Imagine is a series of simulation video games primarily for the Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Microsoft Windows, and Wii game consoles, released from October 2007 to February 2013. Imagine video games are aimed primarily at girls aged six to fourteen and are published by Ubisoft.
The Imagine series of games allows players to take on the role of various occupations, such as a fashion designer, rock star, movie star or teacher. Ubisoft became a leader in publishing "games for girls" for the Nintendo DS and Wii through the Imagine, Ener-G, and Petz series.
IGN stated that Imagine games vary wildly in quality, describing some games as "boring and soulless cash-ins that serves no purpose other than to financially take advantage of uninformed teenage girls" and others as "surprise hits [that] turned out pretty darn well." Likewise, a 2008 feature in Game Developer opined that Ubisoft's "casual titles"âÂÂspecifically mentioning the Imagine and Petz seriesâÂÂhad distinguished themselves by being "well-made non-shovelware" that didn't try to "take advantage of the innocence of the target market."
On the other hand, social researcher Laura Fantone, thought the series reiterated "dated ideas about female achievement" in which beautyâÂÂ"followed by virtue and exceptional luck"âÂÂis foremost in attaining improvement of status.
A large number of games have been released under the Imagine banner. These include: