fbpx
Wikipedia

Leapster

October 15, 2023

The Leapster Learning Game System (previously known as the Leapster Multimedia Learning System) is an educational handheld game console aimed at 4- to 10–11-year-olds (preschool to fourth grade or fifth grade), made by LeapFrog Enterprises. Its games teach the alphabet, phonics, basic math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), and art and animal facts to players. Along with a directional pad, the system features a touchscreen with a stylus pen that enables young users to interact directly with the screen. LeapFrog released the Leapster2 handheld device as a successor to the Leapster in July 2008.[1] The Leapster2 is essentially the previous system with an added USB port and SD card slot. These additions give the ability to play a downloaded full game or short game including the ability to log data on gameplay, such as what has been learned by the user or art created by the user. Downloadable games are not for sale.[2]

Leapster
A German-language green Leapster
ManufacturerLeapFrog Enterprises
Product familyLeapster series
TypeHandheld game console
GenerationSixth generation
Release dateOctober 7, 2003; 20 years ago (2003-10-07)
Discontinued2011 (cartridges)
2014 (final discontinuation)
Units sold4 million
MediaLeapster cartridges
CPUARCTangent A5
Display160x160 CSTN touchscreen
Graphics4 MB ATI chip
SoundMIDI, CELP voice compression at 8000 Hz
Best-selling gameSpongeBob SquarePants Saves the Day!
SuccessorLeapster2
Leapfrog Didj
Leapster2
ManufacturerLeapFrog Enterprises
Product familyLeapster series
TypeHandheld game console
GenerationSeventh generation
Release dateJuly 1, 2008; 15 years ago (2008-07-01)
Lifespan
Discontinued2019
Units sold500
MediaLeapster cartridges
CPUARCTangent A5 (Overclocked)
Best-selling gameLearning Path games
PredecessorLeapster
SuccessorLeapster Explorer

The games released since the Leapster2's release log user activity and will send this data to LeapFrog's "Learning Path" system, which tracks educational milestones completed. Completion of certain learning activity can allow online games to be accessed. In the case of art created on the device, the art can be further embellished online and printed with a printer accessible by the user's computer. Both the Leapster and Leapster L-MAX were retired in 2014 and the Leapster2 was retired in 2019.

History Edit

Released on October 7, 2003, the Leapster has since undergone several revisions and remakes. The Leapster L-MAX, a version that has one extra feature (an A/V TV output, which allows the user to view and hear gameplay on their television) was released in 2004. The L-MAX console's size has decreased and the pen is now a wire instead of a thread. The Leapster TV, a screenless version with the same basic control layout in a console form, was released in 2005 and retired in 2007.

The Leapster was the best-selling educational handheld game console in America and has sold about 4 million units and 12 million software cartridges since its inception, as of May 2007. It is regularly sold in nine countries directly, and in another 7 for teaching English as a second language in schools.

Software Edit

There are approximately 40 games available, and over 50 have been created. This is the largest library for any handheld designed exclusively for educational use.

All games for the Leapster feature a "Hint" function along with a dedicated "Hint" button that will bring up audio or animated information on instructions given in the game.

LeapFrog has not opened the Leapster platform to significant amounts of third-party or homebrew development; software is typically developed in-house or as work-for-hire.

Criticism Edit

Dave Bauer stated that there is a "depressingly small library of software available for the Leapster ... but some more varied software would make it much more interesting for (my son) ... no platform that has ever been successful without third-party software. ... Besides that, a strong hobbyist platform would be amazing".

Ian Bogost stated "the potential for improved educational game design is simply not going to come from inside the LeapFrog corporation". [3][4][5][6]

Games licensed Edit

Technical specifications Edit

Hardware Edit

  • CPU: Custom ASIC containing an ARCTangent-A5 CPU, running at 96 MHz.
  • Memory: Original Leapster: 2 MB onboard RAM, 256 bytes non-volatile. Leapster2: 16 MB RAM, 128 KB non-volatile storage
  • Media type: Cartridges of 4-16 MB with between 2 and 512 KB non-volatile storage.
  • Graphics: 4 MB ATI chip.
  • Audio: Proprietary hardware audio acceleration, which includes MIDI playback and CELP voice compression sampled at 8000 Hz.
    • It retains the same sound source from the original LeapPad from 1999.
  • Screen: 160x160 CSTN with touchscreen.
  • Leapster2 only: USB 1.1 (client only) and full-sized SD slot.
  • Some Leapster2s have no SD slot and use onboard memory in place of it.

