Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Review/Giveaway of Leapfrog Products! *CLOSED*



The didj is a new product from Leap Frog that is designed as a step up from the poplar Leapster system. Didj is designed to emulate hand-held gaming systems, specifically the Sony PSP. The didj has a keypad, A, B, L & R buttons found on most gaming systems. The game is sleek and modern with high quality construction. Controls are easy to use and setup is intuitive. Children do need some reading skills to use the game.

I reviewed the didj with the built-in game and the new Star Wars; the Clone Wars game. The system includes the game Jetpack Heroes. This game involves guiding the character through a simple left to right board were he collects various gems and tokens while trying to rescue small sparkly creatures. The game’s online feature allows users to custom design “didj’s”, characters from the jetpack game.

Star Wars is a typical 2-D run and jump game that features math problems every few minutes that the user must solve to continue. The educational value of the game is okay, but it olds the attention of its target audience really well.

Both games are well-designed, easy to use, and engaging to play.

The Didj features an online component that allows players to customize games using earned points. The aforementioned Didjerator, which allows children to customize Didj characters, has literally hundreds of options for kids. The micromods feature allows players to “purchase” additional modifications for their games. Children can adjust the skill level of their Didjs as well. The website also allows parents to sync to their child’s Didj to allow them to monitor their child’s activities.

The only drawback I encountered was with installing the software. I installed on an Apple iBook G4 computer. The install takes as long as 20 minute and is very crash prone early on. However, the more I’ve used it the steadier it seems to have become.

Other than the software, the Didj is a delightful device for children 6-10 years old. While it’s far from a full-on learning machine, it is a great alternative to handheld systems like the Nintendo DS. Parents do not have to worry about the rating of games, as they are all appropriate for the target age group. The game is easy for the Xbox generation to understand, both my 7 year old and my 5 year old instinctively knew how to use it. The website features do require some reading in some areas, so you may need to assist children who are not strong readers. A non-reader, however, can use the didjerator, fairly easily.

Overall, the Didj is a wonderful addition to the Leapfrog line. It offers a step up from the Leapster as children age. The system and games are very economical, and game play will keep children engaged. Once the bugs are worked out in software, the game will offer a clear choice over entertainment only systems.

My 7 year old LOVES his didj, and his twelve year old cousin enjoyed playing it too!

You can win!
Leapfrog was kind enough to send us a Leapster 2 to give away--along with the Star Wars--Clone Wars game for Leapster! How is that for fun?! This would make a PERFECT Christmas gift for someone in your life!

To win, please leave a comment on this post....any 'ol comment will do! Please do be sure that you leave me a way to contact you! The contest will be open until next Wednesday, November 26. I will pick a winner sometime after 8 am on Wednesday.

Good luck!! Don't forget to spread the word and stop by again soon!

65 comments:

Erin said...

What a great giveaway!

Lisa said...

I wanted to get this for my daughter for Christmas -- so if I could win this, it would be even better!

Anonymous said...

Ooh, I would love to give this away as a gift. Thanks so much!

shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com

Abby said...

WOW what a great prize!

ajcmeyer AT go DOT com

Mandy said...

This would be a great one for my son!

MaricrisG said...

This is a perfect giveaway/gift for my little one. Count me in!

Stacy said...

This looks so neat.

hetz-junk(at)hotmail(dot)com

Judy said...

First of all, I love this new site, Christi! Good for you! Travis has a Leapster that we've had for YEARS since they first came out, and this past year he "graduated" to the DS, much to my chagrins. It is so nice to see LeapPad products developing something with older kids in mind!

I'd love to surprise Travis with this one next month for Christmas. It would be awesome for everyone involved, including "handmedown" Tyler!

mrs.mommyy said...

great giveaway! mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom

cadenhanlon said...

This would be perfect for my nephew! Great giveaway.

salefski11@yahoo.com

iseekids said...

This is great! I wanted to get one of these for my son.

Julie said...

i would really like to win!

jeweles1@verizon.net

christi said...

i love leapfrog products! i was wanting to get my daughter one for christmas! if i would it would work out perfectly! im keeping my fingers crossed! thanks for the chance to win.

blessings ~

christi28@suddenlink.net

Unknown said...

WOW! Awesome giveaway! My son would LOVE this for Christmas.

kissyjensen@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Thank you for hosting such a great giveaway! *keeping my fingers crossed*

Kailani
anislandlife at gmail dot com

Stephanie @ BizzieMommy.com said...

Great Giveaway I'd love to win it.

seliecreative (at) gmail (dot) com.

Unknown said...

Heard about your giveaway on Twitter! My daughter would love this!!

flattsgurl said...

What a great thing to be doing Christy!! Brooke has the leapster and I have been thinking about getting her this one for Christmas. It looks great. :) I'll keep my fingers crossed. LOL

Corine (@ComplicatedMama) said...

