Leapster

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Leapster
LeapFrog Leapster-0593.jpg
A German-language green Leapster
Manufacturer LeapFrog Enterprises
Product family Leapster series
Type Handheld game console
Generation Sixth
Release dateOctober 7, 2003;22 years ago (2003-10-07)
Discontinued2011;15 years ago (2011) (cartridges)
2014;12 years ago (2014) (final discontinuation)
Units sold4 million
MediaLeapster cartridges
Operating system MQX, [1] Macromedia Flash MX 2004
CPU ARCTangent CPU @ 96MHz
Memory(2MB RAM, 256 bytes NVRAM)
Display160x160 CSTN touchscreen
SoundSequenced audio, CELP voice compression at 8000 Hz
Best-selling game SpongeBob SquarePants Saves the Day!
SuccessorLeapster2
LeapFrog Didj
Leapster2
Manufacturer LeapFrog Enterprises
Product family Leapster series
Type Handheld game console
Generation Seventh generation
Release dateJuly 1, 2008;17 years ago (2008-07-01)
Lifespan
Discontinued2019;7 years ago (2019)
Units sold500
MediaLeapster cartridges
CPU ARCTangent A5 (Overclocked)
Best-selling game Learning Path games
PredecessorLeapster
Successor Leapster Explorer

The Leapster Learning Game System, formerly known as the Leapster Multimedia Learning System, is an educational handheld game console manufactured and sold by LeapFrog Enterprises, aimed at children ages 4 to 10/11 (preschool to fourth grade or fifth grade). 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.

Contents

The Leapster was released in October 2003. [2] LeapFrog released the Leapster2 handheld device as a successor to the Leapster in July 2008, [3] adding a USB port and SD card slot. These additions allow the user to play a downloaded game and allows games to log user data, such as topics learned or user-created art. [4] Logged activity is sent to LeapFrog's "Learning Path" system, which tracks educational milestones completed. Completion of certain learning activities allows online games to be accessed. Art created using the Leapster can be further modified online and printed using a computer. The Leapster and Leapster L-MAX were retired in 2014, and the Leapster2 was retired in 2019.

History

Originally released on October 7, 2003, [2] the Leapster was revised and remade several times. 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,[ citation needed ] selling about 4 million units and 12 million software cartridges since its inception as of May 2007. It was sold in nine countries directly and in another 7 for teaching English as a second language in schools.

Software

There are approximately 40 games available for the Leapster, with over 50 created.

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.

Reception

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". [5] [6] [7] [8]

Licensed games

Technical specifications

Hardware

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 that was licensed to LeapFrog and ported to the Leapster. 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". [9] [10]

References

  1. ↑ "leapster.cpp (MAME GitHub)". GitHub . Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 WARREN BUCKLEITNER (December 4, 2003). "For Little Fingers, an Array of Digital Tutors". New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ "LeapFrog Leapster2 and Didj: Handheld Edu-Gamers For the Pre-iPod/Cellphone/DS Demographic". Gizmodo. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  4. ↑ "First Look: New LeapFrog Technology–Leapster 2, Didg, and more | Geek.com". Archived from the original on 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  5. ↑ "Water Cooler Games - Hacking the Leapster, plus Squeak and procedural literacy". Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "Water Cooler Games - Leapster: Third Party Development after all?". Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  8. ↑ Bogost, Ian. "LeapFrog Leapster Update: L-Max and Third Party Development". Archived from the original on 2009-01-05.
  9. ↑ "Customer Success Stories". Adobe. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  10. ↑ Scott Janousek (2007-05-23). "Flash Lite 2 - "A Developer's Perspective"". SlideShare. Archived from the original on 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
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