Teen Digital Diva II: Cosmic Guide & Journal

Description:

Teen Digital Diva II: Cosmic Guide & Journal takes last year's Teen Digital Diva: Create Your Own Magazine and adds a private Cosmic Journal with new features related to Western Astrology, Chinese Astrology, Numerology and Metasymbology.

Features:

• Teen Digital Diva: Create Your Own Magazine
• Cosmic Journal - private diary with custom backgrounds and clip art
• Celestial ID - personality chart using Western Astrology, Chinese Astrology, Numerology or Metasymbology
• Karmic Connection - compatibility chart for two people
• Mystical Makeover - elements of fashion and design most compatible with each astrological sign
• Dream Oracle - guide to interpreting symbolism in dreams
• Daily Fortunes - daily outlook with lucky color, time of day and more

Technical Aspects:

Report and Conclusions:

The format for Teen Digital Diva II is a private "Cosmic Journal" rather than a magazine. The new features are based on material that is very appealing to preteen and early teenage girls (but perhaps less so to their parents). Western and Chinese astrology, Numerology and Metasymbology are used to offer explanations for the pressing day-to-day worries of adolescents -- basically, how they look and who they like.

I explored the title alongside my twelve-year-old daughter. I was comfortable enough after sitting through it together to let her use it by herself without worrying that she will take the astrology or numerology seriously, but parents should be aware of the extensive new age influences in Teen Digital Diva II.

My daughter liked the splashy graphics and cool new wave music (there are five sound tracks from which to choose). We shared a good laugh over a Karmic Connection chart for my husband and me. There is a list of celebrity birthdays available within Karmic Connection, and my daughter had more fun making compatibility charts for some of her schoolmates and certain celebrities.

We looked up all four Celestial ID choices based on my daughter's name and birthdate. Not surprisingly, her results were widely divergent among the various methodologies. One very pleasant surprise in this feature is the excellent vocabulary used in the descriptions. Words such as "quixotic" and "epitome" are sure to send some users running to their dictionaries.

An interesting feature in Mystical Makeover is the ability to add models. I took a digital snapshot of my daughter with her hair pulled back and imported it into the program. The results were disappointing. The imported graphic may be scaled to the proper size, but there are only five skin tones for the surrounding neck and forehead, none of which came close to matching my daughter's skin. Some of the hairstyles did not cover the strip of contrasting forehead, and after just a few variations my daughter begged me to stop, saying that it was making her feel bad about herself. I pointed out that it was the program that looked funny, not her, but we did stop since she was obviously becoming distressed. Before moving on we were able to agree that purple streaks are not a good look for her (thank goodness!).

Of the two programs included on the CD, my daughter is more interested in the original Teen Digital Diva because she says there is more to do. I think it's also because she has other diary programs, but the ability to publish a magazine is fresh and exciting.

Teen Digital Diva II is priced at $30 (the same as the original Teen Digital Diva), and the dual title is worth that price. I read somewhere that owners of the first title would receive a discount on the updated game, but I could not find any reference to that on the web page. In my opinion the new material is not enough for owners of the original to pay full price for Teen Digital Diva II, but a discount or rebate might make the upgrade worthwhile.

Update: according to Activision customer relations, there is a $10 rebate for owners of the original title. Look for the rebate sticker on the Teen Digital Diva II box.