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LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game System - Green by LeapFrog
Product SummaryManufacturer: LeapFrog Brand: LeapFrog Release Date: 2006-06-12 Model: 20200 Product features: - Portable interactive system with action-packed games focused on learning essentials for preschool to fourth grade
- Comes with 2 games built in.
- Expandable with large library of games
- Teaches phonics, spelling, math, art, music and more
Accessories:
Toys and Games Reviews of LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game System - GreenCustomer Review: A Real Review Summary: 5 Stars
So here's a real review instead of "Oh Jodie just loovvess it!!!"
After much research, I purchased one for my 4YO for Christmas. I put the batteries and handed it to him. He happily grabbed it and typed in his own name and figured everything else out from there, occasionally coming to me and taking great pride in showing me how to do things.
I was very impressed with the LeapSter. Both the unit and the cartridges are very sturdy. My son sometimes taps the screen with his fingers (against my advice) but the unit still functions fine. The touch screen is incredible. How they used that kind of technology for that asking price is beyond me. (I'm a software engineer.) The LCD screen is backlit, has great resolution, is about 4x4", and has adjustable contrast. There is even a soft plastic protective cover for the display. You must attach this yourself, do not throw it away - it is easy to mistake it for packaging.
The controls are very versatile: a touch pen, arrow pad on the left and a large & small button on the right which all fit just perfectly into the little hands they were designed for. The unit has volume control - which goes a little too loud for my taste and it is hard to convince a young child who likes loud noise to keep it down. There is also a headphone jack, but I don't know why anyone would let a small child use headphones which can be turned up too loud and damage little eardrums.
There are several games that come with the unit: including a coloring game with animated stamps, a matching game with several options, and a bunny hop. All of the games are well done with 3 levels and various options such as ABCs, numbers, sound, etc. The bunny hop game can be a little frustrating because the logs move fast and if the bunny moves off the screen, the game considers him to have fallen and the bunny has to start back at the beginning. Also, it was very unforgiving about what space the bunny lands in. For instance, if bunny lands inbetween 2 numbers then the bunny will slip and it is difficult for me to get it right on. However, the coloring game appeals to all children. Occasionally my son will kindly let another child play with it and that game is a favorite. The matching game is excellent.
Overall the games are fun and exciting and not at all frustrating. If a child appears to be having problems a helpful bee will appear with a "hint". Also the child can press the "hint" button if he wants a hint. Except for the bunny hop, the games that come with the Leapster are very patient and forgiving.
This toy does eat batteries like candy. After having to replace batteries after only 4 days, I purchased the recharging kit which also includes an AC adapter. He did play with the Leapster a lot during those 4 days, but it was vacation & a new toy. Now I limit his time. The best time to give this toy to a child is right before a long car trip. Children do not get bored with this toy.
Other cartridges: I have purchased 4 other cartridges for my son and "First Grade" is his favorite. His reading has improved dramatically and he learned to add. He loves to earn "tokens" in the games so he can spend them at the "RC Rally". He also has "Finding Nemo", "Sponge Bob", and "Leapster Art". Finding Nemo has several unique and cool games. SpongeBob is medicore at best. Leapster Art gets bigtime Thumbs down. My son won't even try to draw his letters because Mr Pencil is so picky and though he loves mazes he gets upset trying out Mr. Pencils mazes. Mr Pencil is a mean perfectionist. I am disapointed that there are not more cartridges available for the Leapster.
I also suggest purchasing a case for the leapster. The case leapster sells for twenty five bucks is useless. I got a small, sturdy cosmetics case that is tough, resembles a briefcase and has lots of little pockets for the cartridges and accesories. And he thinks he has a briefcase & computer like mine.
Although the unit seems very sturdy and we have not had any problems, I was concerned because I've read so much about Leapster's poor tech support. There is only a 3 month warranty on the product and it gets used a lot. So I called Leapster's 800# with a simple question. I got to a person after only a few seconds and a couple of keypresses. They were very friendly and helpful. Also mentioning that the Leapster did not handle extreme temperatures very well, so it should never be left in the car.
The Leapster is well worth the money and actually deserves 10 stars. My son (age 4) was starting to read at Christmas when he got his Leapster, now he reads a lot of words. He can add and subtract some too.