Most of the software content for the original Leapster was created with Macromedia Flash MX 2004; the device runs a version of Adobe Flash Player ported to the Leapster, that is licensed to LeapFrog. Tom Prichard, Sr. Vice President of Marketing for Leapfrog, said that he believed using Flash allowed them to "bring the Leapster system to life more rapidly than we could have with any other development method".[7][8]

References Edit

  1. ^ "LeapFrog Leapster2 and Didj: Handheld Edu-Gamers For the Pre-iPod/Cellphone/DS Demographic". Gizmodo. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  3. ^ . Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  4. ^ . Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  5. ^ . Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  6. ^ Bogost, Ian. . Archived from the original on 2009-01-05.
  7. ^ "Customer Success Stories". Adobe. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  8. ^ Scott Janousek (2007-05-23). "Flash Lite 2 - "A Developer's Perspective"". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links Edit

    October 15, 2023
    leapster, learning, game, system, previously, known, multimedia, learning, system, educational, handheld, game, console, aimed, year, olds, preschool, fourth, grade, fifth, grade, made, leapfrog, enterprises, games, teach, alphabet, phonics, basic, math, addit. The Leapster Learning Game System previously known as the Leapster Multimedia Learning System is an educational handheld game console aimed at 4 to 10 11 year olds preschool to fourth grade or fifth grade made by LeapFrog Enterprises Its games teach the alphabet phonics basic math addition subtraction multiplication division and art and animal facts to players Along with a directional pad the system features a touchscreen with a stylus pen that enables young users to interact directly with the screen LeapFrog released the Leapster2 handheld device as a successor to the Leapster in July 2008 1 The Leapster2 is essentially the previous system with an added USB port and SD card slot These additions give the ability to play a downloaded full game or short game including the ability to log data on gameplay such as what has been learned by the user or art created by the user Downloadable games are not for sale 2 LeapsterA German language green LeapsterManufacturerLeapFrog EnterprisesProduct familyLeapster seriesTypeHandheld game consoleGenerationSixth generationRelease dateOctober 7 2003 20 years ago 2003 10 07 Discontinued2011 cartridges 2014 final discontinuation Units sold4 millionMediaLeapster cartridgesCPUARCTangent A5Display160x160 CSTN touchscreenGraphics4 MB ATI chipSoundMIDI CELP voice compression at 8000 HzBest selling gameSpongeBob SquarePants Saves the Day SuccessorLeapster2Leapfrog DidjLeapster2ManufacturerLeapFrog EnterprisesProduct familyLeapster seriesTypeHandheld game consoleGenerationSeventh generationRelease dateJuly 1 2008 15 years ago 2008 07 01 LifespanNA EU 2008Discontinued2019Units sold500MediaLeapster cartridgesCPUARCTangent A5 Overclocked Best selling gameLearning Path gamesPredecessorLeapsterSuccessorLeapster ExplorerThe games released since the Leapster2 s release log user activity and will send this data to LeapFrog s Learning Path system which tracks educational milestones completed Completion of certain learning activity can allow online games to be accessed In the case of art created on the device the art can be further embellished online and printed with a printer accessible by the user s computer Both the Leapster and Leapster L MAX were retired in 2014 and the Leapster2 was retired in 2019 Contents 1 History 2 Software 3 Criticism 4 Games licensed 5 Technical specifications 5 1 Hardware 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditReleased on October 7 2003 the Leapster has since undergone several revisions and remakes The Leapster L MAX a version that has one extra feature an A V TV output which allows the user to view and hear gameplay on their television was released in 2004 The L MAX console s size has decreased and the pen is now a wire instead of a thread The Leapster TV a screenless version with the same basic control layout in a console form was released in 2005 and retired in 2007 The Leapster was the best selling educational handheld game console in America and has sold about 4 million units and 12 million software cartridges since its inception as of May 2007 It is regularly sold in nine countries directly and in another 7 for teaching English as a second language in schools Software EditThere are approximately 40 games available and over 50 have been created This is the largest library for any handheld designed exclusively for educational use All games for the Leapster feature a Hint function along with a dedicated Hint button