EyePet

$40, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Move

Teaches: creativity, causality

CTR Review

Bringing a new and interesting twist to the crowded virtual pet category, Sony has developed a sim designed to put you inside your monitor, where you can play with your pet on a more direct level. Designed for PS3 systems with the PlayStation Eye (required), EyePet is a virtual animal that requires daily care and feeding. We've been playing with a beta version -- watch for a full review. The pets, which look like a cross between monkeys and kittens, can learn and develop skills, become more intelligent and agile, and earn rewards. You can place an object such as a toy in front of the camera to see your pet interact with it. Pets can be tickled by waving your finger in front of the camera, poked or chased. It is possible to customize your pet with different toys and clothing items, from a library of 250 fashion items. Note that this title was originally planned for a 2009 release but was re-designed for use with the PlayStation Move system. In our tests with an early version, we learned that even older children seem to get attached to their pets. We're eager to try the concept with preschoolers.