The V.Smile (stylized as V.SMILE TV Learning System) is a sixth-generation educational home video game console manufactured and released by VTech. The system was first released on August 4, 2004. Its titles are available on ROM cartridges called "Smartridges", a pun on the system's educational nature. Several variants of the V.Smile console are sold, including handheld versions and models with added functionality such as touch tablet integrated controllers or microphones. The V.Motion is a variant that includes motion-sensitive controllers and has titles designed to take advantage of motion-related "active learning". Without the cartridge, it will loop back to the startup screen.
Hardware A V.Smile generally has on and off buttons, two joystick ports, and a compartment for keeping the cartridges in addition to the cartridge slot. The system can run using either an AC adapter or with batteries. The V.Smile can hold up to six titles in its compartment.
The V.Smile is a standard cartridge-based system that will play the title inserted.
The V.Smile was released in several countries with different names:
CountryDistributor Name Tagline Age range VTech V.Smile TV Learning System Turn Game Time Into Brain Time! 3-8 years VTech V.Smile TV Learning System Learning is child's play! 3-8 years Concentra V.Smile Sistema Educativo De TV Aprender é divertido! 3-7 years VTech V.Smile Aprendizaje Interactivo Por TV ¡Aprender es un juego de niños! 3-8 years VTech V.Smile Aprender Interactivo Por TV ¡Aprender es un juego de niños! 3-8 years VTech V.Smile Console TV Éducative La première console de jeu éducative pour les petits! 3-7 years ? V.Smile TV Learning System Leren is kinderspel! 3-7 years VTech V.Smile Das Lernspiel-System Lernen wird zum Kinderspiel! 3-8 years Giochi Preziosi V.Smile Sistema di apprendimento TV Imparare è un gioco da bambini!3-7 years TOP-TOY A/S V.Smile Det ær lekande lætt att lære!? ? V.Smile TV Learning System Det är lekande lätt att lära! 3-7 years ? V.Smile ?? ? V.Smile ??
Variants A second generation of the V.Smile console was launched in 2007. This model (Model 752) was bundled with a microphone, and a redesigned controller was shipped.
In 2008, a translucent-faced V.Smile TV Learning System Limited Edition console was released including two joysticks, and the Alphabet Park Adventure game cartridge. The console colors were reversed (translucent orange face with purple body) from the normal console colors (solid purple face with orange body).
The last revision of the console (Model 1086) was the smallest of the main line, becoming shorter and square in shape, it retains 2 controller ports, but it adds V-Link functionality, and the cartridge storage on the back removed the cover and became smaller with space for only 4 games. The console also drops stereo sound, having a video and mono audio jack, instead of looping back it shows "please insert a learning game".
V.Smile Pocket and V.Smile Cyber Pocket The V.Smile Pocket is a handheld version of the V.Smile console, released on September 10, 2004. It features a built-in Passive matrix-based color LCD and a monaural speaker, but is otherwise similar to the desktop console counterpart. However, there is no connector for an additional joystick, and thus many games that support two player mode will disallow access selection of the said mode. The device is not compatible with games that uses any of the other accessories due to the lack of an additional joystick port.
A second V.Smile Pocket model was introduced in 2007, in which a microphone is added to the device. Apart from the new feature, added support for games that use the microphone, and a repositioning of the speaker from the lower right to the upper left, it retained the appearance of the first V.Smile Pocket model. The game system is larger than devices such as the Game Boy Advance or Nintendo DS, although the V.Smile Pocket uses full size Smartridges from the console.
A third generation called V.Smile Cyber Pocket was introduced in 2008. The console was redesigned with a smaller flip-open screen (still Passive matrix-based) and an integrated graphics tablet, while retaining the microphone introduced in the second generation V.Smile Pocket. A proprietary port was added to the console, which a flash drive-like device called the "V-Link" with a matching proprietary connector on one end and a USB connector on another, could plug into the Cyber Pocket. This device is used to transfer the data of games that support such function to a PC, which would in turn upload the data to a website. The data could then be used to chart the player's progress as well as be used to unlock bonus games on the said website.
PC Pal The PC Pal, released on June 20, 2008, is a variant of the basic V.Smile console with an integrated accessory, a more colorful and functional version of the Smart Keyboard accessory with built-in joystick and tablet controls. Unlike a regular V.Smile system, the V.Smile PC Pal has a port for the V-Link accessory. It comes bundled with a Smartridge of games for the keyboard that teach typing and other basic keyboard skills. The main unit looks like a standard V.Smile system with the name "PC Pal" printed on it. It can play all Smartridges, but since the joystick controls are built into the keyboard, the setup is more easily used on a desktop surface with a small TV serving as a monitor, similar to a personal computer. For someone who already owns a V.Smile, the Smart Keyboard accessory and a touch tablet enhanced joystick will provide a similar experience. Since the keyboard can be disconnected and a standard joystick or other V.Smile accessory used, the PC Pal can function as a normal V.Smile system.
