V-Motion Active Learning System

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Wii-type gaming for wee ones can get them moving.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a motion-activated gaming system for children ages 3-7. The controller doesn't work as well as the Wii remote, but it creates an intuitive way for young children to play video games. If you want a character to jump, you pull up on the controller, and if you want the character to run to the right, you tilt the controller to the right. The introductory game that comes bundled with the system is not very good, but the add-on games are much better. The add-on Kung Fu Panda game has mild violence in it, since the character uses martial arts to get things done.

  • This is a gaming system that encourages movement because the controllers are motion-sensitive. But Action Mania, the introductory game that comes with the system, involves very little movement. Other add-on games like Kung Fu Panda encourage this active gaming more.
  • Very little, but in the add-on software Kung Fu Panda, kids will use Kung Fu moves to hit and break things and defeat opponents.
  • Not applicable.
  • You will find many branded characters featured in the add-on games to this system including WALL-E, Kung Fu Panda, Thomas & Friends, Mickey Mouse, and Dora the Explorer.

What's it about?

Now that Nintendo's Wii has revolutionized the way we play video games with its motion-sensing controllers, VTech hopes to get in on the action with a new gaming system of its own aimed at young children called the V-MOTION ACTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM. V-Motion combines motion-activated video gaming with educational content to teach 3- to 7-year-olds math, reading, science, spelling, and logical thinking.

 The V-Motion system comes with a 12-by-7 inch console that plugs into your television, using the AV input jacks. It also has a wireless controller that works by kids moving it to make things happen on the TV screen. The system comes bundled with the Action Mania game.


Is it any good?

 

So, does it work? Yes, but this controller isn't as responsive as the Wii remote. In Action Mania, kids tilt the controller side-to-side and up-and-down to make on-screen characters balance on a moving ball, race in a car or on a bobsled, or play tennis. There's a delay factor from when you make a motion with the controller to when things happen on the screen, so kids need to anticipate when they need to move the controller. At times, they will make a motion, but it won't be recognized. When racing in a car, you'll be asked to race over letters to complete the spelling of words. Unfortunately, you come up on the letters so fast that it's hard to tilt the controller the correct way to run over the desired letter.

Since V-Motion is a new system with great potential to encourage kids to move while they are gaming, we also reviewed Kung Fu Panda: Path of the Panda, one of the eight add-on games launching with this new system. The game play in Kung Fu Panda was much more creative, in-depth, and motion-encouraging than what is showcased in the short Action Mania game. With Kung Fu Panda, kids are asked to pretend they are doing kung fu moves while holding the controller. If they shake the controller around as they go through their moves, it will trigger the panda to perform impressive moves on the screen.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about why it's important to get up and move. Since the controller has a joystick in addition to being motion-sensitive, which method was easier to play?


This review was written by Jinny Gudmundsen

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This review was written by Jinny Gudmundsen
Platforms:V-Motion
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Preschool
Developer:VTech Electronics
Release date:August 1, 2008
Price:$69.99
ESRB rating:NR

This review was written by Jinny Gudmundsen

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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