Nikki Reed enters 'Style Lab' with middle schoolers

"Twilight's" Nikki Reed, right, and a Vista Middle School student check out Nintendo DS.

Video games are showing off their girly side, and "Twilight's" Nikki Reed was at Panorama City's Vista Middle School on Monday to take part in some femme bonding, Nintendo-style.

Ubisoft this week launched two new games for the Nintendo DS aimed at tween girls -- "Style Lab: Jewelry Design" and "Style Lab: Makeover." And they brought those games straight to the people who would love them most -- middle-school girls.

The event was in connection with After-School All-Stars, an enrichment program founded by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2002 to provide educational activities to tweens and teens as an alternative to riskier options.

CC and I were on hand as well to check out the games and the program. ... Well, CC was really focused on the ice cream and a super-friendly publicity account executive. (Thank you, Esther!)

I could see the games really appealing to young girls. It brought me back to my sleepover days, when I'd invite friends over and play with mom's blue eye shadow and crazy necklaces.

With "Style Lab: Makeover," players can create an avatar of themselves and trick out their virtual faces and hair with whatever styles they can think of. Eyeshadow? check. Highlights? check. Blue highlights? Oh, yeah. The great thing -- at least for parents -- is that all of this ends up on the screen instead of in tears.

"Style Lab: Jewelry Design" allows players to create their own pendants, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. They can then order their designs online from Artbeads.com.

What's also great for parents is that Ubisoft offers a Parent's Corner, where moms and dads can get a better feel for the games their kids are playing. There are frequently asked questions, forums and basic info that describes the games and the ratings.

Parents can even check out a version of the games online -- you know, if you're dying to see what you might look like with blue highlights.