14 DAY TRIAL // Does anyone in the audience want to become the "perfect bimbo"? Because the Internet offers anyone that chance. And don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against bimbos. And I don't have anything against a bimbo simulator MMO. But marketing this game to girls between 9 and 16 years of age I think it's pretty much wrong.
Nicholas Jacquart, a French entrepreneur, initially created the game in French, for the French market. Controversy ensued after more than 1,2 million users created accounts on the site. More and more family oriented NGOs criticized the way young girls were encouraged to get plastic surgery, especially breast enhancements, and to remain thin by using any means available.
The French entrepreneur has recently moved to England and created Ouza Ltd to promote the game in the UK. The missbimbo site was created and more than 200,000 user accounts have been created so far, in less than a month since the game was launched. Registration on the site itself is free of charge, but money is made by charging for text messages that are used to acquire the in-game currency, aptly named "bimbo dollars".
The game clearly plays on the fashion-and-celebrity culture that has developed around various celebrities, ranging from Paris Hilton to Britney Spears, and on the clear appreciation that the core demographic targeted has for such persons. And every bit of text and imagery on the site is over the top, encouraging not eating and a little "nip and tuck" to get a modeling contract.
With such presentation and game material, the site quickly attracted complaints from groups associated with child behavior. Specialists say that youngsters are easy to influence and cannot easily distinguish between the game and reality. They might take some of the in-game goals and advice and apply them to their own life.
I've always argued for less restrictions on videogames and for more open discussion about what subjects are fair game for games and what subjects aren't appropriate. In the case of Miss Bimbo, it's easy to see that we are dealing with a sort of exploitation, taking a subject out of context and pushing its boundaries to monetize a theme. But given the subject matter and the rather tactless approach, I guess such a game might be too much. I for one wouldn't want my daughter to play such an on-line game.
Is something like this an expression of free speech? Does such a game answer a genuine need the target public has? Even if the answer to the first question is "yes", the answer to the second question must be "no". And the apparent success, which is probably due only to the shock factor of the Miss Bimbo idea, will make the public backlash against not only this game, but the whole videogame industry. Which is clearly undeserved.