Babyz

by Mindscape

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00002DDN5
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: October 22, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,064 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #3 in Software > Children's Software > Virtual Pets
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"

Our testers still go back to those excellent simulations, Dogz and Catz. Fans of these programs will be happy to know that now there's Babyz, which Mindscape is calling the "next generation" of a virtual life form. Yes, this enjoyable program lets you take care of your very own virtual baby!

After you choose a baby from the adoption center, you can talk to it through your computer's microphone- the babies respond to sounds, although they can't discriminate words. Note that this program uses IBM's ViaVoice technology, which must be installed and then "trained" on your computer in order to work. This also requires the use of a headset, which plugs into your computer's microphone jack. Some testers had trouble with this process and had to play without the microphone. Others had no set-up difficulties and everything worked fine.

Your babies can be rocked, tickled, fed, bathed and loaded down with toys, and they don't respond well to neglect. As you play, your baby grows and eventually can talk and then toddle. Babyz can be downloaded from an on online adoption center and left at Grandma's house when you don't have time to watch them.

Our testers were quickly hooked by all the features and power of this program.
Teaches: caring for others, interpersonal development
Age Range: 5-up Copyright © 2000 Children's Software Revue

Amazon.com Review

Make way for Babyz! Adopt an adorable virtual kid in this amazing, playful simulation of child rearing from the company that brought you Catz and Dogz. Each Babyz (that's singular, too) is darling and unique--choose one of fifteen to adopt or, if none of them is just right, check out their Web site with plenty more to pick from, changing every day.

You can have up to three in one house, and then the fun begins. Name your Babyz, clothe them, give them toys, feed them, watch them play in the backyard, or just give them a tickle when they look bored. The software runs both like a normally selected program and as a screensaver--if you're not careful, the Babyz will take over your screen when you're not looking!

The graphics are playful and imaginative, the costumes are cute, and the house itself is full of stuff for the Babyz to explore. The package comes with a headset microphone and voice-recognition software so you can even talk to your Babyz--or teach them to speak. Short, simple words will start yammering back at you before long, and you'll wonder how you ever lived without a babbling Babyz in your computer. --Rob Lightner

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Babyz is adorable and fun for all ages!, June 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Babyz (CD-ROM)

It is my pleasure to write a review for this very excellentgame. While I was shopping for software for my handicaped daughter, Ineeded software that would hold her interest. I came across this game and the box looked so cute and sounded quite like something she would enjoy, seeing as how she enjoys baby's. This program has helped her build her skills in taking care of a baby, feeding, playing, caring for it when it gets sick. This software is great for the young child or older child or even the mothers and grandmothers. I have played it myself and love it. The baby's are fun to watch as they grow up from the crawling stage to standing. In the game you start out with one babyz and you can add more babies, up to three to take care of at one time. Having to take care of three is a challenge! The baby's do get sick at times and if not taken care of properly, they will stay sick. Yonger children will need mom to help them with this game. The best age for this game would be eight years and older in order to play alone without much help. The game consist of one house, with kitchen, living room, bedroom, play room,changing room, attic, and a play yard out side. Also you can feed the babyz bottles, cookies and food or let them feed themselves and boy, do they make a mess! My daughter has excelled in this game, she now takes care of two by herself, and has taught her babyz to read, talk and stand by themselves. The game comes with a microphone that you use to talk to the babyz and help them to understand your words. As the babyz get older and understand some of your words, they then can go and find the toy that you ask them to get. If you have daughters or sons who love babies, and most do, then by all means buy this sofware for them and they will gain more responsibility in helping their own siblings.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sooo adorable!, August 28, 2000

By 

"volleyballgirl" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babyz (CD-ROM)

Want a baby? Why not get one on your very own computer? "Babyz" is an adorable computer game that should spark your own kids' imaginations. The baby which is on the box you purchase will be your baby, so after installing it, Babyz asks you just what you want to name your (first) bundle of joy. Pick your name, and roll! Take your baby to the changing room and pop him/her in the tub while you go through the changing room. This room has all kinds of features: hairbrushes for those babies with hair, medicine for the sick ones, thermometers, and lots of clothes. Get your baby out, scrub it clean with the towel, and then slip on a diaper of your choice. Beware: You must change diapers once you hear a squishy noise coming from your baby, for that means it has a very dirty diaper needing to be changed. Anyway, after it's clothed in such things from a tiger suit (a must for those adventrous ones!) to a plaid jumper with navy socks, take it on a stroll in the backyard, where a slide is all ready for it, meal time, where your baby will eat everything from mashed carrots (just take the carrot out of the spoon and it will give you a blob that they will eat) to oatmeal. Put it in the microwave and wow ! Suddenly it's heated up for your baby. You can take it into the living room where it'll listen to Bingo or Sonatina, and who knows ? Your baby could start to love Minuet in G! The possibilities are endless... take your baby to the spooky attic where you can get seeds and watering cans to plant flowers in the backyard, or when baby kicks up a tantrum, settle it down for a quick nap. Once it falls asleep, listen to it via monitors in every room, and go visit the house yourself. Also, if you have more than one baby, send one to Gramma's house (don't worry, he/she can come back at any time) while you and other baby explore. Of course, Babyz do get sick, and warm clothes and constant medicine help. So get Babyz! You'll love the fun, enjoyment, blobs of food all in your kitchen (must use a towel to clean up; otherwise you've got a nice redone kitchen), and dirty diapers of Babyz from Mindscape!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really great game!, May 8, 2001

By 

Jen (Canada!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babyz (CD-ROM)

All I have to say is this game is REALLY good! I really enjoy dressing the babyz up! Feeding time is a bit hard, especially when u have more than one baby! All babyz have different qualities and personalities. For example one of my babyz is very laid back and easy going, while one of my other babyz is fussy and cries a lot. Some babyz will eat anything you feed them and play with any toys you give them, but others won't eat anything exept their bottle and will hardly play with any toys, except maybe one particular toy. You also have to change their diapers, which is gross because it makes squishy noises (lol). The game comes with a microphone so you can talk to your baby. The babyz gradually grow up. They start off crawling on their belly, then crawl in hands and knees then they stand and soon after that, they are full grown. Full grown babyz can take a few steps. They also learn to talk. The game offers a wide selection of foods, which include carrots, meat, veggies and peas and much more. Plus some babyz fan sites offer "hexed" food to download. Some of clothes include different colored diapers, jumpers, sleepers, sweaters and shorts and much, much, MUCH more (their is a lot of clothes). You can also download "hexed" clothes from web sites. My personal favourite outfit is the blue bubble shirt and the jeans with light blue socks, and the blue bow on the head for little girls. You have to do many other things for your babyz like bathe them, put them to sleep, read to them and play music for them. Their is also a backyard with a slide, and sometimes buterflys and bunnies come onto the screen. Most babyz like to watch and play with them! There are a lot of playscenes: the backyard, the kitchen, the living room, the play room, the bedroom, the changing room, the attic and the "secret" playpen, which you get by pressing ctrl and p at the same time. All in all, this game is very fun, addicting and even educational! I suggest you buy it as soon as possible!