Vtech V.Smile V-Motion Active Learning System

by V.Smile

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

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: #6,421 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)

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 Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Educational gaming system encourages creativity and problem solving The Bad: No option to use non-battery power with the console In a Nutshell: This unique game system promotes active play and makes learning fun At a Glance Ages: 3 to 7 Requires: 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 . View larger.

Easy to Setup and Control
Getting 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 Games
It'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 Box
Console, controller, wrist strap, 4 AA batteries, 3 AAA batteries, Smartridge, V-link, and user's manual.

Product Description

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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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Limited education, motion hard to use, August 7, 2008

By 

BruinBear (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Vtech V.Smile V-Motion Active Learning System (Toy)

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.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Gaming System for Target Audience (3-7 yrs old), December 29, 2008

By 

Jalen's Mommy (Secaucus, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Vtech V.Smile V-Motion Active Learning System (Toy)

I purchased this system for my 3 year old. With that in mind, I did not expect Playstation 3 graphics, so am satisfied with the quality in graphics. The quality did not suffer any more on my 42" LCD than a smaller tv as some have complained about. Bottom line: if you are looking for high quality graphics comparable to PS3, look elsewhere.

The functionality is fantastic. It works for both righties and lefties. You have the option of joystick or motion capabilities with each vmotion game. My child does not have any delays with motion detection as some have complained about. It's functionality is much like any wireless remote.

As far as educational value is concerned, I am very pleased. This does not replace a teacher and only supplements your child's education. With that in mind, there is a plethora of learning content which varies from shapes, letter, number and color identification, math, logic, etc depending on each game. The games are broken up into 3 categories: 3-5, 4-6 and 6-8 years old. There is overlapping, by that I mean my son can play and enjoy the 4-6 age category despite being only 3 years old. It all depends on their educational level and with enough supervision and proper guidance your child will not be limited to a particular category. I advise that the first time your child plays a game you walk him through it. The best part of all is that all the smartridges are compatible with the vmotion. All vsmile games and accessories work on this system, expanding your library of gaming options. Most games also have a difficulty option giving you the ability to choose easy or difficult, so as they progress, it can become more challenging. This is also great for households with younger and older children. I also find that using the motion controller helps develop my young child's hand and eye coordination.

Durability is like any gaming system. If you take care of it, you can avoid issues. If you throw it and treat it carelessly, I am sure it will break.

The joy this system provides my child coupled with the educational content, I have chosen to give this a 4+ star rating. My reason for not giving this toy a 5 star rating, is that in my perfect world, it would be indestructible, it would have PS3 quality graphics and the console and accessories would not be so expensive. I have so far purchased 11 games, the adapter, additional controller and the gym class accessory mat; you do the math =).

Please keep in mind if your child is playing other advanced gaming systems like Wii or playstation, I am sure he will prefer them to this gaming system as this gaming system is not meant to compete with them. As any child will prefer a piece a candy over a vegetable even though the latter is better for him. This is for parents looking for age appropriate educational toys for their children.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT BUY, May 6, 2009

By 

Paul Leonardo "Paul Leonardo" (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Vtech V.Smile V-Motion Active Learning System (Toy)

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.