V-tech to see them v-smile! (VTech V.Smile TV Learning System)

Member Name: kaitlinsmummy

Product:	VTech V.Smile TV Learning System
Date:	07/02/09 (142 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A learning system, based on fun games.

Disadvantages: Battery operated, so is chance it can be accidentally left on!

My son's main present of the "in-laws" for Christmas is the product I will now try and review. The reason I am only just getting to grips with it is the poor little sod had to wait until his birthday for a television, this was so he could actually play with it!

The product I will now review is - "Thomas the tank, v-tech, v-smile"

I am sure that many of you have seen these units advertised on the television, especially before Christmas, this is how and when my son first spotted it.

First the set up -

This was the part I wasn't looking forwards to. My husband normally sorts out any of the toys or even household electrical's as he seems to be able to set things up without the aid of instructions, or at least that's what he says!
Unfortunately two nights ago he discovered the delight that is Facebook, I have yet to get any sense out of him bar from who his new friends are, and can I help with the film quiz!

Ok, so I'm on my own.

I tentatively remove the very well packaged unit and accessories from the box. I am faced with a yellow clip which I fling to one side, thinking that this is actually part of the box! There are two main units to contend with, the computer unit and the joystick unit.

The computer unit itself is the larger of the two units, this where the games cartridges are inserted and this is the unit that is plugged into the television.
Aside from the things I have mentioned above there are a couple of other features. There is a large compartment running the width of the unit at the top, this to store any game cartridges that you may have. On the other side of this there is a smaller compartment, this holds a microphone on a wire. This is plugged in to a port inside the compartment.

The main unit was extremely easy to set up, surprisingly! Firstly you need to put batteries into the unit, the battery compartment is on the base, and this takes 4 x AA's.
You then get a scart connector to go into the back of the telly, you simply match up the coloured connectors with the corresponding holes, then put into the telly... check!

That is the main and most difficult part to the set up, I had more trouble finding the channel on the telly to play this on, after a few presses of the source button... by my husband, and a lot of moaning that he was losing valuable Facebook time, we were good to go!

The joystick unit is so much more than it sounds. There is a joystick made of thick and sturdy plastic, this is housed within a circle base, attached to this is a slightly larger circle of plastic that houses a drawing board.
This is of course a virtual drawing board, complete with pen and pen clip.
This attaches to the main unit with it's own attached cable, the connection port is at the front of the unit.
There is a final feature on this unit, depending on whether you are using solely the joystick, just the pad or both at the same time, you can move the afore mentioned things so they sit differently.
This can be achieved by pressing a release button under the unit, you then either twist the joystick to the front, back or to the side, his is obviously a much needed feature as my sons hands are quite little, and he might have struggled using both features if spaced to far apart.

Finally I am left with the yellow clip that was taken from the box in the first place, am quite glad I didn't throw it now, this clicks into the side of the main unit and holds the microphone when in use!

The controls are simple on all the items mentioned. There is an ON button and an OFF button on the main unit, as my son is not reading yet he can differentiate between them s there is a light that shines on the ON button, he now understands that this light has to be gone for the unit to be switched off, those poor batteries don't stand a chance!

The joystick has the bog standard up, down, left and right movements. The only thing that he will need any help with is the adjusting of the joystick base as mentioned previously.

Now the fun part, the playing!

I was left on my own for the entire set up time, and the second I switched it on my kids appeared from thin air wanting to have a go, I am such a bag, I made them go downstairs so I could play, well I did set it up!

The start up screen features four options, these are learning adventure, learning zone, sing along and engine depot. To choose one of these sections you simply use the joystick to cursor up or down and press the enter button under the joystick itself.

Learning adventure -

The first screen on any of the sections you have selected will firstly ask you whether it is single or double player mode you require, once this has been determined you will get an index of games available.

Calling all engines - Thomas needs to gather all the engines on Sodor for a pow wow, move the joystick to direct Thomas to gather letters to complete the engines names.

Find an exit - Thomas puffs into a cave, find the exit in the allocated time, collecting bonuses as you go.

Flying to the rescue - This is a more involved game. Harold the helicopter is given assignments by the fat controller, he must complete these, move cargo about, replenish his fuel and avoid low flying clouds.... Phew!

Cargo catch up - Help Harold chase Thomas and try to load the colour co-ordinated cargo, that Thomas had left behind!
This again is a busy game, not only does the cargo have to be colour sorted and loaded, but to get extra points get the cargo loaded before stations, whilst avoiding buildings and low flying things!

Bertie beats the clock - Help Bertie to collect a group of school children and deliver them to the right train station before the train gets to the station. This a good old fashioned driving game. The child has to be able to keep there eye on the clock, going against the timer and be able to count the children off at every stop!

Mini game: Take a break - Bertie is being asked questions by Trevor and Terence. Help Bertie gain a shortcut to the station by answering the colour coded questions for him.
In this game the child may also be asked to help Bertie write a number on the virtual pad.

Learning zone -

Recycle challenge - You have to help sort the recyclable items into the corresponding "troublesome truck". This can be achieved with either the pen and pad method, the easiest I feel, or the joystick that involves positioning the rubbish then pressing enter to "throw".

Count the engines - This probably my favourite. You have to count how many trains pass through the station, every time one goes through you have to press enter to update the counter.
This can get quite frantic as all the different engines zoom across the screen!

Fix the tracks - Thomas is on his way. Join the track pieces together to make a track for Thomas to travel on. The child can make a track of their choosing by simply touching the piece with the pen and dropping into place.
Nice and simple fun!

Sing along - This is a small section in comparison to the others, these is essentially a karaoke mode, featuring two songs that would be familiar to the child, though I personally only know the "If your happy and you know it" song. You obviously use the included microphone for the song singing, and the words of the song are shown on the screen with the words being highlighted as and when they should be sung, this is again a little too advanced for my youngest, though his sister feels it's her duty to help him!
This section obviously encourages the reading aspect of learning.

Engine depot - This is more of a "learn about the characters" section than a game section. There are many different characters to learn about, 10 in total. The child simply cursors down to the character they want to have information about then press enter. A screen will then be brought up for that specific character.
This again a little advanced for my son to read, but all sections, games and information includes audio with the appropriate character voices.

The screens for every game, even through to the screens that are there for you to select characters are brightly coloured and eye catching with a plethora of other activities to complete.

There are only a few general conditions that in fairness common sense would have pointed out to you!
Never wash the unit with something wet...d'oh!
And don't drop the unit, well I can't guarantee that one, if my son gets me to set the unit up for him to play, then turns it off and shouts me once more I will throw the bloody thing, let alone drop it!

This is of course a computer system. The reason it is called the Thomas system is the fact it comes in the obligatory Thomas colours and of course the game.
There are other external games available that can be used with this system, these are readily available and in hundreds of different formats, though the longevity of the game we had with the unit should last Connor a good while yet!

This system in my opinion is a complete bargain, this is available to buy from www.toysrus.co.uk

This is available for the sum £39.99.

For more information visit - www.vsmile.co.uk this will give you so much more advice on the best system catered towards your child's age, sex and learning requirements.

Thanks for reading x

Summary: See review.