Stardoll
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stardoll | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Stardoll AB |
| Publisher(s) | Stardoll AB; Mattias Miksche |
| Engine | Adobe Flash |
| Platform(s) | OS Independent (Web Based Flash) (Flash 7 Required) |
| Release date | April 3, 2006 |
| Media | Web interface |
| Input methods | Keyboard, Mouse |
Stardoll is a browser game based around the paper doll concept, aimed in general at the young female demographic. Launched in 2006, the website was attracting a reported 8 million unique users a month (as of February 2008), who dress up dolls using a range of tools and can participate in interactive activities depending on the type of account they use.[1]
Stardoll first appeared as Paperdoll Heaven in 2004 as creator Liisa's personal page on paper dolls grew from its original home on Geocities.[2] It expanded in 2006 after receiving venture funding from Index Ventures[3] and Sequoia Capital[4]. Relaunched in 2006, the site targets a demographic of girls and boys between the ages of nine and 17, who can either register for free or sign up for a paid account that opens a number of aspects on the site.[5]
The site has drawn interest from celebrities and fashion designers, some of whom are represented on the site either as one of the figures that can be dressed up (such as Avril Lavigne and Hilary Duff)[6] or through use of their fashions.[7] It has been named a Webware 100 winner by CNET.[8]
Some critics of Stardoll and similar sites have expressed concerns with the commercial aspect of Stardoll and similar sites and its effect on its users.[9]
Online bullying is sometimes evident on this website, even to the extent of creating "Burn Books", which put down certain members of Stardoll, even using inappropriate terms at times