Description of LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game System - GreenNow parents and kids can both feel good about time spent playing electronic games with the Leapster Learning System by LeapFrog. An exciting library of educational games (sold separately) turn this handheld device into a conduit of exciting learning adventures that teaches reading, math, critical thinking, vocabulary and more. Kids can play fun games, read electronic books, create cool art and watch interactive videos. Color display on backlit screen is gentle on the eyes while the jack for optional headphones is gentle on other people's ears. Ages 4 to 10 years. Imported. Here is one handheld gaming system that both parents and kids will be able to agree upon. The Leapster Learning Game System takes the brain-building principles that Leapfrog laid out in its earlier electronic learning devices (which have an interactive book format) and applies them to a video-game format. Leapster draws kids in with familiar video game templates?all of which have a secret weapon: a built-in learning component. LeapFrog hopes that kids will become so engaged in the gaming aspects and familiar television and movie characters offered by this toy that they won?t even notice that they?re learning and reinforcing valuable reading, math, and language skills. Aimed at 4- to 10-year-olds, the 6-by-4-inch Leapster is sized for little hands and comfortably shaped with safe, rounded edges. The 2-1/4-inch touch screen is ample for most of the gaming activities; although a little cluttered when used for the art and drawing modules. Buttons are suitably placed on either side of the unit for thumb-operated control. The right side features "A" and "B" buttons for selecting settings and answers while the left has a multi-directional gamepad for game play. A pen is also attached for drawing, selecting tools and settings, and dragging and placing objects. The 3-inch backlit display makes games visible in the dark (although parents will prefer that the Leapster is shut off at bedtime) and the animated graphics, while not completely state-of-the-art are well done and suitable for this age range. The Leapster Learning Game System takes the brain-building principles that Leapfrog laid out in its earlier electronic learning devices (which have an interactive book format) and applies them to a video-game format.
| As with the manufacturer?s LeapPad products, the Leapster does require the purchase of additional cartridges to expand its capabilities. Kids can choose titles with their favorite characters to play educational games with. The star-studded list of celebrity narrators includes TV personalities, such as SpongeBob Squarepants, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Dora the Explorer; and movie stars, such as Nemo, Cinderella, Ariel (The Little Mermaid), and Batman. Leapfrog?s own cartoon star, Tad, is narrates a few as well. While stocking up on the extra software titles can get expensive, it also gives parents some control and input on which characters they?d like their kids to learn from. And, characters for these titles are appropriately matched to the maturity of the targeted grade level (pre-K through 4th grade). Starting up or hitting the Home button takes players to the main menu. There is one staple pre-loaded game that children will likely come back to again and again. Rabbit River is based on the Frogger game format, but with an additional learning element. In letters mode, kids guide their bunny to hop floating logs to the other side of the river while jumping on specific letters to identify them or spell out a requested 3- or 4-letter word. In numbers mode, the bunny must land on specific numbers on the logs to skip count by twos or form a correct equation. The other pre-loaded activity is Color Corral, an interactive coloring book designed to boost creative problem-solving skills. This module is like a kid?s version of Photoshop and offers a variety of scenic templates, colors, tools, and moving icons that kids can combine for an infinite number of possibilities. The included manual gives suggestions on how to reinforce these math, reading, and art concepts in the real world. .  | Each game offers multiple skill levels so kids can ease into new territory at the beginner level and challenge themselves with more advanced learning problems as they understand the concept. If kids are stumped at any point during a game, they can hit the Hint button and receive a friendly push in the right direction from an animated tutor, Edison the firefly. Edison also appears automatically if kids answer a question incorrectly several times in a row and coaches the child to reach the correct answer. The Pause button lets kids stop the game for a snack break and pick back up again where they left off. Designed for portability, the Leapster fits easily in a backpack or tote bag and is ideal for more purposeful edutainment on the go, whether it?s a quick game on the bus ride to school or hours of playtime during vacation travel. This learning system runs on four AA batteries or on a rechargeable battery pack when combined with the Leapster L-Max Recharging System (sold separately). Leapster covers this handheld device under a 3-month warranty. --Cristina Vaamonde
Learning & Education Toys
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