie, would that be used as proof that Nintendo is for boys?
