Customer Reviews

Vtech - V.Smile - Joystick

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought the second joystick so my children, 2 and 5, could take turns playing. It has proven not necessary. You only need one joystick at a time and the game tells you when it is player one's or player two's turn.

This joystick is well-designed and great for little kids. The colored buttons flash when you're supposed to use them, the main button is big enough so that even very yound kids can be successful using it, and the cord is really long so you can sit anywhere. Even though my three kids are all right-handed I think it's cool that the stick can be reversed for left-handed kids.

One reviewer mentioned the second joystick isn't necessary for two player games. I agree that it shouldn't be necessary but it actually is necessary in the games we've played. Instead of two players playing at the same time, they take turns (this is how 2-player games work in The Lion King and Alphabet Park Adventure). The fact is that the players can't simply pass the same joystick back and forth. The second joystick is required.

I would have liked it if the V.Smile system and the joystick were designed like other gaming systems, whereby if you yank on the controller it will easily detach from the system before the console falls off of, say, a shelf or a tv. That would have been a good feature for a game designed for young kids.

I read one of the earlier reviews that suggested not to get the second joystick, but I ended up buying it anyway. I am so glad I did for several reasons:

1. you cannot select 2 players w/o having a second controller

plugged in.

2. not having to pull one child off the system to allow the other child to have a turn.

We have almost every game for this system, and now both children can enjoy it:)

I like the video system, but most of the games we have don't have the option of playing with two players. The only game we have that allows this option is the game that came with the system.

We are always on the lookout for new learning games/products. Our 3-yr-old is a little sponge and can't get enough. I just love having the extra joystick--kids of all ages have played with it and they all love it! I enjoy playing it with my daughter (at least until I figure it out!), and she has friends and cousins ranging in age from 2-14 who have loved playing with the V. Smile! (And we only have games for 3-5.) At parties and family gatherings, it's the first thing the kids want to get out.

I highly recommend this product along with the V. Smile console. We have had no problems with it not working (except for when it needs new batteries), and we've had absolutely no problems with its durability! Once in a while I find myself telling the older kids to be more gentle with the joysticks, but there's been no problems yet!

(We purchased this for Christmas. Had a difficult time deciding among some of the other electronic learning items out there. Ended up also buying Kasey the Kinderbot. She definitely likes the V. Smile the best!! --no offense to Kasey, she likes taking him along on trips.)

My daughter is 9, and has cerebral palsy. She has NEVER in her life been able to play a game of any sort by herself... until V-Smile! She asked for this for Christmas and I was not going to waste the money on something else she couldn't do, but then someone sent me money to buy her a gift from them. I bought the V-Smile, and she spent 11 straight hours Christmas day playing this game BY HERSELF! She was ecstatic! The next day was the same. Her hands can operate the controls, and I put double-sided Velcro on the bottom to stick it to a special table she uses so it doesn't slip. She has played with this consistently since December and still loves it, especially because she can do it on her own. Recently I bought another one for her classroom and she has gotten a blast out of teaching it to the other kids. Now she is working on earning another cartridge (by certain behaviors) - she has already earned one - it's the best prize for her! I just found out that you can add another joystick so 2 people can play and each have their own, so I'm buying it. Never had any trouble with malfunction, and I have to say.... V-smile makes ME smile!

The mechanics of the joystick is fine. It works just like the original. I thought having two joysticks would make my playing experience with my daughter more enjoyable but it has not. Depending on the game cartridge player 2 continues from the spot where player 1 left off in the same condition as player one with the exact amount of lifelines (hearts).

The game shows team work rather than a win/lose situation which is nice for toddlers but it still does not seem "fair" with the play time between players. Both players must be on the same level of difficulty. It does not distinguish between levels for the two players. The way my daughter and I play we were better off with one joystick. Who knows, maybe with the advanced age (5-7)cartridges the use of two joysticks will be made more evident.

We purchased the Vsmile for my 4 year old daughter for Christmas. She has only played the Vsmile a few times since we have been out of town since Christmas, but when we tried to play the game again, the joystick is completely dead. I can't believe I will have to buy another joystick so soon after buying the console. I would think Vtech would have made these more durable. I can't believe that my 4 year old is so brutal that she was able to break this controller on her own. I am curious-has anyone else had this problem?

I READ SOME OF THE REVIEWS THAT STATED THAT THE JOYSTICK WAS NO GOOD AND HAD TO WRITE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHY. I WAS INITIALLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE JOYSTICK-IT DID NOT GO IN THE DIRECTION IT SHOULD BE GOING. I CONTACTED VTECH AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT PERHAPS THE JOYSTICK WAS SWITCHED FOR A LEFT-HANDED PLAYER. THERE WAS MY PROBLEM!! MY JOYSTICK WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE. FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO THINK THAT THE JOYSTICK IS DEFECTIVE, TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND MAKE SURE THE JOYSTICK IS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. I HOPE THIS HELPS!!

My son received the v smile system from "Santa" and absolutely enjoys the games. However the system itself is testy when switching games and the on/off buttons do not function correctly over half the time. The joystick is another whole issue, as it has recently, after 2 months of light use, ceased to work. The batteries have been replaced in the game unit & still nothing. The game is now collecting dust as I try to decide if I want to spend anymore $$ on a product that is less than the quality piece I was expecting. I would say that the games are educational & fun, but they do us no good if you can't play them... purchase at your own risk.