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 A German-language green Leapster | |
| Manufacturer | LeapFrog Enterprises |
|---|---|
| Product family | Leapster series |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Sixth |
| Released | October 7, 2003; 22 years ago (2003-10-07) |
| Discontinued | 2011; 15 years ago (2011) (cartridges) 2014; 12 years ago (2014) (final discontinuation) |
| Units sold | 4 million |
| Media | Leapstercartridges |
| Operating system | MQX,[1]Macromedia Flash MX 2004 |
| CPU | ARCTangent CPU @ 96MHz |
| Memory | (2MB RAM, 256 bytesNVRAM) |
| Display | 160x160 CSTN touchscreen |
| Sound | Sequenced audio, CELP voice compression at 8000 Hz |
| Best-selling game | SpongeBob SquarePants Saves the Day! |
| Successor | Leapster2 LeapFrog Didj |
| Manufacturer | LeapFrog Enterprises |
|---|---|
| Product family | Leapster series |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Seventh generation |
| Released | July 1, 2008; 17 years ago (2008-07-01) |
| Lifespan | |
| Discontinued | 2019; 7 years ago (2019) |
| Units sold | 500 |
| Media | Leapstercartridges |
| CPU | ARCTangent A5 (Overclocked) |
| Best-selling game | Learning Path games |
| Predecessor | Leapster |
| Successor | Leapster Explorer |
TheLeapster Learning Game System, formerly known as theLeapster Multimedia Learning System, is aneducationalhandheld game console manufactured and sold byLeapFrog Enterprises, aimed at children ages 4 to 10 (preschool tofifth grade). Its games teach thealphabet,phonics, basic math (addition,subtraction,multiplication,division), and art and animal facts to players. Along with adirectional pad, the system features atouchscreen with a stylus pen that enables young users to interact directly with the screen.
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 aUSB port andSD 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.
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 teachingEnglish as a second language in schools.
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 orhomebrew development; software is typically developed in-house or as work-for-hire.
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]
Most of the software content for the original Leapster was created with Macromedia Flash MX 2004; the device runs a version ofAdobe 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]