V.Smile?

[mom22boys]

Does anyone have a V.Smile system? I see that there are a lot of Disney games (Pooh, Nemo, Lion King, Toy Story 2). I was just wondering, if you have the system, do you like it? Tell me all about it please! Thanks!

 

[LaLa]

Well, Santa just brought DD4 one for Christmas and I can hardly get her off it. She got the Dora game and the Little Mermaid game. Both are really cute. The Dora game is a little easier for her to do, but Ariel is a little more "girly" (probably not something you are too concerned about! LOL) and I think once she masters that, it will be a lot of fun too. The joystick is really easy for her to control and you just plug it into the jacks on your TV set. Our jacks are on the front of the TV so it is super easy to set up. Takes 3 C batteries and I have heard these run out pretty soon, but we are still going and she has played it alot so far.

We like it and she feels like a big girl now because DS always played on his PS2 and now she has a video game of her own that is very easy for her to use. Trouble is, now DS wants to play with it too.

 

[RobInBigKC]

My DS4 received a V Smile (console) for his birthday last March and a V Smile Pocket for Christmas this year. Honestly, he loves them both. Part of it is that he feels like his three older brothers (who, of course, are playing "real" video game systems like Xbox 360, PS2, GameCube, GameBoy, etc.).

But most of it is because this is a great system with fun (for kids his age) games that are easy to use. They're also educational (but don't tell any of my DS's that).

A note on the V Smile (console): We have an optional AC adaptor to save on battery costs and an optional additional controller to allow a second player to play.

A note on the V Smile Pocket: Two neat features about this toy -- (1) the device will output the game image on either its built in color LCD screen OR the INCLUDED connector cable can be connected to your TV's input RCA jacks for "big screen" gaming; (2) the controls on this toy can be switched around for ease of use by either right handed or left handed players (none of my DS's are left-handed but I still think this is a cool feature -- even though we won't ever be using it).

BOTH the V Smile and the V Smile Pocket use the same game cartridges without the need for any adaptor in either device.

As far as which one to get: It depends on your budget (the built-in LCD screen makes the V Smile Pocket about $30 more than the V Smile), the age of your child/children (the button-based controls on the V Smile Pocket require a bit more manual dexterity than the joystick of the V Smile), the "need" your children have for portable game play, and the need for two players being able to play (the V Smile can take a second joystick controller while the V Smile Pocket is for solo game play only).

-- Rob

 

[mom22boys]

BOTH the V Smile and the V Smile Pocket use the same game cartridges without the need for any adaptor in either device.

Wow, that is a nice feature. No need to buy twice as many games! I also like that both the console and the pocket can be adapted to fit a left handed child. Our younger DS is left-handed. He is not quite ready for video games yet, but I am sure he well be soon!

Thanks for the great information. Does anyone have a favorite game?

 

[Tiffann4k]

We got one last year when they first came out and I was not impressed...the kids loved playing it but it was always breaking down and we had to keep resetting it. Its about ready to go into the trash, we spent so much money on the extra controllers and games to...it was such a bummer.

The kids are actually having more fun with the plug and play games that you hook to the tv, we have a disney one ( got at walmart for 10.00)

We have 2 ps in the closet still in the packages

 

[ntburns22]

My DD recieved one last year for CHristmas. She still plays it as much today as she did a year ago. We have never had any problems with it. DH has an XBOX with some kids games like Nemo but she would rather play the Vsmile. It has really helped her with her reading. We love it!

 

[susykt4]

DD5 loves the Vsmile.

However, DS just turned 3 and gets easily frustrated by most of our ages 3-5 games (Lion King, Pooh, game that came w/ system.) We got him the Elmo game for Christmas and he absolutely loves it. If you're getting the system for a young 3-yr-old, research the games a little because while all the games have different skill levels, some of them are much more age-appropriate for the littlest kids. Oh, I'm referring to the fine motor control required for some of the games, not the academic aspects. The Lion King game requires a lot of jumping from place to place and falling in the water and having to start over if you miss. VERY frustrating for the little guys...

 

[bedgraynexl]

We have it and love it. DS5 loves playing Spiderman, and just got Toy Story and Alladin for Christmas. DD3 got the Wiggles and Little Mermaid. One thing I have noticed is they can get a little frustrated with some of the educational component. A lot of time DS will just guess and try to muddle through. He does better when we sit with him and make him think. It is a great little system and we thoroughly enjoy it.

 

[stm61]

tiffann4K,

Call the company that makes vsmile. My dd6's game console died last summer and they sent a pre-paid label to mail it back to them. Once they received it it took about a wk to get a new one to us. They were very nice on the phone and tried to get it to reset several times. They finally gave up and authorized the new one. In fact, the label came right after I had surgery and I wasn't up to dealing with it for a few months after that. I called them and they sent a new label with no problems. The directions said to enclose the receipt but I told them it had been a Christmas gift last yr and they said not to worry about it. We haven't had any problems with the new console.