Vtech - V.Motion Active Learning System

Product Details

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.

Product Reviews

(1 stars) - dont waste ur time!!!!!!!!!
This is the second v-tec game system we have bought. The first was the v smile it lasted less than a year. Had trouble with the game comming on and staying on. When the v Motion came out we thought since the old games would work with this new system we would get it for Christmas. The system takes four double A batteries our you could buy the Ac adapter which we did. The machine has a mind of its own. it only works when it wants to some of the games work when they want to. The joy stick is difficult for my 2 year old and my 4 and 6 year old are bored with it. The graffics are so basic that my kids would rather play on the computer or the wii.I dont recomend this product to anyone. Spend the money and buy a wii. If you want educational programs there are many free sites available online that are basic and fun. We will never buy another V-tec product.

(1 stars) - Very Disappointed
My children recieved a VMotion last Christmas. It worked a few times and then would not turn on anymore - even after buying a power cord adapter. I went and bought a new system and had the same problems with it - would turn on, but would constantly restart the game, or would not turn on at all. They had an origional VSmile that had the same issues. I do not recommend these products to anyone. (After 4 machines having the same problems).

(1 stars) - Even when it works it's not that great
My son received this for his fourth birthday, along with several games for it. It worked fine at first, but he couldn't get the hang of using the controller so it wasn't much fun for him. My six and eight year old played it some, but the games are kind of boring, and this doesn't compare to the wii that we also own.

The graphics on this look like they're from a system that was made 20 years ago.

The games aren't that educational. Don't buy it expecting to enlighten your child's mind.

And all of this is assuming the system even works. After a few months, ours stopped powering on. I found one trick on the v-smile website that says to remove the batteries, hold down the power button for 45 seconds, then replace the batteries, then it will work. A day later we couldn't get it to turn off, so yet another set of batteries was wasted.

Which brings up another fault with this system. I understand that the remote control has to use batteries, but why would you design it so that the system itself uses batteries? That's just dumb.

Overall, this is a poorly designed product. The games aren't that great. The endless supply of batteries required adds to the cost. The are quality control issues with the manufacture.

I'm never buying another V-tech product again.

(1 stars) - Games are not educational and it stopped powering up
I thought this would be awesome because at the time my daughter was too young for WII. So I bought this thing, I caught it on sale for 40 or 50 I think. I had some games from an old vtech system (the old one stopped powering on) and I bought several new vmotion games. Overal spent HUNDREDS on this system. Within 3 months this thing stopped powering on. I too went out and bought a seperate power cord and batteries. Nothing worked. I have concluded that VTech cannot compare to Leapster. I am considering buying the Cyberpocket by VTECH so my daughter can at least use all the games I have already bought, but I am concerned the same thing will happen as the past two systems. If you are reading the reviews DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!! Wait until your child is old enough for the WII. Dora and Diego on the WII are easy and fun for the kids. If you want educational buy a Leapster. TRUST ME! My daughter loves that thing. She plays her DS and Leapster equally. She didn't even seem to like these games. She just played it when she was REALLY bored.

(4 stars) - Pleased...
We bought this system for our 5 yr old on his birthday, right out of the box it has been great, the games that come with the system did not really do anything for my son or us, thankfully I had purchased a few extra games that star his favorite characters (Dora, Spiderman, etc) and he is hooked, he was enjoying it so much I bought a second controller and now my husband and I take turns playing with him. We us if as reward for him getting his chores done (helping around the house and picking up his toys), it is working well for that as well as being an educational toy. We prefer the toys that provide some educational lesson rather then none at all. For instance the Dora game includes instructions in both English and Spanish. It's geared towards pre-school through 1st or 2nd graders and for this I think it fits the bill. Overall we are very happy, just wish the system had AC power.

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