The American Girls Premiere

The American Girls Premiere is an educational simulation game released in 1997 where players take on the role of a stage director, creating and editing plays starring characters from American Girl’s Historical roster, featuring digitized sprites from live theatre actors and historical insights.

The American Girls Premiere: Review

In the late 1990s, as the video game industry began to recognize the potential of the female gaming market, a unique educational title emerged that would capture the imagination of young girls across America. “The American Girls Premiere,” released in 1997 by The Learning Company, wasn’t just another game—it was a creative platform that allowed players to step into the role of theatrical director, crafting their own stage productions featuring beloved characters from the American Girl historical collection. This comprehensive review explores how this innovative title combined education, creativity, and the power of licensed properties to create an enduring legacy in the world of children’s software.

Development History & Context

The story of “The American Girls Premiere” begins with the convergence of two significant forces in children’s entertainment: the burgeoning American Girl brand and the growing recognition of girls as a viable gaming demographic. Pleasant Company, the creator of the American Girl dolls and books, had already established itself as a leader in educational toys for girls, with its historical character line representing different periods of American history. From Felicity Merriman in colonial America to Molly McIntire during World War II, these characters had captured young readers’ imaginations through meticulously researched books and accompanying dolls.

The Learning Company, meanwhile, was seeking to expand its educational software offerings beyond traditional subjects like math and reading. Their acquisition of the rights to create a game based on the American Girl characters represented a strategic move into what was then considered an untapped market. As Linda Ehrmann, vice president of Internet business strategy consulting firm Grey Interactive, noted at the time, “In the interactive media space, girls are for the most part totally ignored.”

The development team, led by Jean Sharp as producer and Sheila Dols as project director, faced the challenge of creating a game that would appeal to girls while maintaining educational value. They chose to build upon MECC’s earlier game “Opening Night,” which allowed players to create mystery dramas, but adapted it to feature the American Girl characters and historical settings. This decision would prove crucial, as it provided a proven framework while allowing for the unique elements that made the game special.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

At its core, “The American Girls Premiere” is about storytelling and creativity. The game’s narrative structure is inherently open-ended, allowing players to create their own theatrical productions rather than following a predetermined storyline. However, the rich historical context provided by the American Girl characters adds layers of depth and meaning to the creative process.

Each character brings their own historical period and cultural context to the stage. Felicity Merriman’s colonial-era America offers opportunities to explore themes of independence and tradition, while Addy Walker’s Civil War-era stories provide a platform for discussing freedom and family. The game’s Director’s Guide enhances this educational aspect by providing historical facts and cultural context for each era, from the clothes children wore to the pastimes they enjoyed.

The game’s themes extend beyond simple historical education. Through the act of creating and directing plays, players learn about storytelling structure, character development, and dramatic presentation. The ability to write dialogue and use the text-to-speech feature encourages literacy and creative writing skills. The game also promotes an understanding of theatrical production, from set design to costume selection to lighting.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

“The American Girls Premiere” employs a drag-and-drop interface that allows players to create theatrical productions with relative ease. The game’s two-disc format separates the installation and tutorial content from the main gameplay, ensuring smooth performance during the creative process.

The core gameplay loop involves several key components:

1. Scene Creation: Players select from various sets representing different locations from each character’s story world. These range from Felicity’s colonial parlor to Molly’s World War II-era bedroom.

2. Character Management: Each historical character has multiple outfits authentic to their time period, along with supporting characters from their story arcs. Players can position characters on stage and assign them actions from a selection of 16 different movements.

3. Dialogue and Voice: The game offers two options for dialogue – players can either record their own voice or use the built-in text-to-speech feature. The text-to-speech option includes adjustable pitch and tempo settings, allowing for creative character voices.

4. Production Elements: Players can add props, adjust lighting for dramatic effect, incorporate sound effects, and select period-appropriate music to enhance their productions.

The game’s educational value is woven into these mechanics. For example, selecting appropriate costumes and props for each historical period teaches players about historical accuracy and cultural context. The process of writing dialogue and creating coherent storylines develops literacy and storytelling skills.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The visual presentation of “The American Girls Premiere” is notable for its use of digitized sprites from live theatre actors and actual accessories from the American Girl Collection. This approach, reminiscent of games like “Mortal Kombat,” gives the characters a realistic quality that enhances the theatrical experience.

The art direction maintains consistency with the established aesthetic of the American Girl brand, with detailed period costumes and authentic props. Each historical setting is carefully crafted to reflect its time period, from the colonial-era furniture in Felicity’s scenes to the 1940s decor in Molly’s world.

The sound design is equally impressive, featuring period-appropriate music for each character’s time period. The text-to-speech feature, while sometimes struggling with longer or more complex words, adds a unique element to the creative process. The inclusion of various sound effects, from crackling fires to radio broadcasts, helps create immersive theatrical productions.

Reception & Legacy

Upon its release, “The American Girls Premiere” received mostly positive reviews, with critics praising its ability to provide children with a creative outlet. SuperKids noted that “those who chose to spend time with the program were delighted with their creations,” while Lisa Karen Savignano of AllGame gave it a largely positive review despite noting its steep learning curve.

The game’s commercial success was significant, achieving the highest monthly dollar and unit sales of any single product in The Learning Company’s history up to that point. This success helped establish the viability of games targeted specifically at girls, contributing to what would become known as the “girls’ game movement” of the late 1990s.

The game’s influence extended beyond its immediate commercial success. It demonstrated that educational software could be both entertaining and instructive, paving the way for future educational titles. The game also showed that licensed properties could be successfully adapted into interactive experiences that maintained the integrity of the original brand while offering new ways to engage with the content.

Conclusion

“The American Girls Premiere” stands as a significant milestone in the history of educational gaming and the representation of girls in video games. Its innovative approach to combining historical education with creative expression created a template for future educational titles. The game’s success helped establish the viability of the girls’ game market, contributing to a broader recognition of the importance of creating content that appeals to female gamers.

While the game’s graphics and technology may seem dated by today’s standards, its core principles of encouraging creativity, teaching historical awareness, and providing a platform for storytelling remain relevant. The game’s legacy can be seen in modern educational software and in the continued success of the American Girl brand across various media.

For its time, “The American Girls Premiere” was more than just a game—it was a creative tool that empowered young girls to tell their own stories while learning about history and theater. Its impact on both the educational software market and the broader gaming industry makes it a noteworthy entry in video game history, deserving of recognition for its innovative approach to combining entertainment with education.