The Leapster game system from LeapFrog has undergone several revisions over the years. This summer, it slimmed down while gaining a bit of muscle.
The latest version, the $70 LeapsterGS, is thinner than its predecessor, the Leapster Explorer, but it has more features, like a built-in camera, videorecorder and microphone. It also has a larger screen, a faster processor and more memory, 2 gigabytes compared with 512 megabytes in the previous version.
One of the best advancements in the LeapsterGS is a motion sensor, which allows children to play games by jiggling, tilting and turning the device.
The LeapsterGS, which is intended for children ages 4 to 9 and is available at most major retailer s, comes with free content, including a math game called Escape of the Sillies. Additional cartridges featuring characters like Disney's Phineas and Ferb and Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants cost $25; apps start at $5.
LeapFrog plans to have more than 300 games and other content by the end of the year. For parents with the older model, rest assured that LeapsterGS is compatible with all Explorer cartridges and apps.
The Leapster was created to teach reading, math and science to children weaned on the Nintendo DS and other hand-held gaming systems. I tested a LeapsterGS with my 8-year-old niece, and she was playing games with it before I could find the instructions for turning it on. She was particularly fascinated with a game called Splurgle, in which she moved through a science puzzle using logic and problem-solving skills. In fact, it was hard prying the LeapsterGS from her hands, even with her 9-year-old cousin begging for a turn.
The LeapsterGS remem bered the progress my niece made in each game, praising her when she completed a task and encouraging her when she made a mistake. This way, she could move quickly from the easy tasks to ones that were more challenging.
It won't be hard to get children to pick up the LeapsterGS, but it might be difficult getting them to put it down.