Found the contest on Twittermoms (what a great site, right??)..... I was going to get my son the leapster for christmas, so winning would definitely help us out.

Anonymous said...

Ooh pick me, pick me

pinkveganmiso(at)yahoo(dot)com

busymom23now said...

What a nice giveaway! My son would love it! He is 4 and a lot of hitoys are getting taken over by his 9 month old b/g twin siblings!
Thanks,
busymom23now

Christina said...

How awesome! My little would love this.

Crystal Adkins said...

My son would love this! We can't really afford to get him expensive toys like this, this year so I know he'd love it! Thanks,
crystal72206@yahoo.com

silverhartgirl said...

this would make a great christmas gift.
silverhartgirl@gmail.com

Bebemiqui said...

My kids would love to have this, they've been bugging me for a couple of years to get a Leapster system.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jenna said...

My niece would love to get this for Christmas. It looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for the giveaway!

mom2boys said...

My son would love this. He will be turning 5 on Dec.23rd. This would make a great birthday/Christmas gift for him. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!!!

hottmomma_03@yahoo dot com

Meg said...

Whoa! this looks super fun! Great review, thanks!
gomeggo[at]gmail[dot]com

makeetis said...

Oh I would love to win this for my kids. They would just go crazy for it. brewerchickey78(at)yahoo.com

Andrea Hatfield said...

My boys would both love to have a Leapster 2. Thank you for the opportunity to win one =)

Bunny B said...

I'd love to win this for my nephew! Thanks so much!
bunnybx at gmail . com

*Tanyetta* said...

count me in!

Mozi Esme said...

Oh what fun! My nephews would love this!

Maude Lynn said...

My daughter would love this!

kelli at pfrog dot net

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

How exciting! My Izzy would love this! Thank you for the give away!

Alli said...

This would be great. Thanks!

Jean said...

I would love to win this primarily for my 8 year old but something tells me he'd have to share with the 4 year old and 9 year old.

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this!!

Stephanie said...

What a wonderful giveaway!
tvollowitz at aol dot com

torinem said...

This would be so awesome! Thanks for the great giveaway!

Kristi said...

My son has asked over and over for a didj to replace his leapster so we could pass the leapster on to his younger brother, but we ran out of money for Christmas presents so I told it would have to wait. I would love to surprise him Christmas morning with it.

I'm the Mom said...

I have been thinking about getting this for my daughter would love to win

Ren said...

I would love to win this for my son!

megret7 said...

Oh, my, my son would adore this! As would my husband. :) Thanks!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com

Kristin said...

My 9 yr old son would love, love, love to have this. Thank you for the chance! :)

danandmarsh said...

This would be a great learning tool for my grandson. Thanks for the chance to win it!! He would be estactic if I won this

Anonymous said...

My son would love this. I would love to give it as a gift this year. Thanks for the chance.

Robyn said...

Christi the new site is awesome!!!

Carols said...

My son loves Star Wars the Clone Wars. He would love it if I won this. Thanks!

zeitersouth said...

This is on my son's list for Santa! He would really love a leapster and his birthday is 4 days after Christmas so we are always scrambling for an extra special gift for him! colesammom at gmail dot com.

Literary Winner said...

Awesome giveaway!
hematopoiesis at hotmail dot com

♥ LLL with Leslie ♥ said...

Thanks for such a great giveaway!

§wanny said...

this would make a GREAT Christmas gift to make Christmas a little nicer!

Shera said...

With 6 boys, there never seem to be enough of these to go around! This would be absolutely fabulous!

Shera - aka: Frog Mom

afroginmysoup at gmail dot com

Mia said...

thanks for following me on twitter- i'm following you now. Hope i win! blessedbarnharts.blogspot.com

Misty said...

awsome. id love to win this for my darling daughter. crossing my fingers.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com

Jessie V said...

wow - excellent review and giveaway! we'd love to be able to win and play with it!

jessie [at] wanderingeducators dot com

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Oh my Gosh! I know EXACTLY who I'd give this to....

Count me in!

Tricia said...

This would be a great Christmas Gift

Nanette said...

Oh what a great giveaway!

Em Sands said...

My 8 year old son would have fun with this! Thanks so much!!
melaniesands[at]yahoo[dot]ca

Nicole said...

My 8 year old cousin would love this for Christmas!

Melody aka pebbles7195 said...

What an awesome giveaway!! My son and step-daughter would love this!! Thanks for the giveaway!! Hugs!! :)

Tom Usher said...

Hi,

I'm finding reading the posts somewhat difficult due to the white text on the tan(?) background. It doesn't seem to offer enough contrast for my aging eyes.

Blessing to all,

Tom Usher
Real Liberal Christian Church

Anonymous said...

This is a great giveaway