MATTEL'S DIGITAL PIXEL CHIX UPSTAGE ANALOG BARBIE DOLL

ARE MATTEL'S NEW PIXEL CHIX GOING TO UPSTAGE THE ANALOG BARBIE DOLL?

Capturing the attention and affection of today's Generation M (for media) TWEEN is no easy feat when you're competing in a an always-on world of instant messaging, MP3 players, mobile phones, video game consoles and scores of other new hand-held gadgets and gizmos. Entering the electronic fray this week is the much-acclaimed new Pixel Chix (TM) trio of hand-held Tomagutchi-type attractions affectionally termed VFF's from Mattel.

WHAT"S A PIXEL CHIX? A 2-D Girl Living In A 3-D World

In the headline of it's press release announcing the new line on August 4, 2005, Mattel PR pros explain that a Pixel Chix is "A 2-D Girl Living In A 3-D World".  (click on thumbnail photo to see Pixel Chix in packaging). In fact here is the subhead from the Mattel press release explaining their newest acronym VFF: There's a new girl in town who is sure to become a V.F.F. (virtual friend forever) to girls everywhere. Available at retail stores nationwide this week, Pixel Chix(TM) pals, the newest interactive toys combine activities that mirror a girl's life with technology.

WHY VFFs?

"Our research indicates that half of all youth electronics purchases are made by girls, and Pixel Chix(TM) is the first youth electronics item that parallels a little girl's everyday life," said Stephanie Cota, vice president, girls marketing, Mattel Brands. Note this blogger is sure that lots of little boys and men will love to play with Pixel Chix too.....but that's another story for another publication isn't it?

click on thumbnail to see Pixel Chix out of packaging

TRIO OF PIXEL CHIX PADS: Miami Loft, Beverly HIlls Mansion and Country Cottage

Three different Pixel Chix(TM) houses are available: a stylish loft, a cozy country cottage and a lavish mansion. Up to 10 Pixel Chix(TM) houses can be connected together, allowing their "residents" to socialize -- they may chat with each other on the phone, engage in a special group dance or walk out their virtual front doors to visit each other's Pixel Chix(TM) houses for a party or movie night according to Mattel. Althought the Mattel press release does not include details on the house designers or architects, this blogger Joyce Schwarz, Hollywood2020, did a web search and found earlier pix supposedly from a Mattel press kit posted online at "Altered States" Magazine and ads at www.toywiz.com clearly indicating that the Mansion is not just any mansion but a BEVERLY HILLS MANSION and that the loft isn't in New York as one might assume but rather from Miami and the Country cottage, well...it's just a country cottage.

click on thumbnail to see Mattel's new PixelChix(TM)new trendy aqua-tinted Beverly Hills Mansion, one of 3 styles of Pixel Chix pads available now at retail. Note the Mansion is a roomy 4 inches wide.

BLUE MANSION IN BEVERLY HILLS? It's 6 p.m. PST so too late to check with the Beverly Hills zoning commission but we're not sure that you can legally paint your mansion these colors in Beverly Hills without getting protest from your neighbors. But you must admit at $30. (estimated retail price) the house is a buy. Just in case you're looking for a real Beverly Hills mansion, Hollywood2020 hears that the Osbourne (as in Ozzie) mansion is still on the market -- price is cute to a cool $11 million, alas, it's not this pretty aqua tint though.

MIAMI STYLE LOFT -- PIXEL CHIX 'pretty in pink' Rather go South Beach on me, then head for your local ToysRUs or go to Amazon.com and you'll find a Pixel Chix Miami style loft oh so pretty in pink.

click on thumbnail to see "pretty in pink" style Pixel Chix Miami loft version hand-held digital game from Mattel.

GOING COUNTRY? TRY PIXEL CHIX COTTAGE!

Check out the reviews of Jessica Simpson in the new DUKES OF HAZARD flick-- many refer to her as a 'real-life' Barbie Doll-- so maybe she'd love to GO COUNTRY with Mattel's new Country-cottage Pixel Chix version.                       

Check out Pixel Chix Country Cottage note it either comes in green with lilac trim or in this version Hollywood2020.blogs.com found on Amazon.com which is yellow with Pink trim. The original green with lilac trim was labeled Country and was the Pix in the Toy Fair '05 press kit we saw online at "Altered States" magazine. Alas, we called those PR gals/guys at Mattel but they must have headed off to their Beverly Hills mansions or maybe jetted to their Miami lofts because we didn't hear back before deadline.

