Game Console: Vtech V.Smile V-Motion Active Learning System

Product Details

Product Dimensions: 5 x 16 x 13 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
ASIN: B00160240M
Item model number: 80-078841
Manufacturer recommended age: 36 months - 7 years
Batteries: 4 AA batteries required.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: 6,156 in Toys ; Games (See Top 100 in Toys ; Games)

List Price : ~~$69.99~~
Price : $42.31
You Save : $27.68 (40%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review
Keep kids moving, learning, and having fun with the award-winning V.Motion Active Learning System from Vtech. This educational gaming system is designed to keep kids aged three to seven amused and motivated for hours at a time. They will have plenty of fun using the wireless controller to practice hand eye coordination, solve puzzles, and win races.

What We ThinkFun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Educational gaming system encourages creativity and problem solvingThe Bad: No option to use non-battery power with the consoleIn a Nutshell: This unique game system promotes active play and makes learning fun
At a GlanceAges: 3 to 7Requires: 4 AA batteries and 3 AAA batteries (included); TV; PC to use V-link features
Includes everything you need to get started with healthy, educational fun.
Included "Action Mania" Smartridge features six types of games . . Easy to Setup and ControlGetting ready for your child's first game is easy. Simply insert the included AA batteries into the game console and the included AAA batteries into the controller. Then connect the console to your TV using the include A/V cable, slide a Smartridge cartridge into the game slot, and you're ready to go.
For each game, there are two control options. Kids can pick to use the joystick as a directional controller, or they can pick to use the motion of the controller itself. This means that tipping the controller left, right, forward, or backward inspires a corresponding motion on screen, letting kids get up and move around instead of staying stationary in front of the TV.
This is extra fun when your on-screen character is doing something fast-paced, like racing down a bobsled course. On the flip side, games that require more nuanced controls are often easier to navigate using the joystick. There's even a switch that lets you decide which way is "up," so the controller can be customized to accommodate right and left handed players.
Lots of Ways to Play Educational GamesIt's easy to see why this system won the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval and the Creative Child Seal of Excellence. A variety of age-appropriate games teach concepts like numbers, letters, and shapes for younger children and let older children work on skills like counting, vocabulary, and matching.
These games feature popular characters like Dora the Explorer, Spiderman, Kung Fu Panda, and Scooby Doo, and they include features that range from races to puzzles to sing-alongs. When kids want to play with a friend or a sibling, there's a two-player mode. And a switch on the bottom of the controller lets you ensure that signals aren't being crossed if the second player comes with his or her own controller.
The included "Action Mania" Smartridge means that your child will have six distinct types of games to choose from right away. One option is to engage in a bobsled race where passing through gates requires answering questions related to counting or more advanced topics like understanding greater than and less than. Another option involves using the controller to balance on a ball and select healthy foods, like pineapple, and avoid "unhealthy" snacks, like sweets. The third game is situated on a tennis court and does an especially good job promoting the development of hand eye coordination.
Club VTech lets parents and kids connect online and participate in a family-centered learning community. The included USB V-link device makes it easy to move data from your home computer to your Active Learning System. Web connect features allow for bonus gameplay downloads that keep kids excited about this learning system, and parents have access to educational advice and special promotional offers.
Overall, the whole Vtech experience is designed to promote interaction and healthy lifestyle choices while making learning fun. Our one minor complaint is the fact that the console uses battery power instead of having a wall adapter, which would eliminate the disappointment of batteries dying in the middle of a game. But if you don't have a convenient outlet, or you want to use the same console on several different TVs, this feature can actually be a bonus.
What's in the BoxConsole, controller, wrist strap, 4 AA batteries, 3 AAA batteries, Smartridge, V-link, and user's manual.
Don't just park your child in front of the TV - put them in motion! The V.Smile Learning System gets kids moving while driving home lessons in math, reading, science, spelling and more. This brilliant breakthrough gaming console combines wireless, motion-activated play, Web connectivity and educational gaming into a system that plugs directly into your television. Get into the game with all your classic characters like Scooby-Doo, Thomas and Friends, and Spider-Man; plus some new ones like Kung Fu Panda, Wall.E, and Wonder Pets. Using the included controller, children can enjoy wireless action-packed play with animated friends that guide them through age-appropriate skill levels and developmental activities.
Includes one controller and Action Mania software. Double the fun with an additional controller, sold separately. Additional software sold separately. Requires 4 "AA" batteries, not included. Measures 1.5"L x 3.25"W x 5"H.
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Product Features

Wireless, motion activated joystick is also righty or lefty adaptable
100% compatible with the entire V.Smile Smartridge library
Web connect features allow for bonus game play downloads
Includes sports title
V.Link sold separately

Customer Reviews

I bought this for my 6 year old son, really excited that now he could have his own "wii" and might actually learn something while playing it. However, the motion controller is really hard to use - it's not very intuitive, and even I can't seem to get it to direct the characters on screen. On most of the games you can choose whether to play with motion or the joystick, and after a few times of trying to use the motion, he now only plays with the joystick because it was so frustrating. Needless to say, this product is not going to get your kids off the couch and moving while they're playing games.
Additionally, I'm not really sure where the educational content is in this product - there's a little bit scattered here and there (i.e. letters, words) but to be honest, he's not really learning much. Most of the games are more like traditional video games - it's almost like they just threw in some letters so they could call it "educational". Our next door neighbors have the Leapster and their mom has told me how much her boys have learned in terms of math and spelling, so I really thought this system would help my son in the same way (definitely not).
I tried to use the v link thing too - they say it's supposed to let me see his progress online. It's pretty weak - it's pretty hard to figure out the relative value of what they're telling me, and it's not really anything more than what I can pick up just by watching him play.
My sister just bought the new Leapster 2 for her daughter and she's already raving about it - plus it has this learning path thing online that tells her actual details about what her daughter is playing - even down to what questions she got wrong. Now that is cool.
My recommendation - buy a Leapster 2 if you want education or a Wii if you want motion - but don't waste your money on this.

I was dumb enough to buy this twice for my son because he loved it. Both times in about a month, the console would not power up anymore. I have since searched the internet ; found that 1000's of people are having the same problem. Vtech should listen to there customers ; fix this flaw in the console system.