The DS has become a strong platform for publishers with titles aimed at younger audiences. The simple yet intuitive control system, convenient handheld nature and general accessibility means it is great for children to interact with and the range of software available for it has only served to strengthen this positioning.
505 Games has seen success in the young gamer field with its I Did It Mum! range. As the title suggests, these titles encourage and aid children in developing skills of which they can be proud, while still providing an entertaining gaming experience.
The latest two games in this series, Spelling and Doll’s House hit shelves towards the end of September.
Designed to help four to seven year-olds develop essential literary skills, I Did It Mum! Spelling is fun and engaging as well as educational. Through its lessons disguised as mini-games, players will improve such abilities as spelling, handwriting, and reading, as well as their understanding of the alphabet and keyboard.
The lessons are hosted by a cool puppy character, which is one of the things that makes them not seem like lessons at all. There are over 300 words for youngsters to master. At every stage, they are rewarded with fun mini-games and stickers – and if they eventually learn all 300 words, they get a job with the MCV editorial team.
While I Did It Mum! Spelling is aimed at both sexes, Doll’s House will mainly appeal to young girls. Many gaming pundits would say that a product designed to explain the basics of Ibsen’s classic play to four to seven year-olds is possibly a little too niche. And they’d be right. Which is why I Did It Mum! Doll’s House is actually the first ever interactive doll’s house, in which youngsters get to actually take control of the doll and environment.
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Players take on the role of Emily, a young doll who must help her mum and dad around the house. Gamers are set a number of chores by their in-game parents, such as feeding the fish, laying the table or feeding Emily’s baby brother. Only by keeping the family happy, healthy and wealthy will they unlock new items for the doll’s house, allowing them to customise and re-decorate the miniature home.
It’s a game of make-believe that children have been enjoying for centuries, but now it’s on-screen with loads of rooms to customise, mini-games to play and rewards to be won. In between chores, players are encouraged to explore the house and discover new mini-games to enjoy. There are over 40 in total to find, spread across 11 rooms.
Not only are Doll’s House and Spelling released in time to capitalise on the impending gifting season, they are also early enough to make the most of the brief back to school trading period.
Combine this with the low price point, ideal for impulse buyers and gift purchasers, and 505 Games has a strong contender for the younger, more casual DS market in the upcoming quarter.
