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Stardoll is a browser game based around the paper doll concept. 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]
Screenshots
Background
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 9 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 also has user-run fashion magazines, clubs, instant messaging, and virtual shopping. Each Stardoll member is supplied with a personal page and message one another via a built-in chat. 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 respective fashions labels.[7] It has been named a Webware 100 winner by CNET Networks|CNET.[8] Members of Stardoll are also able to purchase a superstar account
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] The site has also experienced controversy around their use of celebrity likenesses without permission from the celebrities' management.[10]
Participating celebrities
- Alberta Ferretti
- Alyson Michalka
- Amanda Michalka
- Amy Diamond
- Ashley Olsen
- Avril Lavigne
- Cole Sprouse
- Darin
- Dylan Sprouse
- Gosia Andrzejewicz (Gosia Pearline)
- Faith Hill
- Heidi Klum
- Hilary Duff
- Kat Von D
- Malina Joseph
- Mary-Kate Olsen
- Camilla and Rebecca Rosso
- Paulina Porizkova
- Pussycat Dolls members Ashley Roberts, Carmit Bachar, Jessica Sutta, Kimberly Wyatt, Melody Thornton, Nicole Scherzinger
- Sabrina Bryan
- Vivienne Tam
Participating Fashion Labels
- Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti
- DKNY
- ELLE
- Vivienne Tam
- Jordache
- Heidi Klum for Jordache
- Heidi Klum Jewelry
- Stuff by Hilary Duff
- The Mary Kate and Ashley Brand
- Elizabeth and James
References
- ↑ Dress-Up for Dollars. New York Times Magazine. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
- ↑ Stardoll.com: From Little Things Big Things Grow. TechCrunch. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
- ↑ Index Ventures, accessed April 25, 2008]
- ↑ Virtual Dress-Up Site Gets $6M. Red Herring. Retrieved on May 4, 2008.
- ↑ MySpace not their space. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
- ↑ Word of Mouse: Creating a musical buzz online. NPR. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
- ↑ Donna Karan, Sephora to sell in Stardoll Web world. Washington Post. Retrieved on May 4, 2008.
- ↑ Webware 100 Winner: Stardoll. Webware. Retrieved on May 4, 2008.
- ↑ When the Internet becomes child's play. iol.co.za. Retrieved on May 4, 2008.
- ↑ Millions Of Us and Virtual Greats; Merchandising and Virtual Goods. Virtual Worlds News. Retrieved on June 12, 2008.
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