Leapster GS Now Available
Not sure what to file this under,m but it’s handheld, it’s portable and it sure is mobile. The Leapster GS from Leapfrog is a gaming and learning handheld device for kids with motion controls, and a built-in camera with video recording. It comes with one game but more can be purchased for a $5 each via the appstore or $25 for a cartridge. The Leapster GS has 2gb of memory built-in and it’s priced at only $69.99.
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. today announced that LeapsterGS, the ultimate learning video game system, is now available at retail and online. LeapsterGS, the newest addition to the award-winning Leapster family, is a groundbreaking improvement of Leapster Explorer. This revolutionary new gaming handheld offers fast-action gameplay packed with rich learning in a sleek and kid-tough design. LeapsterGS keeps kids engaged in learning by putting them in charge of the action with updated features including motion-based play, a built-in camera and video recorder, kid-friendly controls, and a large library of high-quality educational entertainment.
"LeapsterGS is an aspirational learning game solution that both parents and kids will love," said Greg Ahearn, chief marketing officer at LeapFrog. "Kids will experience fast-paced game-system action, and parents can trust their kids are engaged with age-appropriate educational entertainment. Our learning content is designed by our highly experienced team of learning experts to ensure our library keeps kids immersed in the game as they build important skills."
LeapsterGS comes with the new Escape of the Sillies game, the popular onboard Pet Pad writing game and choice of a free additional download from the LeapFrog App Center.
Fast-action Gaming
The LeapFrog LeapsterGS learning video game system delivers the ultimate gaming experience to kids. The faster LF 2000 processor and kid-friendly multi-button controls on LeapsterGS get kids into the action as they build core skills for success in school and in life. Kids are introduced to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as they complete action-packed challenges to build the ultimate water balloon launcher in the arcade-style game, Disney’s Phineas and Ferb. In Kat’s Math-errific Magic Show, a new game that helps build number recognition, addition, subtraction and multiplication skills, kids will dive into fast-action gameplay as they help collect frogs that have escaped and scattered backstage during the Big LeapSchool Talent Show. Additionally, parents can select just the right level of difficulty and the type of problems they would like their child to solve.
Ready, Set, Action!
The built-in camera, video recorder and microphone put kids right into the games they play. Exclusive to LeapsterGS, the Escape of the Sillies game transports kids into the game with the built-in camera and face-morphing technology, where they will customize faces of silly monsters while building their math skills. Additionally, the Camera Game Pack includes three different activities that kids can engage in, such as playing a photo journalist as they hunt for photographs and personalizing the game pieces in a matching game to build skills in spelling and math.
Tilt, Turn and Race Through Learning Fun
With the new built-in motion sensor, kids take charge of the action as they tilt, turn and shake their way through games. The T-Rex Rush game makes the most of this new feature and has kids dodging obstacles and dashing through the Arctic, desert and jungle as they keep baby T-Rex on course and practice math skills. Exclusive to LeapsterGS, the Splurgle! game uses the motion sensor to help Splurgle, a raindrop who gets blown off course, navigate his way back home through a maze of pipes as kids learn characteristics of liquids, solids and gases.
A Growing Content Library
LeapFrog has created skills-based, high-quality content that is safe and age-appropriate. The LeapsterGS content library features hundreds of action-packed games, music, videos, eBooks and more. This robust library is a combination of signature LeapFrog educational entertainment content designed by LeapFrog’s learning experts, and engaging content curated by LeapFrog from some of the biggest names in children’s entertainment. LeapsterGS holds 2GB of memory and is compatible with hundreds of LeapFrog Explorer cartridges and LeapFrog App Center digital content.
Availability
LeapsterGS is sold at MSRP $69.99 and is recommended for children 4 to 9 years. Downloads are priced at MSRP $5.00 and up and game cartridges at MSRP $24.99. LeapsterGS is available at leapfrog.com, online and at major retailers in the U.S., Canada, UK and Ireland mid-August, and in other select other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Korea,Thailand and other Asian countries later in the fall. The LeapFrog App Center can be accessed through the LeapFrog Connect Application for the LeapsterGS platform. For more information on LeapsterGS, visit leapfrog.com/LeapsterGS.
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Kristofer
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Because there is a section of parents who want “good wholesome educational” stuff for their kids and don’t want to buy DSes, blahblahblah. My son’s obsessed with DSes…
That being said, I DO like LeapFrog’s stuff. We’ve got an Explorer (1 step below the GS, and about 2 years old), and I don’t mind him playing stuff on it. It’s gotten him interested in multiplication 2 grades before they do it in school, and his math skills are great! But at close to 8, he’s outgrowing their devices. It’s all good.
Having two girls very close in age means we have two of everything. 2 Leapsters, 2 Digi units, 2 3DS systems, 2 iPod touches.. and soon enough they’ll each have their own iPad (they’re sharing a 1st gen at the moment). That being said, they use their iPods more than anything save for our iMac. That thing get some serious usage.
They both loved the leapster and digi, but the insanely small selection of applications/games made the devices very boring very quickly. They loved the 3DS systems I got them for Christmas, but again, the game selection kinda sucks. In the end, the iPod/iPad has the absolute best selection (and apps price too.. games are usually free to about $3-5, whereas the 3DS games range from about $10-50 and leapster/digi games were about $15-40) despite being the most expensive initial purchases.
If asked which device a kid should have based out of our experience, I’d say the iPod every time. The lineup on the other platforms simply isn’t there, and is far too expensive per game. Their 4th gen iPod w/32GB of RAM were $250(refurbs), I may have spent $30-40 on games, and they share an Apple ID with their mother so anything she gets, they can use as well. One $1 app works on every device the 3 of them use (2 iPods, 2 iPads and an iPhone). Try that on a DS or Leapfrog device.
I personally have a Playstation Vita as well, and the games are very limited in selection at this point, and they’re also rather pricey, but Sony has been actively changing a few things about the PS Store on Vita and PS3 to include purchases that include both versions of a game (PS3 & Vita for one price). Definitely not a good system for kids right now IMO.. maybe an older teen.
Yeah I have a Vita and I’m not thrilled at all about the very limited selection of games available for it. I really expected many more to be out by now. The games that are out are really not that good and they don’t have much replay value. I’m not into the social gaming aspect of it, so that limits me as well. I only know little kids with Vitas and I dropped Xbox live online gaming because I got sick of dealing with them on there. I’m regretting buying it at the moment especially since the new 3DS XL was announced.
The games I like are Uncharted and Mortal Kombat. But the social aspect in the MotorStorm RC is actually pretty cool.. too bad no one is playing the Vita right now though.. Sony is getting ready to release a lot of new games and features for it though. Also, even though I despise the game, Call of Duty for Vita will apparently be a ‘full-featured’ CoD, and that’s due out soon. (I’m a Battlefield guy through and through. CoD is so horrible in comparison IMO).
Yeah I got rid of a lot of my games, right now I only have left Blaze Blue, Mortal Kombat and Unit 13. I like the AR games as well, i hope they plan to release more of them. And yeah I have Motorstorm RC, got the free Scion version and I think I’ve played that the most out of all the games. I just saw a system update for the Vita is available as well, have to check and see what it brings.. it’s 97mb.