Vtech - V.Smile TV Learning System
Friday, September 26, 2008 23:49Vtech - V.Smile TV Learning System
Binding : Toy
ProductGroup : Toy
Manufacturer : V.Smile
Brand : VTech
Label : V.Smile
Publisher : V.Smile
Model : 80-075200
Studio : V.Smile
Lowest New Price: USD $34.99
- The console connects directly to your home TV, no additional equipment required
- A whole library of your child¿s favorite characters
- The innovative joystick adjusts to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed users and features a writing pad and stylus for writing activities
- A second joystick can be connected for two-player game play
- Microphone included for sing-along fun
Turn game time into brain time with the new V.Smile TV Learning System. This learning tool combines TV and video games with learning to create an engaging and educational experience for preschoolers. Simply plug the console into your TV, pop in a Smartridge and let the gaming adventures begin. Your little one will enjoy both modes of play that V.Smile has to offer: adventure mode for a realistic gaming experience and learning fun mode for unique educational games. It includes a joystick that is adaptable for right or left-hand play, as well as the V.Smile console. The joystick is easy to use and features a chunky enter key, so little hands can guide their games with ease. There's even a built-in storage compartment where you can hide up to six V.Smile games. UL listed. Requires 4 "AA" batteries (not included) or can be run by a 9V adapter (not included). Smartridges sold separately.
Limit one per household.
Amazon.com Product Description
Finally, a video game system that parents can feel good about! With children asking for video games at younger and younger ages, the VTech V.Smile TV Learning System is designed to make makes both kids and parents happy, combining entertainment and education with age-appropriate games and activities. Designed especially for kids ages three to eight, this learning system even offers different levels of play, allowing the educational output to grow along with the children.
Kid-Friendly Features
With an included A/V adapter, the V.Smile hooks up directly to televisions, requiring no additional equipment. Built for small hands, the innovative joystick controller adjusts to accommodate both right- and left-handed users and features four flashing buttons and an oversized enter button. The joystick even has a stylus and writing pad for writing activities to teach proper letter stroke order. With a spot for a second joystick, kids can invite their friends over for two-player game play. The V.Smile also comes with a microphone for sing-a-long fun.
Learning Made Fun
A unique alternative to other systems, the V.Smile is built inside and out with young children in mind. The games build skills in spelling, logic, counting, problem solving, phonics, and vocabulary. Kids have so much fun with the V.Smile that they don't even realize how much they're developing their minds in language, science and math.
The games -- called "Smartridges" -- feature popular favorite characters like Scooby Doo, Dora, Thomas, and Shrek. Each Smartridge includes four or five additional learning zone games aimed at improving specific scholastic skills. This system comes bundled with one Smartridge. A wide selection of games are available separately and are organized into three levels of educational play: Early Learners (ages 3-5), Junior Thinkers (ages 4-6) and Master Minds (ages 6-8). With this range of educational output, children can advance to new games as they learn and grow. The Smartridges play in both the V.Smile TV Learning System and the handheld Pocket V.Smile.
What's in the Box
V.Smile TV Learning System, one Smartridge, joystick, microphone holder, A/V adaptor, and manual.
 With an included A/V adapter, the V.Smile game system hooks up directly to televisions. |  Innovative joystick controller adjusts to accommodate both right- and left-handed users. |  Each Smartridge includes four or five additional learning zone games aimed at improving specific scholastic skills. |
Second child! (2009-01-02)
This is for my second grandchild. The first grandchild was my very active grandson and he loved to play with it. Now we are passing the games along to my beautiful granddaughter. The first one just stopped working but all the games are still good so here we go again!
This toy broke after only 1 week. (2008-12-30)
As others have said, this toy has big problems with power supply. The on/off switch is very finicky and the games freeze mid-game. This is really too bad, because it's a very fun toy. My kids are very disappointed that their Christmas toy did not even last until New Year's Day. What a bummer.
It's a good start for teaching children to use game systems (2008-12-29)
The Vsmile is a console game system for young children which includes an adjustable joystick with a writing pad and a microphone, all of which are used in the available games.
Pros:
1. Reinforces learned skills in math, language acquisition, shapes, colors and other basic skills. Please note that the games DO NOT "teach" new skills (at least not very well), they only reinforce learned skills. If you are hoping your child will learn math or reading from these games, that is likely only going to happen if you are helping them. It appears to be expected that the child can already do some of this.
2. Comes with a microphone that allows karaoke with some games - even our 3 year old loves this.
3. Kids enjoy the games. Most of the games feature recognizable characters such as princesses, Dora, Spiderman, etc. I guess this can be good or bad depending upon what you want from games.
4. A fair selection of games available - lots more games available ordering online (most stores only carry a small selection of 15 games or less which can make the selection rather limited if you are discriminate about what you allow your child to play - for example, SpongeBob is not something I let my kids watch so I don't let them have the game either, but I've found that additional titles can be found online).
5. Most VMotion games are compatible with the Vsmile which expands the titles available for VSmile.
Cons:
1. The graphics are terrible and game control is pretty awful - I realize that you aren't paying an extraordinary amount for the machine, but really, couldn't they AT LEAST do as well as the original Nintendo with regards to graphics? The game control issues could be lived with if it wasn't targeted at 3-6 year old kids who, on the younger end of that spectrum, don't have much coordination yet.
2. The games cost a lot. At $20 a game, it can get really expensive to have much of a selection. And if you add into that the fact that some of the games can be played through relatively quickly, it becomes quite expensive to have enough games to keep the kids entertained for long.
3. The games tend to be repetitive and redundant. Much of the length of time required to do the games is achieved by having to do the same things over and over again. My husband thinks that there is a lot of borrowed material between the games - basically that they have you doing the same things - just with a different character which is a bit of a rip off.
4. The games are too difficult for the age range listed on the package. My oldest daughter just turned 5 two weeks ago, is already reading, and is still struggling with parts of the games labeled "4-6 years". Within the same game and on the same skill level, the skill level actually required is vastly different. For example, in the Elmo game, in some parts of the game you really only have to know your letters or your colors to make it through, while in other parts they expect you to be able read a word and figure out something about it. It doesn't get progressively harder as they get more right as the games are not that complex, it's just that either the kid knows it or doesn't which makes it hard to find a suitable game where the child can actually play through the whole thing. Either they will be bored with parts of it or they will find parts to difficult to get through.
5. Many people claim the system wears out really fast. We purchased our Vsmile for our children for Christmas last year, and despite claims that it wears out quickly, we haven't had any trouble with ours as of yet. The system itself does not seem incredibly sturdy to me, so we always watch our kids when they are playing to make sure they are are not being rough with it. It seems like one of those hit or miss things with it working for many people - maybe it's a quality control issue?
Overall, I think this can be a fun system. My oldest daughter (5) really enjoys it while my younger daughter (will be 4 in 3 months) is still not ready to play it. If you are willing to live with the fact that it is sub par even as a child's gaming system, it's still a lot of fun for them at least for a while. I don't regret buying it. I just wish it was better quality.
Vtech Smile (2008-12-25)
My young grandchild is enjoying Vtech Smile and it was a wonderful gift for her.
fun when working (2008-11-30)
I have bought 2 of these v. smile consoles, and neither are working anymore. The first one quit several months into play, and the second one lasted a little longer at about 6 months. They weren't dropped or anything like that and just died. Considering the cost for each one, I expected them to last much longer and was extremely disappointed when they did not. I gave it 3 stars, because my son loves playing the games. My son still wants to play, but I refuse to continue throwing my money away on something that doesn't last long.