V.Motion and V.Smile Motion
A newer variant of the V.Smile is the V.Motion Active Learning System (Model 788) or V.Smile Motion, released in September 2007. It uses built-in wireless controller with accelerometers that detect three axes of movement. The controller can be tilted in a direction to achieve a result on the screen. The V.Motion controller is adaptable by handedness.
Titles released after the V.Motion system are designed to use its motion controls. However, the traditional joystick directional control can be used, and all Smartridge titles can be played across the V.Smile line of systems. The system's storage compartment can hold up to nine Smartridges.
Accessories The V.Smile TV Learning System Plus Joystick includes a built-in writing pad and stylus. The joystick with writing pad works on both the original V.Smile and the New V.Smile TV Learning System, and can be used to take advantage of newer Smartridges that use the writing pad functionality in games. The V.Smile Smart Keyboard is a PC-like keyboard that can be connected to a V.Smile System console. It includes several activities and lessons that teach typing, letters, spelling, and logic. The V.Smile Smartbook includes the "Smartbook" - an interface with a stylus that holds activity books and works together with Smartridges (an idea pioneered by Sega with their Sega Pico and Japan-only Advanced Pico Beena educational gaming systems). The V.Smile Art Studio is a large touch pad and stylus device that allows for "paintings" to appear on screen. Interactive stamps, color palette, picture drawing, color mixing, animation maker, coloring-in pictures are some of the features of the Art Studio. It comes with an Art Studio specific Smartridge. The V.Smile V-Link is an accessory that works only with the Cyber Pocket, PC Pal, V.Motion systems, and a few of the newer V.Smiles. It allows the user to track their progress by keeping the accessory plugged into the Game Console where it automatically tracks a child's progress and scores. When plugging the V.Link into a PC's USB port, it auto connects to a secure website where the child can see how they rank against all V.Smile players also using V-Link. As children play more of their Smartridges and master more skills, they are rewarded with online bonus games that are "unlocked" by their progress. The V.Smile Jammin' Gym Class is similar to dance pads made popular by Dance Dance Revolution. It is called a "soft exercise mat for interactive play, dance and exercise" by VTech. It includes 10 different active learning activities and connects directly to either the V.Smile TV Learning System or the V.Smile V.Motion with the Jammin' Gym Class cartridge. It helps teach letters, numbers, colors, spelling, and health concepts.
Competition and comparisons The V.Motion was introduced as a low-cost, educational alternative to the popular Wii console, to which it has been compared due to its use of motion controllers.
The V.Smile Pocket's direct competition is the handheld Leapster by LeapFrog.
Rough comparisons in technological capability with the V.Smile consoles in terms of graphics and sound can be made to Nintendo's SNES console, thus generally the V.Smile is technologically comparable to most fourth generation consoles despite being released in the seventh generation era.
Games Many educational game Smartridges for the V.Smile involve licensed characters popular with children. Some of these properties include Scooby-Doo, Bob the Builder, The Little Mermaid, Go, Diego, Go!, and The Wiggles.
Several games were released in different countries, and as a result of the console being aimed at younger children who might not know English, they were translated into their respective languages. The games also have a suggested age range on the box, that sometimes changes depending on which country it was released in. The Console and its games were sometimes distributed by different companies, such as Concentra in Portugal, and Giochi Preziosi in Italy.
Some V.Smile games were rereleased with V.Motion functionality. All Smartridge titles are compatible with the V.Smile family of systems including the original V.Smile system, V.Motion, V.Smile Pocket, and Cyber Pocket.
There are known unreleased titles, Adventures in Oz, which was listed on Amazon by VTech in 2004 before the console was released, but it is unknown if it was ever developed or when it was cancelled. and also, the German VTech plans to make an untitled Bumba game, it was cancelled in the Netherlands and in Germany.
V.Smile Baby Infant Development System
An unrelated and separate spin-off system called the V.Smile Baby Infant Development System, was released shortly after the original V.Smile TLS was introduced to the market. The games and cartridges of a V.Smile Baby IDS are not compatible with a V.Smile TLS and vice versa. This is an important distinction since so many of the other consoles named "V.Smile" are inter-compatible. The control system for the V.Smile Baby Infant Development System is significantly different from those used in the V.Smile TLS that is targeted at older children: it does not have the features of a typical game controller, instead the design is more like that of a playboard. The controls consist of a mode slider, two switches (one for power and the other toggles the board between standalone play mode and console control mode), 7 buttons (5 shape buttons, a "fun" button, a small Exit button), and a roller ball hooked up to a sensor. The controller itself has a speaker which comes into play during standalone mode (in which it functions as a playboard that play music, speech and sound when interacted with). The controller communicates with the console by means of infrared signaling, and runs off six AA (Lithium) batteries. It also lacks a pink variant for girls, V.Smile Baby only ships with orange and blue color schemes.