This is likely one of the most under-rated, unheard-of toys of this season. Pixel Chix is an electronic 'virtual friend'. Like those Tamagotchi Pets of the recent past, Pixel Chix is an interactive toy which requires a certain amount of attention on the part of the owner. Unlike those crazy Tamagotchi Electronic Pests, ooops, I mean PETS, you cannot kill a Pixel Chix. Pixel Chix are aimed at the little girl market, ages 7 and up, but after playing with my daughter's Pixel Chix, I think I may be hooked....and I'm in my 30's. To get a hands-on feel for what Pixel Chix are all about, copy and paste the following URL into your browser: http://www.pixelchix.com.au/
DESIGN AND FEATURES:
These cool Pixel Chix are electronic images which appear to be living inside a miniature plastic 3-D house. There are currently 3 variations on Pixel Chix homes available, and you can collect Pixel Chix, or even get together with a friend who owns one, and hook the houses together. The virtual interactive friends then begin to virtually interact... got that? The Chix have buttons on the front of the house that you push to direct the things that they do within their home. You can make your Pixel Chix eat, sleep, do homework or just hang out, all at the touch of a button. You can even send her upstairs to use the bathroom, and can hear the toilet flushing. This game has a good sense of humour! You can interact with your Pixel Chix by using the seven buttons on the house to dress her up in a new outfit, send her out to a party or send her upstairs to bed.
THE INTERACTIVE FACTOR:
Pixel Chix girls need your care and attention. The more you interact and play with a Pixel Chix girl, the more your relationship will grow and the more cool surprises you'll find. Like any other video game, the Pixel Chix 'unlocks' features like new outfits, new activities, and new items. If you don't play with your Pixel Chix friend regularly, you'll start to lose the virtual things you've collected. More importantly, she'll start to give you some bigtime, virtual attitude by scowling and folding her arms. It's bad enough when your real child does this to you, but as an adult, it's downright funny to see it so accurately portrayed by an electronic image! Kids also find it amusing, and it redirects their attention to the 'game'.
DO GIRLS LOVE IT, OR WHAT?
The 2-seven year-olds I know LOVE these Pixel Chix. If you have the chance to pick one up at the toy store, or borrow one from a kid you know, you will understand why. Pixel Chix will likely grow into a huge toy empire, and I wouldn't be surprised that once word gets out, you'll have trouble finding them.
THE BEST OF IT IS:
This is a game to play alone or share with friends. It is engaging, but kids can put it down after a little while and move on to something else. Unlike the Tamagotchi, you can't bring any harm to a Pixel Chix, and this is a positive feature. I haven't seen it become completely addictive and all emcompassing, but time will tell.
THE WORST OF IT IS:
There is some bad attitude involved, on the part of the Pixel Chix herself. But that being said, there is no bad language or truly rude gestures - just the arm-crossing, hip-jutting, eye-rolling versions of attitude are displayed. Far worse is seen on TV daily. Teachers will hate this toy (I know because I am one :-)) - Pixel Chix will find their way into classrooms around North America as a major time-waster, and will likely be banned from schools.
BOTTOM LINE:
Cool concept, neat twist on another virtual toy (Tamagotchi), affordable and fun.
COMPOSITION:
-Tough molded plastic
-Dropped it on floor multiple times, nothing broken
-takes 4 - AAA batteries