       Mattel's Pixel Chix Pix of Cottage version from amazon.com in yellow with pink trim. Retails for $29.95 a lot less than a Ski cottage in Aspen where a quick websearch found lowest prices to start at $1000 per week. But then check out this listing-- maybe you could try Crested Butte Mountiain instead -- look --they promise to match all prices? Be sure to bookmark that link to Amazon.com's $29.95 price.Cached....Crested Butte Mountain Ski Cottage at Crested Butte -- Will Match All Rates! check Google for details but don't tell them we sent you. :)

SNORING -- A PIXEL CHIX PERK? - and at ENGADGET.com Cached .

Mattel's press release assures us that "A Pixel Chix(TM) pal comes to life in her virtual home when girls engage her in activities like those from their own everyday lives, such as trying on fashions and socializing with friends. During the day, the time-aware Pixel Chix(TM) pal will ask aloud, "What should we do?" Girls press an activity button -- food, fashion, play or go out -- to choose a play category and then select from the options presented to them using the "yes" or "no" buttons.

FABULOUS NOT HOT?

Dress her in a stylish outfit, and a Pixel Chix(TM) pal responds "fabulous." (PARIS HILTON NOTE --- Pixel Chix still say fabulous -- your new Pixelated model must say "THAT'S HOT" ! )

Choose a Pixel Chix favorite food, and she sits at the 3-D kitchen table to eat it. Send her to bed, and she climbs up the 3-D stairs to her bedroom, brushes her teeth, turns out the lights and begins lightly snoring.

PIXEL CHIX TECH STUFF: the inside scoop:

HACKING PIXEL CHIX -- okay so we searched-- we can't find a link to "hacking Pixel Chix" -- YET....

but we did find links for some other opinions on these new Chix at YpulseCached

HACKING BARBIE's VOICE BOX -- yet we bet that some Psycho Geek is out there yearning to hack into the Pixel Chix...instead we urge you to go to this link or do a Google search for "Hacking Barbie's Voice Box" and you'll find lots of funny bytes about Barbie Dolls replaced with GI Joe barritones or even other insanity like Cached

The Pixel Chix(TM) pal and her accessories appear in her house through a transmissive LCD screen displayed in negative mode. Two high-bright, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) illuminate the pixels on the display and the 3-D objects in the house. A Pixel Chix(TM) pal communicates with her V.F.F. (Virtual friend forever-- you or your daughter or your son --no reason to limit this unisex toy is there? blogger note) through embedded speakers and is powered by three AAA batteries (included).

Hey Dude -- she's got attitude too!!! Pixel Chix will (according to Mattel at least):

Restless Pixel Chix(TM)-- pal reminds you with tapping feet and a well-timed "ahem."

But I have a headache Pixel Chix(TM) Send her to bed during the daytime,and she says "no way" before sulking upstairs to her bedroom

Nighty Nite Pixel Chix: suggest she goes outside in her nightgown and a Pixel Chix retorts: "You want me to go outside in this?"

PIXEL CHIX PAL PACKS UP AND LEAVES: On the other hand, if girls forget to tend to their Pixel Chix(TM) pal, she will descend through levels of neglect, losing her accumulated treasures as her house becomes covered with cobwebs and, eventually, the Pixel Chix(TM) pal "packs up and leaves." (blogger note --don't all chicks do this? )

Comments

[accountants in ilford]

Hi, I would like to subscribe for this blog to obtain newest updates, so where can i do it please
help out.

[Jessica Lynn]

I just bought a pixel chix babysitting game I put in new batteries and it says ( in the instructions)that a woman will come through the door and talk to my pixel chix , but nothing happens the doorbell just keeps on ringing!
PLLLLLLEEEEEAAAASSSSEEE Please help!!!!!!!!!

[Natasha Clough]

i got a pixle chix thing ages ago and i just changed the battery and i dosnt work!!!!
why not? i am Angrey

[Ola]

Help

I bay Pixel Chix Roomies 3 days ago and I cant't star a game. This toy only play demo . We go step by step white instruction but toy dont't work.Pleas Help me my adress [email protected]

connect 2 houses press play button on one house and a pixel chix friend from the other house comes over.

connect 3 or more houses pixel chix pals wave to each other,talk on the phone,or dance. there you go I hope this advice is useful