For $100, you get a stripped-down version of the original Wii console with no Internet connectivity. If you’re looking for another gaming option in a similar price range, consider the Nintendo Wii mini. Just be aware that if your child is on the older end of the recommended age spectrum, she or he may quickly outgrow the console.
With its voice instructions and simple interface, a child can navigate and play games on the LeapTV without needing much grown-up help. The LeapTV’s shortcomings are things that young children simply won’t care about.
For them, the LeapTV is a good choice, especially if educational content is important to parents. This console is made (and sized) especially for younger children (ages 3 to 8) who don’t currently have a lot of games suitable for their age. In terms of graphics and performance, the LeapTV can’t compete with the PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo consoles-but it isn’t intended to. It has HDMI output only: New TVs have at least one HDMI port, but for kids' gaming, people tend to use older TVs that may not have HDMI ports.(This reviewer had first-hand experience.) You may want to do it without your child present, if he or she is impatient. If you don’t already have a LeapFrog account, setting up the console can take some time.Occasionally, when we hit an object onscreen, it was not recognized. Motion tracking of the controller was inconsistent: When we moved the controller quickly, the onscreen cursor could not keep up.And downloadable content wasn't yet available. There's a limited number of games (just eight) available.The thumbstick should be textured, to prevent slipping.Audio instructions help children who aren't yet reading.
The LeapTV also allows for multiplayer gaming, with two controllers, or two players onscreen. The body tracking is not as advanced as that of Microsoft’s Kinect: It isn’t used to control an onscreen avatar but simply shows a live image of the player on the TV screen and lets her interact with in-game objects by virtually “touching” them. The handheld controller and the motion controller are actually the same device: Just press a button to unlock it, and it turns from a traditional controller into a wand-type motion controller (see the top photo).Ī camera that senses the controller’s movements as well as your child’s body motion comes with the LeapTV. The LeapTV offers three ways for kids to interact with games: a handheld game controller, a motion controller, and body movements. The LeapTV costs $150 game cartridges cost $30 each. It should also appeal to parents who are looking for a more educational gaming experience for their children. The company is taking a slightly different tack with the introduction of the LeapTV, a video-game console aimed at children who are a bit too young for the big-three consoles (the Microsoft Xbox One, Sony PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Wii U). LeapFrog is known for its learning-oriented tech products for children, notably the LeapPad tablets.