Didj Custom Gaming System
© 2008 LeapFrog
Note: See Leappad Explorer, released July 2011, a system based on the Didj operating system. Didj is being discontinued. Update March 2009: Seven new titles will bring the total Didj library to 19 by 2010, and increase the curriculum offerings. Many releases seem to be Disney-related, featuring Hannah Montana (math, spelling), Neopets, High School Musical (music and fractions), Up (geography) and Fairies. Two notable exceptions: Star Wars Jedi Wars and an NFL sports game. There are no changes in the hardware for this year. First released in the Summer of 2008, Leapfrog's Didj (spelled in lower-case letters) is a handheld edu-gaming system with a clear color screen and Nintendo DS-like controls that comes in pink, blue or gray. It runs on 4 AA batteries, or it can be powered with a DC 'in' port. Like the Leapster or the Nintendo DS, the software comes on cartridges and is sold for $20 - $30 each. Other features include a mono headphone jack, a volume slider and easy-to-learn gaming controls. It does not have a touch screen. A USB port lets you customize the experience for your child using a Mac or Windows computer running LeapFrog's Connect application, a software package that can be downloaded and installed. After you plug in the Didj, you go start the iTunes-like application and synch your Didj with LeapFrog's servers, transferring content or to see what your child has done. You can individualize the experience so that your child is quizzed on specific multiplication facts while killing sets of monsters, or perhaps create a customized spelling list from the online list of 10,000 more common words. Every time you connect the Didj system to the computer, your child's badges -- tokens earned for good work -- are traded for more content The Didj auto-levels, adjusting games to children's particular skills and progress so players are appropriately challenged. Yes, teachers, Didj could work in a classroom -- probably for a lower cost than a typical textbook. In terms of ratings, teachers will give Didj a much higher rating than gamers. Weaknesses include a rather clunky size and a clumsy sliding on/off switch (like the Sony PSPs). While the quality of the software varies slightly, we've found nearly every title to be effective at mixing an addicting arcade format with school-related facts. For parents of game-craved children who don't want to succumb to Nintendo's siren song, Didj is an excellent choice.
$80, smart toy
Teaches: A new handheld portable learning system
CTR Rating: 88%