that will bring up audio or animated information on instructions given in the game LeapFrog has not opened the Leapster platform to significant amounts of third party or homebrew development software is typically developed in house or as work for hire Criticism EditDave Bauer stated that there is a depressingly small library of software available for the Leapster but some more varied software would make it much more interesting for my son no platform that has ever been successful without third party software Besides that a strong hobbyist platform would be amazing Ian Bogost stated the potential for improved educational game design is simply not going to come from inside the LeapFrog corporation 3 4 5 6 Games licensed Edit1st Grade 2nd Grade Musical Menace Adibou A la Recherche de Robilloc Animal Genius The Backyardigans The Batman Multiply Divide and Conquer The Batman Strength in Numbers Bratz World The Jet Set Cars Cars 2 Cars Supercharged Clifford the Big Red Dog Reading Cosmic Math Crayola Art Adventure Creature Create Digging for Dinosaurs The Disney PIXAR Collection Disney Fairies Disney Princess Enchanted Learning Disney Princess Worlds of Enchantment Dora the Explorer Camping Adventure Dora the Explorer Pinata Party Dora the Explorer Wildlife Rescue Finding Nemo Foster s Home for Imaginary Friends Get Puzzled Go Diego Go Animal Rescuer I Spy Challenger I Spy Treasure Hunt The Incredibles Junie B Jones Top Secret Personal Beeswax Journal Kindergarten Learning with Leap cartridge only game built in on some Leapsters citation needed Letter Factory Letters on the Loose Letterpillar Madagascar Math Baseball Math Missions Mr Pencil s Learn to Draw and Write My Amusement Park NASCAR Ni Hao Kai Lan Beach Day Noddy Rainbow Adventures UK only Number Raiders Numbers on the Run Counting on Zero Outwit The Penguins of Madagascar Race for 1st Place Pet Pals Phonics Lesson One The Princess and the Frog Ratatouille Reading with Phonics Mole s Huge Nose Rock the World A Reading Adventure Schoolhouse Rock America Rock Schoolhouse Rock Grammar Rock Scooby Doo Math Times Two Scooby Doo Spooky Snacks Sonic X Spider Man The Case of the Sinister Speller SpongeBob SquarePants Saves the Day SpongeBob SquarePants Through the Wormhole Star Wars The Clone Wars Jedi Math Star Wars Jedi Reading Tangled The Talking Words Factory Thomas amp Friends Calling All Engines Top Secret Personal Beeswax Share a Journal with Junie B Toy Story 3 Up WALL E Wolverine and the X Men Word ChasersTechnical specifications EditHardware Edit CPU Custom ASIC containing an ARCTangent A5 CPU running at 96 MHz Memory Original Leapster 2 MB onboard RAM 256 bytes non volatile Leapster2 16 MB RAM 128 KB non volatile storage Media type Cartridges of 4 16 MB with between 2 and 512 KB non volatile storage Graphics 4 MB ATI chip Audio Proprietary hardware audio acceleration which includes MIDI playback and CELP voice compression sampled at 8000 Hz It retains the same sound source from the original LeapPad from 1999 Screen 160x160 CSTN with touchscreen Leapster2 only USB 1 1 client only and full sized SD slot Some Leapster2s have no SD slot and use onboard memory in place of it Most of the software content for the original Leapster was created with Macromedia Flash MX 2004 the device runs a version of Adobe Flash Player ported to the Leapster that is licensed to LeapFrog Tom Prichard Sr Vice President of Marketing for Leapfrog said that he believed using Flash allowed them to bring the Leapster system to life more rapidly than we could have with any other development method 7 8 References Edit LeapFrog Leapster2 and Didj Handheld Edu Gamers For the Pre iPod Cellphone DS Demographic Gizmodo 5 February 2008 Retrieved 2021 03 23 First Look New LeapFrog Technology Leapster 2 Didg and more Geek com Archived from the original on 2008 12 07 Retrieved 2008 11 17 Water Cooler Games Hacking the Leapster plus Squeak and procedural literacy Archived from the original on 2008 12 24 Retrieved 2009 01 02 Water Cooler Games the Truth about Third Party Development on the LeapFrog Leapster Archived from the original on 2008 12 19 Retrieved 2009 01 02 Water Cooler Games Leapster Third Party Development after all Archived from the original on 2009 01 06 Retrieved 2009 01 02 Bogost Ian LeapFrog Leapster Update L Max and Third Party Development Archived from the original on 2009 01 05 Customer Success Stories Adobe Retrieved 2021 03 23 Scott Janousek 2007 05 23 Flash Lite 2 A Developer s Perspective a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help External links EditOfficial site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leapster amp oldid 1170368795, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

    article

    , read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.