Vtech V.Smile TV Learning System
by V.Smile
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Our Price: $41.31 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $12.99 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of Vtech V.Smile TV Learning System
Customer Review: A Great Introduction to Video Games
Summary: 5 Stars
This system is a well-built and well thought out introduction to video gaming. I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old that play this together.
One of the best features is the joystick which is built for little hands. My 5 year old is barely able to use the control pad on my Xbox, but she takes to the V-Smile joystick with aplomb. The joystick has a great feature where you can flip a little switch that unlocks the oversized buttons and they can flip around to the other side of the stick so that it works for righthanders or lefthanders. We have both joysticks, one of the original versions, and one of the newer joysticks with the handwriting pad built in.
The games are fairly compelling for young children. Sometimes gameplay can be a little frustrating, depending on the game, but it teaches them perseverance. My kids have a good deal of fun playing the different games.
Probably my biggest complaint is the interface between the console and the cartridge. It's too hard for little kids to change the game by themselves, although I suppose a lot of parents will view this as a positive.
One last note...
The console runs on batteries, which was awesome for our trip from Dallas to New York in our van. We hooked it to a seatback monitor and the kids played it most of the time during our 30 our journey. Unfortunately, because of this feature, VTech didn't feel compelled to include the AC adapter with the base console so we had to purchase it as a $15 extra. The caveat here is that our console was an earlier one before they started including the handwriting joysticks, so the adapter may or may not be included with the current iteration.
Customer Review: The Problem May Be the Cartridges...
Summary: 3 Stars
We've had ours for almost 2 years, and for a while we had the same problems with it as a lot of the other reviewers. We were doing some spring cleaning this year and decided to give it one more try before tossing it. I plugged it in and got the same thing - nothing. Well, I hate being defeated by dumb gadgets, so I started looking it over. It powered up and ran the boot screens with no cartridge inserted, so I assumed the hardware was more or less okay. I then picked up one of the cartridges and slid back the plastic piece covering the contacts. The contacts were *filthy*. I looked at a couple more and they were all the same, so I got some cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol, and cleaned the contacts front and back. The swab was nearly black with grime when I was finished. I let it dry (~15 seconds), put it in the system, and bingo! It fired right up. I cleaned the other games and they all worked as well. It's been working perfectly ever since, and whenever a game won't run, we just give it a quick cleaning and it's back in business. It hasn't failed us once.
I don't know what kind of cheap alloy they make those contacts from, but it clearly tarnishes pretty quickly, and I'm sure little fingers poking around don't help, either. It may not fix every problem, but it's a cheap, quick experiment to try. Give it a shot before throwing out the whole package in frustration, like I almost did.
Oh yeah - My kids (5 and 3) really enjoy this system, and there are some good learning games available. I'm happy I could get it running again. I hope this might help somebody else with theirs.
Customer Review: She loves it. . .when it works
Summary: 3 Stars
My daughter was 2 1/2 when you received this last year for Christmas. It worked wonderfully for about 25 minutes and quit. So I went out and bought a $10 adapter which it doesn't come with, but should since it eats batteries. I bought the adapter and it still didn't work. I returned the V-Smile and got another one. This one did the same thing, not to mention the hassle at Walmart. Then a couple months later, I exchanged it again and got a 3rd V-Smile. This one FINALLY works. We have the game that comes with it but the Elmo game that was bought for it doesn't work and I just refuse to return something else that goes with this game system.
My daughter Sophie is now 3 1/2 yrs old and was actually playing this game today and loved every minute of it. I am still howevery skeptical of buying another game for it. Apparently i'm not the only one that has had problems considering the other reviews and the comments I heard from other moms on CafeMom's site.
My Recommendation is to get a Leapster instead but if you MUST get this system be prepared that you may get a dud or two.
Customer Review: I like the pocket game better
Summary: 4 Stars
We purchased this for my 4 year old for Christmas. The graphics kind of stink but heck we're talking about a little kids game. Some of the games are pretty good, some of them kind of stink, that's a process of elimination. My problem with this was that my daughter didn't take well to the joysticks. She didn't really like playing it. We also received a v smile pocket for Christmas from a relative. That was much better, It costs about $20 or $30 more, but it seems to be easier to play, my daughter took right to it and it also has the video jacks that plug it into the tv, so my daughter plugs it in and plays it on the tv all the time. There really was no purpose in keeping 2 machines that played the same cartridges and that both played on the tv so we sold this home system to a friend for $30, we'd never even really used it much. I'd suggest getting the pocket version. It's easier to play than the home one and goes in the car too, which is a plus. A lot of people complained about them not working but I didn't have the home version long enough to know, I haven't had any trouble with the pocket...Customer Review: Don't Even Let Someone Give to You - It's That Bad!
Summary: 1 Stars
Just wanted to add one more "don't waste your money." First and foremost the product will not last and the company will not stand by it. Shame on you V-Tech. I've had the same experience as so many others who've written. Try Q-Tips, reset buttons, adaptors blah, blah, blah. Your call is important to us drivel. Keep spending more of your money on things we know will never work. V-tech should be embarrassed and refund all the money people have literally wasted not to mention - hours of time and nashing of teeth by young v-smile lovers.
It could be awesome and it it when it works - for about two months the first time in our case, and a month or so the second go. The graphics are also horible but pre-schoolers generally don't care about that and it really is irrelevant in this case. It makes me mad every time I think about it - so I try not to :) Don't buy it at a garage sale for your grand kids. Don't even let someone give it to you - you'll just have upset children sooner or later - probably sooner. You've been warned!