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Average user rating:
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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4.0 stars
"Game system w/ learning in disguise...leapfrog= genius"
Pros: Games remind me of regular video games but have learning packed throughout them
Graphics are really good for a Leapfrog toy
Hooks to the computer to track your childs progress with learning and lets you customize your game with points you earnCons: the battery compartment is very hard to open and you feel like you could tear up the Didj changing batteries
Summary: The Leapfrog Didj is an awesome system for children ages 6-10. The system comes with a free game...but has to be downloaded first and you have to sign up at the leapfrog store this way you can later start tracking your child's progress by hooking the didj to the computer after they play the points they earn goes towards earning coins to customize the game and change their charcters and unlock new things, I think that is brillant. My son loves to unlock new features and this should keep him occupied with each game for a while before getting bored. I love the fact that you can hook the computer to the Didj and download each weeks spelling words and it will customize a games for your child to play during the week to learn those words in a fun new way! You can do this for other subjects too! That was my main reason that got me intrested in purchasing this for my son. This is going to be a Christmas gift for him so he has not yet played it other than store demo/displays. We first saw it in the store and he instantly wanted one after playing the demo. I was drawn to how nicely the graphics looked and all the games out for the system looked like something my son would love to play. He has been asking already for a Didj for Christmas. I really think he will like this.
when you first get the didj it takes a while to set it up and have to hook to the computer to download your free game
I will most likely get a recharging station as this item uses 4 (AA) batteries. The only complaint I have so far (I took the Didj out of the box and tried it out to make sure it worked okay and hooked it to the computer) when putting batteries in it has 2 battery slots 2 batteries go on each side of the Didj and to open the slot you have to use a coin and push really hard to slide the slot open it was really hard to get open and I felt like I was going to break the Didj system and the way you open it up if you push very much you end up pushing on the screen, which I did not like at all! This really needs to be redesigned. Afterall this is for children 6-10 so the battery compartment should have been designed for older kids to change out the batteries or even put a screw in the sides to undo the slots like most every other toy my child has would have even been okay. My toddler at least won't be able to get the batteries out which I understand that's probaly why they designed it that way, but for my older child he will have to let us get the batteries out and its difficult even for an adult!
Other than the battery compartment my other complaint is when I went to try out the Didj there was no game on the system, you have to download the free game online and first set up an account for your child to track the progess and also this later allows you to let your child hook it to the computer to trade the coins earned in the games to unlock new features like new characters, unlock new levels, music, backgrounds and more! So if you purchase this remember it will take about 25-30 min to set up before you child can play. I'm glad I went ahead and got everything signed up and the free game downloaded so on Christmas morning my son is ready to start playing without the hassle of signing up and downloading everything. The free game was really awesome. Its called Jet Pack Attack and you fly your character around and collect points and as you get further you have to answer math questions. The game has the learning sort of hidden because its fun to play so learning is fun! I also tried out the Sonic game that I purchased extra and it was just like a regular Sonic game you collect rings and do the same stunts as in any Sonic video game but it also has words you have to spell and rearrange to spell a word and more.
I purchased a few more games but did not open them to try them out, but they all look intresting and fun and I know my son will enjoy this system. The way the Didj is set up it reminds me of a Nintendo DS or a PSP feel to it and the games are fun to play.
Overall I think this will be a great learning system and I think my son will really enjoy this. When he was younger he really liked the Leapster system but outgrown it. Now they have the new Leapster that also hooks to the computer like the Didj- I think that this feature is a huge plus because its like your game always is fresh and new by being able to customize it and unlock new things it also gets your child playing and learning and they have fun doing so.
I give this a big thumbs up. I can't wait to give this to my child for Christmas. The only reason I give it the 4 stars instead of 5 is because the battery compartment and then having to download the game. But nowadays everything has to have a update for a new system so I understand that you update the Didj and download the game it also lets you set up the account through Leapfrog so that is'nt such a bad thing. I do feel they will have to redesign the Didj's battery compartment though.
I am very pleased with the Didj and looking forward to give this to my son...which I will update when he gets it.
Where to buy
LeapFrog Didj Custom Gaming System (gray/white):
$79.99
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Best Buy
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$79.99 | See Site |
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