Monday, June 22, 2009

ItzaBitza Review and Giveaway!

This post may contain affiliate or advertiser links. Read my full disclosure policy here.



Computer time is a hot commodity around our house. Especially when there are three kids trying to get in the hot seat and play! We recently received ItzaBitza for the kids to try out {and me to review}. Bottom line ~ the kids LOVE it! They've been taking turns over the last few weeks and enjoy playing it. Zachary is thrilled because even he is able to participate and work the game. I love that it is building word recognition, developing reading skills and the kids are being creative in the process!

What exactly is ItzaBitza?


ItzaBitza is a computer game where your child's creativity constructs the 'world' that the characters, called Sketchies, live in. When the Sketchies need something, children draw the objects for them. Initially, the Sketchies need a house. After the house is drawn {and it can be shaped like a boat or a tree}, it literally comes to life! The character goes into the house through the door and interacts with the drawing your child made.
"ItzaBitza includes five playsets. Each playset is a blank environment waiting for a child to use Living Ink to draw the objects needed within the environment. The blank environments include a location for a home, a camp site, a haunted house, outer space, and a farm. Children read sentences that appear as thought bubbles on their Sketchy. If the child hovers the mouse over a word, the word turns red, grows larger, and is pronounced in the voice of a child. As the children progress through the playsets, the sentences become richer in meaning and construction."
Just a note: My kids have not played with the haunted house aspect of the game, so I can't give you the details on that...most likely they would avoid it. It is one of the later levels in the game.

ItzaBitza also has a free trial download if you want to get a better idea of how your family would like the software.

To give you a visual idea about the software, here is a quick clip to help sum it all up:



The Specifics:
  • Price: $19.99
  • Ages: 4+
  • OS: Windows XP or Vista
  • Available online through 'buy and download' option
  • Boxed version available at Target, Best Buy, Office Depot, OfficeMax and Amazon.com
The Giveaway Rules!! I have two downloads available for two of my readers! Are you interested in winning? Here are the ways to earn up to four entries:
  1. Leave a comment on this post.
  2. Subscribe to my blog by reader or email ~ see the lovely button in the right sidebar? Leave me a comment to let me know when you do {or if you already follow this blog}.
  3. Twitter about this contest and then come back to leave an additional comment.
  4. Let your friends through Facebook or your blog know ~ come back to leave an additional comment after you post a link back to this giveaway.
*** This giveaway is now closed ***

The giveaway is open until Sunday, July 5th at 8pm
. Two winners will be chosen at random and I will announce the winners Monday, July 6th. Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you {i.e. blog address or email}. The winners will have 3 days to contact me and I will then email the code to unlock the game. If I haven't heard back within 3 days, I will draw another winner.

56 comments:

  1. This sounds like something m girls would love! Pick me!! :-)
    -Tracy tracy@funclarks.com

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  2. My family would put this to great use. It's a great idea for a child's game!

    Amy
    amylynnedirle@yahoo.com

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  3. I subscribed to your blog. Which will work better for me to see it, being that I never have time to surf randomly...

    amylynne
    amylynnedirle@yahoo.com

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  4. My boys would love this.

    rebeccaannec(at)gmail.com

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  5. OO I saw this when Katrina reviewed it and it looked so fun. It would be a while before Sammy could do it but I am sure Nicia would love to play it!

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  6. I am a follower/subscriber.

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  7. http://twitter.com/BytesofMemory/status/2280313524

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  8. Thank you for this giveaway! This looks like a very fun game!

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  9. My DD would LOVE this. Thanks for the chance to win!

    readandlearn@qualityusbornebooks.com

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  10. I subscribed via email!

    readandlearn@qualityusbornebooks.com

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  11. Blogged about it.

    http://embracingdestiny.blogspot.com/2009/06/this-looks-like-fun.html

    BTW, I'm still mad at you for winning the bookcase from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. That was MY bookcase. LOL

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  12. How cute that the drawing come to life. Computer time is a great motivational tool and I think my kids would work for this!

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  13. I blogged about it.

    http://delightfullearning.blogspot.com/2009/06/itzabitza-giveaway.html

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  14. this look so cute and fun. i'm sure my littles would enjoy this very much. i posted it on my facebook and i subscribed to your blog. thanks for this giveaway. blessings

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  15. the girls would love it! count me in!

    Joesette

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  16. oohhh, extra bonus bucks...I posted on my blog!

    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Joesette/701473/

    Joesette

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  17. Oh, that sounds like fun! Enter me, please.

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  18. I subscribe in Google Reader.

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  19. And, I Tweeted about it.

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  20. Very cool. My younger son would LOVE this!

    www.homeschoolblogger.com/kristenph

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  21. I already subscribe to your blog in my reader :)

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  22. I love these give aways. My three children also fight for that computer hot seat.

    Contact me at tiffppsscc@hotmail.com

    Thanks,
    Tiffany King

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  23. My kids adore computer games. They would love this! effieloren(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. Posted your link on my Facebook page. :)

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  25. My two oldest would have lots of fun with this game. Thanks for sharing!

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  26. I posted about your giveaway on my blog @ Our Homeschool Fun via Friday's Gracious Giveaways!

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  27. hello would lo9ve to win this game for my 5 year old who loves to draw

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  28. My daughter loves computer games and artsy things, so I think she'd enjoy this. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  29. My boys would love to have this game!

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  30. This would be so much fun for little ones. It looks really creative. I like this!

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  31. I put your button onto my blog

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  32. My daughter would love a chance to try this game. Thanks for the review.

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  33. WOW! what an awesome giveaway, thanks for the chance to enter and win :)

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  34. Great giveaway! Always looking for fun computer time for the kids.

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  35. What a neat giveaway. My LO's would love it.

    eric_danielle at netzero dot com

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  36. I follow you on blogger!

    eric_danielle at netzero dot com

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  37. Please enter me in your giveaway contest for the ItzaBitza. E-mail: rjdiesch@yahoo.com

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  38. I subscribed to your blog. Please enter me again in your ItzaBitza Giveaway. Thanks! My e-mail is rjdiesch@yahoo.com

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  39. This sounds like fun - my son would love it! My daughter is still a little young, although I bet she'd try when she saw her brother doing it...

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  40. My son would love this! He loves computer time!

    landress1999@yahoo.co,

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  41. Sign me up for this one!! We would love to win!

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  42. I blogged about it!!
    http://gaertegang.blogspot.com/2009/07/here-are-few-giveaways-going-on-around.html

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  43. I LOVE IT, MY KIDS WOULD TOO

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  44. My grandkids would love this!
    diane

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  45. My daughter would love this game!

    sekacamam@gmail.com

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  46. I subscribed via email :)

    sekacamam@gmail.com

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  47. I just saw this software on TV and came looking for a review by a real person :) I am a grandma who does day care for my grandkids, 5, 2, 2, 3 months (all boys) and a girl due in September. We would all love to have this.

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  48. I LOVE this product... Teachers children lots of reading skills and I will "tweet" about it!
    Cindy

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  49. cindys4682@hotmail.com

    awesome giveaway

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