Bella Sara Review

Bella Sara is a virtual world for girls that was launched in 2007 by Hidden City Entertainment. The website is aimed at girls from age 5 to 12 and focuses on the care of virtual magical horses. Bella Sara began as a children’s trading card game inDenmarkin 2005. It was specifically designed for girls and lacks the competition factor that other games have. After the popularity of the trading cards and the website, Bella Sara branched out into books, toys, DVDs, puzzles, apparel, arts and crafts and a back-to- school line.

There are no monthly or annual membership fees. The company generates revenue from the sale of merchandise across many lines of product, which allows them to keep the Bella Sara website free. However, members of Bella Sara are able to access more adventures, games and activities by entering in Secret Codes that are found in select Bella Sara products. Every trading card pack contains a Secret Code that can be redeemed on the website to enhance the member’s experience.

Features

Once children become members of Bella Sara, they choose a horse as an avatar to be their online personality. These avatars live in a fantasy world called North of North where they play games and enjoy adventures with other horses in Bella Sara Adventures. Members are given a home known as a cottage. All members are given one free horse. If they wish to have more than one, members must purchase the trading card packs to find a Secret Code. Trading cards also allow players to accumulate horseshoes – the official Bella Sara currency. Horseshoes allow players to buy everything from cottage furnishings, clothing, pets, food and accessories and necessities for their horses in an online shop called the Bazaar.

Once members have established their own online world, they are able to play non-combative games, solve puzzles and take their horses on adventures. The care of the horses is a major theme and members will discover all that is involved in taking care of a horse. Bella Sara also encourages members to submit original artwork and writing. There are also other design and art-related activities that members can download from the website. Parents should note that Bella Sara is completely free of social networking. Members cannot contact one another.

What’s Good

Bella Sara will appeal mainly to girls from age 5 to 12. The creators of Bella Sara have done a good job at staying within that demographic. Bella Sara is a very innocent, fantasy world and the website deserves credit for keeping things tame and not overreaching their demographic. There are no adult themes in the virtual world or in the games. There is no drinking, smoking, drug use, sex or offensive language. The graphics are well done – clean and clear. This is an obviously light virtual world and the colors match this mood.

The best feature of Bella Sara is what is not there. There is no social networking and members cannot contact each other through messages. By closing the door of contact with other members and not allowing them to post messages, Bella Sara gains immediate credibility. Often, virtual worlds tag a chat feature onto their website to entice a wider range of members to join. Bella Sara keeps it simple and they have it right – there is no reason why girls under 10 should have the ability to chat to one another. Let them have fun without opening up possibilities of inappropriate behavior.

What’s Bad

As with many other children’s virtual worlds, consumerism must be discussed. Although cross-promotion increases a company’s revenue, it can leave some parents feeling pressured to buy products. Bella Sara is no different. From a consumer’s standpoint, the website is simply a promotional tool for all of the other Bella Sara branded products. Parents need to keep a watchful eye on how many of these brands they buy because there are a lot of them.

Online Safety

Parents should feel completely comfortable leaving their children to play on Bella Sara because there is absolutely no way for members to contact one another. Parents should also rest assured that any personal information is never displayed. Children under 12 must have their membership approved by an adult. Although the Bella Sara brand is highly promoted, there is no third-party advertising. Information for parents is clearly marked and explained.

The Summary

Target Demography:
Bella Sara wisely sticks to their target and doesn’t overreach it.

Graphics: A
Fonts, colors and avatars are real and appropriate for the age group.

Educational Value: A-
Children learn about horses and how to take care of animals.

Entertainment Value: A-
Innocent fantasy world works well for young children.

Price:
Free. Special advanced features require Secret Codes found in trading cards members have to buy.

Visit Bella Sara at www.BellaSara.com.

The above Bella Sara review was written by a responsible parent and media professional who believes that child safety on the internet must be observed as a top priority. Contact us if you would like your virtual world reviewed too.