V.Smile

Infobox Video game system
title = V-Smile


caption = A first generation V-Smile system from the Scooby Doo bundle.
manufacturer = V.Tech
family = V-Smile
type = Video game console
generation = Sixth Generation console, but technology is comparable to other 4th Generation consoles
media = ROM cartridge
storage = Flash memory on ROM cartridge
controllers = Up to 2 V-Smile controllers, optional Keyboard/mouse, graphics tablet, and dance pad available
successor = Second Generation V-Smile System

The V.Smile is an educational game system by VTech. It is designed for children ages 3 to 7. Titles are available on ROM cartridges called "Smartridges", to play off the system's educational nature. The graphics are primarily sprite-based, and the console can be compared against other fourth generation consoles.

The buttons on the game system and controllers are large to accommodate small children's less developed manual dexterity. The default controller consists of an analog stick, four colored buttons, a large enter button, a button (dubbed the "Learning Zone" button) that immediately takes the player to a minigame section of the software, an Exit button (that either brings up an option to end the game or to keep playing, or to exit out of any menu that the player is in) and a Help button (which repeats the spoken instructions or hint provided by the game to the player).

A second generation V.Smile console was launched in 1997. The console is now bundled with a microphone, and a redesigned controller was shipped, which now comes with a graphics tablet built in. However, the design of the console is still the same as the first generation console apart from the presence of a microphone holder. The internals of the system also appears to be the same as the first generation console, as software meant for the first generation console is playable on the second generation console, and vice-versa, although software that takes advantage of the microphone feature will disable the sections of the software that requires the use of the microphone if played on the first generation console.

V.Smile Pocket and V.Smile Cyber Pocket

The V.Smile Pocket is a handheld version of the V.Smile console. It features a built-in Passive matrix-based color LCD display 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. Also, 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-generation V.Smile Pocket was introduced in 2007, in which a microphone is added to the device. However, apart from the new feature (and added support for games that use the microphone), it retained the looks of the first generation V.Smile Pocket.

A third generation V.Smile Pocket was introduced in 2008. Called the V.Smile Cyber Pocket, the console was redesigned with a smaller flip-open screen (still Passive matrix-based) and a integrated graphics tablet, while retaining the microphone introduced in the second generation V.Smile Pocket. Also, a proprietary port was added to the console, which a flash drive like device with a matching proprietary connector on one end and a USB connector on another, could plug in to 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.

V.Smile Baby Infant Development System

A separate system called the V.Smile Baby Infant Development System was released shortly after the original V.Smile was introduced to the market. The games and cartridges of a V.Smile Baby is not compatible with a V.Smile and vice-versa. Indeed, the control system for the Infant Development System is significantly different from those used in the counterpart that's targeted at older children: it does not have the features of a typical game control, instead the design is more like those 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 infra-red signaling. The console itself is rather unique in design, having only an on-off switch and permanently attached cables carrying composite video signal and monaural audio through two RCA connectors. It also lacks a DC power connector, instead running off four AA batteries. The console has a cartridge slot as well as indents to hold four additional cartridges for storage. Also interestingly, powering off the controller will also power off the console if the console is switched on at the time.

Region protection status

The V.Smile range of consoles are not region-locked. While the console itself come in NTSC and PAL versions and the BIOS on the consoles appear to be region specific (distinguishable from the speech sample played in the screen after the V-Tech logo when the console is started with no cartridge inserted), games purchased from an NTSC region would play on PAL systems and games purchased in PAL territories will also play on NTSC systems. Observations suggest that both the V.Smile and V.Smile Infant Development System used different methods of booting- The V.Smile and V.Smile Pocket variants will apparently boot into their own BIOS, then obligingly run the software on the cartridge. The V.Smile Baby appears to boot from the default BIOS when a cartridge of the same region is inserted or when there's no cartridge in the system, but appears to boot from a different BIOS when a cartridge of a different region is inserted. Currently it is unknown if the extra BIOS resides on the cartridge or on the console itself. [Confirmed with a PAL V.Smile Pocket bought in Malaysia and a NTSC V.Smile Cyber Pocket brought in from the US using both an Australian PAL smartridge and a North American NTSC smartridge. Likewise, the V.Smile Baby was tested using a PAL console bought in Malaysia and a North American NTSC smartridge.]

ee also

*V.Flash
*VTech Socrates

References

External links

* [http://www.vtechkids.com/tvLearning_console.cfm V.Smile learning system]
* [http://www.vsmileshop.com Entire Vtech V.Smile Product Line ]