LeapFrog Leapster Learning Game System - Pink
by LeapFrog
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Our Price: $97.69 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $8.17 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of LeapFrog Leapster Learning Game System - Pink
Customer Review: Let the Buyer beware!!
Summary: 5 Stars
We bought the pink Leapster this year for our 4 1/2 year-old daughter and a green Leapster for our 3 1/2 year-old son for Christmas to replace their original blue and silver Leapsters which had been "loved" and "dropped" to the point of exhaustion. Having had the "original" Leapsters for over a year, my children acquired quite a few Leapster accessories... multiple game titles, rechargeable Leapster battery packs and charging docks to name just a few.
Not wanting to start from scratch, but wanting to purchase their new Leapsters in different colors, I contacted LeapFrog Industries directly (the manufacturer of the ever-popular Leapster and Leappad products) to determine if their existing accessories and game titles would be compatible with the newly colored Leapsters. I spoke to a representative in technical support who assured me that our existing accessories would all be compatible with the new Leapster. He claimed that all of the game cartridges and accessories for the Leapster and Leapster L-Max were completely interchangeable, and we would not have any problem.
After speaking with the representative, I ordered the new colored Leapsters online. My children opened their new Leapsters with delight on Christmas morning... that delight quickly turned into tears as we fruitlessly tried to install the Leapster battery into the new Leapsters. The old battery itself is actually bigger than the new Leapster... not even close to being the correct size, shape or dimensions.
After frantically racing to a local store yesterday to purchase two new charging systems (at a cost of $80), I contacted LeapFrog again. While they do admit to seeing notes from my prior call in the system, they claim that there is nothing they can do to assist us. The only advice offered was to return the two new Leapsters to the store, or to purchase the required L-Max accessories for this product.
When our children did finally have the opportunity to play with their new Leapsters, our disappointment in this new product deepened. It seems that two of the internal games that our children loved from the original Leapster have been "deleted" from this new version and replaced by a built-in Leapster software commercial.
The Leapster is a well-loved toy in our home, rich with benefits for both of our preschool-aged children. Don't let our bad experience sway your decision to purchase this product, just learn from our unfortunate experience and choose your accessories carefully. I would also recommend making your purchase through a retailer with a liberal and understanding return policy, such as Amazon.
Customer Review: Finally an educational gaming system!
Summary: 4 Stars
Some of the other reviewer didn't like the new smaller screen, but it didn't seem to bother my child & I liked it because I could use screen protectors meant for the PSP (you just have to trim some of the length)to save the screen from smudges and scratches.
If you are trying to decide between this and the L-Max, I'd save your money for extra games and buy the Leapster - all the L-max games work perfectly fine on the regular leapster and the tv functions of the L-max really aren't all that great (it's strength is still as a hand-held system). And it your leapster is the new sleeker model the battery pack in the back takes the l-max charger not the leapster charger.
If you are trying to decide between this and v-smile, get the Leapster - the v-smile seems tempting because the games are cheaper, but their software isn't very original, it's educational, but the different titles just seem to repeat -as if they pasted the different characters into the same game senarios. The leapster games are alot richer (for example in the spongebob game when the user has to count coins if they don't have the correct amount they can hit a button to "make change" from a larger coin, v-smile games don't give you that kind of flexibility in the game play) and they feel more like games (the sidescrolling worlds in Numbers on the Loose has zero jumping and rolling and bouncing that is enough like nintendo type games to let them feel they are playing and not just learning) & the tutorials/helps are very good at explaining what the user needs to do to complete the task.
When we first bought our Leapster we took it out of the box carefully and tested it when our child wasn't around so we could take it back if we didn't like it - but we were pleasantly pleased & if you are looking for educational gaming that will grow with your kids (or can go with your kids, if you are out and about much) you'll love this too. If you buy this be sure to invest in a charger or simply some rechargeable AA batteries and a quick charger (a cheaper option if you aren't going to use the ac adapter that comes in the charging kit). My only other comment,an probably biggest complaint would be to watch out for the built in software that comes on the new sleeker Leapsters - it comes with an advertising commercial to introduce your child to all the wonderful titles available that they may not know about -and it's built in, you can't get rid of it! Very annoying leapster! Very annoying!
