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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1347 in Toys & Games
• Brand: V.Smile
• Model: 80-078841
• Released on: 2008-05-02
• Dimensions: 13.00" h x 16.00" w x 5.00" l, 4.35 pounds

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
• Includes V.Link

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.

From the Manufacturer
Don’t just park your child in front of the TV, put them in motion while driving home lessons in math, reading, science, spelling and more with the V.smile V-motion TV learning system. V.Smile V-Motion is a brilliant breakthrough gaming console that 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 child's favorite characters including Scooby-doo, Thomas the tank engine, and spider-man, as well as new ones like kung fu panda, wall.e, and wonder pets. Your child will love the wireless action packed play with all their friends that guide them through age-appropriate skill levels and developmental activities.

Customer Reviews

Limited education, motion hard to use
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.

GREAT UPGRADE TO THE REGULAR V.SMILE
I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY 5 & 7 YR OLD. THEY BOTH LOVE IT. MY 5YR OLD HAS BARELY GOTTEN INTO VIDEO GAMES HE HAS ADHD, AND HE LOVES PLAYING WITH THE GAMES.
VERY SIMPLE TO USE. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I HAVE TO SAY I CAN'T GET THE V.LINK TO WORK IT SEEMS IT IS STILL NOT OPERATIONAL INT THEIR WEBSITE.

Super Smart, Super Fun
Just got V-Motion for my kids. They are so excited to be playing like the Wii. The numbers and the letter games are great. They are making so much progress with their alphabet and it is truly by playing these games. They are having a blast and the bonus is that it is super easy to set up. This is the best money I"ve spent on a toy yet.