Whenever I’m home for holidays or birthdays, I find my tween sister glued to the computer playing either dress up games or Webkinz. Sadly but truly I have found myself revisiting those sites even after she has left the computer room and finally granted me find minutes on the computer. I must admit that there is a certain addictive quality to each game and even the idea of combining the two is enough to scare me with it’s potential of becoming web-crack.
Well, my scary thoughts materialized when Fabsugar released a game that lets you play dress up as well as shop in a virtual world. Fabsugar & Shopstyle’s Retail Therapy game is like a dangerous drug because you’ll be hooked after the very first time. The game lets you run your own store (something a lot of women like me played make believe at the age of eight), order inventory, decorate, make friends and then compete with those friends to see whose the best virtual shopkeeper of all! With an easy to find leaderboard, you’ve now got the additional competitive addiction as foursquare. It’s no surprise that such a mashup would result in an unbelievably addictive game.
With endorsements from advertisers like DVF, Topshop, Barney’s, Banana Republic and Gap, who are also integrated into the game, the fantasy has a reality twist to it that makes it OK for adults to play it. At least,that’s my excuse.
I’m off to immerse myself in more Retail Therapy and dare you to join me. I’m ready to bet a hundred virtual dollars that you will get hooked too.
Play Retail Therapy with me here.