Customer Review: Leapster Game
Summary: 5 Stars
This game is a must for every pre-schooler. We first gave this game to my daughter when she was 2 1/2 yrs. after a recommendation not to wait until she was 4 yrs. We had to help her at first thru the games until she had some experience with letters and numbers, but it was parent/kid time well spent. We started with the Learn to Draw & Write and the Dora Animal Rescuer. She was able to navigate both of these well enough after a couple months on her own. Then we expanded to the Backyardigans, Finding Nemo, and the Kindergarden (her favorite) Game Cartridges. The Leapster games teach them a lot; and the more they learn the more they are able to do with the games. The three different challenge levels and the hint button are a plus. I've talked with her pre-k teachers about it and they have told me that they can see a difference in kids that play this game and those that don't. She is now 4 1/2 yrs. and still plays with it in spurts. The best time to have it is when we are on the airplane or waiting to be seated at a restaurant. (Get a headset so that they can play the games and not have problems to hear it in a crowd.) When we travel we take two things - her leapster and a bag of paper, crayons and stickers. That's all.
About the game - if you travel a lot make sure you get the rectangle, not the triangle shaped game. The rectangle doesn't need a screwdriver to change the batteries - just a coin. We had a triangle one that we traveled to four different countries and many long car rides with and this was the only problem we had - changing the batteries. (Did I mention the game is durable?) We finally broke down and bought the rectangle one for the portability. The rectangle game is lighter and smaller making it easier to carry too. It does have a smaller screen, which is probably why some of the problems with seeing the graphics happen. We still have the triangle at home since the graphics show up better on the bigger screen. It also allows us play time when she won't share her pink one.:-)
Customer Review: I mean I paid $6.00 for mine at a thrift store, and it works great
Summary: 5 Stars
I got mine for $6.00 and its a great buy, I wanted to get my kids one but they are 4 - 5 yrs old and I didn't know if they would like it. Man was I wrong. They love it. They even share with it and spend time playing with it and being quite. (this is a rare thing in our house) I got them some games for xmas but they love the free ones on it. Great buy and now I see why all my friends kid's love it. I may be buying another one after the holidays on amazon for one of their birthdays as they do love it. I also got my games one at target for 15.99 (on a reg non special sale day) and another online from the leapfrog site for 10.00. I might be getting one on amazon too later today. The cases how ever don't fit the item as I tried one in target but I have another one for their vtech vsmile hand held which amazing can hold both. Were going to be taking these on our 9 hr flight to NY this xmas. Great buy! I think its durable personally as its held up to my brute child quite well. FYI don't use rechargeable battery's or the pack you can buy as that is only for leapster2 but get the power cord which we got at target for 9.99. We also have one for our vsmile hand held and vsmile system.
I had an issues with the stylist so I used the leapfrog site to find out how to fix it today.
[...]
Which tell's you
Question: My Leapster is not responding correctly to the stylus pen.
Answer: If your Leapster does not respond to the stylus pen, it needs to be calibrated.
The following are instructions for calibrating the Leapster(tm) handheld.
(1) Insert a cartridge, turn the unit on and wait for the sign-in screen to appear.
(2) Hold down the Home, Hint and B buttons simultaneously.
(3) When the screen changes, press the A button.
(4) Using the Stylus, touch the center of the targets.
If you have any issues go to their site [...]
and look up your issue and select your product.
Customer Review: Awesome toy, you won't regret purchasing it.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been thinking of purchasing this for about a year, but kept backing off b/c it is expensive when you add in games, and my daughter does not show a huge interest in video games. We are taking a long road trip this summer and I finally decided to give in and get it, plus the price has come down. I love that it's educational. I played with it myself and it does a good job of verbally explaining what you are to do, instead of needing to read like with a gameboy. I bought 2-one for my 5 y.o. and one for my almost 3 y.o. My 5 y.o. loves it and can figure out almost all the games on her own, just what I need to keep her occupied. My 2 3/4 y.o. just messes around with it as I expected, but it does entertain her for a short while. She always wants hers when her older sister is playing. I've learned that you need to buy the EXACT same thing to avoid major fighting, which I do not want to deal with while driving. I wish they had younger aged games like the VSmile Pocket, but it didn't get as good reviews and I didn't want to induce more fighting with different game systems. I purchased Dora, Kindergarten, Princess, & Backyardigans. Both of them like Dora and the onboard games best. Backyardigans is their least favorite which I got specifically for my youngest. So far it seems durable, as the screen hasn't gotten scratched and the kids aren't exactly gentle with it. Also, we've had it a couple of weeks and have not replaced the batteries yet. I was waiting to see how much it ate in batteries before I bought the recharging system and think I will skip it. My daughter plays for about 1/2 hour almost every day, longer in the car when there's nothing else to do. I am so pleased that she can play with something that will hold her interest and she is learning while doing it. As for my younger daughter I expect she'll grow into it in about 6 months and my oldest will still be into it for at least a couple more years.