Well, it was bound to happen.
Today, Nintendo announced it would sell a video game called POP CUTIE! that’s all about street style. Technically, they’re calling it a “Street Fashion Simulation,” and players will buzz through virtual streets in Tokyo, New York, and Paris picking out their favorite “trends.”
The game will be available for Nintendo DS, which has started aggressively marketing itself to women in the past few months (did you notice those commercials with Mandy Moore and Liv Tyler?).
Faran isn’t sure anything can beat Brain Age 2, and Natalie insists Super Mario Brothers is the only thing to play on DS, but this could get interesting:
Will girl gamers in the middle of nowhere suddenly be inspired to become trend spotters?
Tags: Nintendo
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Yeah, I was wondering the Carrie Underwood commercial was about..interesting marketing idea.
It would’ve been great if they called it something like ‘Street Fashionista’ but I guess ‘Pop Cutie’ will appeal to the tween market as well.
Looks like it could be fun!
hmm… I thought about it… and….
boring.
I saw some screen shots and it looked like a Habbo Hotel rip off
hahaha.
I want to see screen shots, where did you find them?
This is ultra lame btw.
this is just embarrassing to women everywhere. yes, let me play virtual-dress -up-my-dolly even though i’m a working adult woman, because ooo clothes are so fun!!!!
here:
http://www.gamershell.com/ds/pop_cutie_street_fashion_simulation/screenshots.html
and here:
http://gonintendo.com/?p=46353
I just love the duck hat.
wtf? couldn’t they at least have given the game some good graphics?
Sounds heinously boring.
What’s interesting about this is that is has been done before…kind of. England in the late 18th century began producing inexpensive cardboard fashion dolls dressed and styled in the latest styles coming out of France. The dolls served, among other things (read: marketing) to spread fashion ideas.
Of course, in the Nintendo context, the ideas “street style” and “trends” sound dubious. I’m picturing Bratz dolls outfits in poorly rendered graphics.
Post 10:42pm -cardboard fashion dolls, as well as porcelain dolls, were used throughout European courts particularly France and England to promote the latest trends. This was more of a convenience for fashionable queens (notably Marie Antoinette)and courtiers who wanted to keep up with the latest trends without having to travel too far. Since there weren’t any fashion periodicals, technology, or a fashion industry with models that exist today, these dolls served as something very important in marketing fashion, far more important than the entertainment purposes of this nintendo game, which does not appear to be a best seller by the way!
This is not aimed at women, it is a game for young girls. Similar to Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing. Nintendo has been marketing the DS to a variety of age groups lately, I think because of the success the Wii has has with an older demographic. As for Pop Cutie though, my 10 year old daughter is going to love it!
I’m confused as to why Nintendo thinks girls are only interested in games filled with fashion and pretty pretty ponies. Nintendo, like all video game companies, know that the real money comes from the “boy” games; in other words, action/adventure/fighting games. Even if non-gamer girls suddenly start spending their allowances on fashion games, I seriously doubt Nintendo is going to see much of a spike in their profits.