Bella Sara

Infobox_Game | subject_name= Bella Sara
image_link=
image_caption= Example of Series 1 card.
designer= Gitte Odder Braendgaard
publisher= Hidden City Games
players= 2-6
ages= 5+
setup_time=
playing_time= Approx ??? min
complexity=
strategy=
random_chance= Some
skills= Card playing
Arithmetic
Basic Reading Ability
footnotes=
bggid=30637

Bella Sara is a trading card game with online interaction and is published internationally by Seattle-based game company Hidden City Games. The cards are marketed toward girls and have images of illustrated horses and friends with positive, inspirational messages on them. As with all collectible card games, cards can be traded or used to play games. Each card also includes a unique activation code which can be used to play online at the cards' website. [cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/23235775/ |title=Toys Take To The Web |accessdate=2008-05-27 |author=Joseph Pisani |date=19 Feb 2008 |publisher=cnbc.com]

History

Bella Sara was started in Denmark by Gitte Odder Braendgaard, who intended to create an alternative to other popular trading card games, such as Pokemon and , that would be more suited to girls and lack the element of competition present in the other games. After the game proved successful in Scandinavia, the cards were released on a trial run to United States consumers in Seattle and San Diego at the end of 2006. Sales during that trial run were high enough to convince retailers to take the cards national in March 2007 by Hidden City Games. [cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/business/12bella.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=business&adxnnlx=1200098026-HFLEJekkTVnIPanUmgpwvg |title=With Ponies, Unicorns and Secret Codes, an Effort to Unleash a Craze for Girls |accessdate=2008-01-11 |author=Allen Salkin |date=November 12, 2007 |work= |publisher=The New York Times] Since then the cards have continued to grow in popularity with pre-teen girls because of the horse subject matter, the collectibility, and the ability to "own" their own horse online.

Card availability

Cards can be purchased in booster packs, value boxes, and tins, each of which contains a random assortment of cards. Card packs can be purchased online or at a number of retailers world wide.www.bellasara.com] All cards are published for a limited time in "sets". There are six sets of cards with another in the making. They are:
*"Series 1" - 55 cards + 9 foil cards, silver background
*"Series 2" - 97 cards + 27 foil cards, gold background
*"Northern Lights" - 55 cards + 17 foil cards & 4 Gen Con 2007 cards, pale blue background
*"Ancient Lights" - 55 cards + 17 foil cards & 5 special cards, pink background
*"Native Lights" - 55 cards + 17 foil cards & 4 special cards, lavender background.
*"Magical Friends" - 120 new cards: 74 regular horse cards (each with a unique magical friend), 34 extra-rare “shiny” horse cards and 12 new Friend cards, lavender background
*"Baby Bella" - Releasing early October '08 more information at www.Bellasara.comabybella

Each card contains a code that unlocks a virtual version of that horse at www.bellasara.com where kids can find horse jumping and riding games, puzzles, coloring books, interactive storybooks, customizable cottages, and much more. Cards activated also give kids horseshoes to buy items in the bazaar or unlock extra game features.

Bella Sara cards are currently available in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Australia and South Africa, Mexico with more countries planned for 2008.

Since its international debut, Bella Sara has received awards from numerous child development and parenting authorities, including the "Toy of the Year '08" and the “Seal of Excellence” from Creative Child magazine, “Seal of Approval” from the National Parenting Center, the “Excellent Product” and “Outstanding Product” designations from iParenting Media, and “Best Products” award from Dr. Toy.

BellaSara.com Website

* There is no cost to visit or register with the website.
* There are currently no social networking or community components to the website, making it a safe and private online destination for kids.All about the Bella Sara game...There are three main types of Bella Sara horses and all the horses fall under one of the following categories: Air, Land, and Water. Each horse has its own card with its own message, like “You can climb huge mountains if you choose your paths wisely,” or “Start each day with a happy thought,” Once girls create a free account at www.bellasara.com, they can type in the codes on the cards and that horse will appear in their online stable. They can groom and feed their horses and put fresh hay in the stalls, using the mouse. The Bella Sara online world is full of fantastic places to explore; features such as games, puzzles, quizzes, and storybooks can be enjoyed besides caring for the horses. By playing horsey games such as “Magic Bubble Wand” and “Cloud Jumper,” girls can earn awards and horseshoes, the currency in the Bella Sara world. Horseshoes are also earned by activating cards. They can be traded at the Bazaar for items for the cottage, like animals, furniture, decorations, “wonders” (such as a magic carpet or fire for the fireplace), toys, and even extra rooms. Much more is planned for the future.

Licensed Product

Other Bella Sara licensed products include; Codemaster DS & PC Game,Simply Fun Treasure Trot, Harper Collins Stories and Activity, Books, Masterpieces Activities, Ultra Pro portfolios, and other international product lines.

References

External links

* [http://www.bellasara.com Bella Sara official site]
* [http://www.hiddencitygames.com Hidden City Games official site]
* [http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/5/26/ Bella Sara in pop culture]
* [http://www.bellasara.com/babybella Bella Sara's upcoming release official site (October '08)]
* [http://pressroom.bellasara.com/pr/bellasara/default.aspx' Bella Sara Pressroom] [http://www.webkeeper.co.uk/bellasaratrader Uk Bella Sara Stockist]