Review: Mobile Play with VTech's Handheld MobiGo
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Leave a Comment
Yes, I understand he really young to be playing video games, but he yearns to do everything big sister and brother are doing. I found there is limited Nintendo DS games for young children to help them learn. I often wondered if there would EVER be a toy developed that have some of the same features as the DS, but for younger minds, like my son. I discovered VTech probably felt the same way when they developed their NEW MobiGo game system.
About MobiGo:
VTech's MobiGo gives kids ages 3-7 their own touch-tech toy that keeps them engaged while they learn. With a touch-activated screen and a QWERTY slide-out keyboard, kids get to emulate their parent's gadgets while learning from characters like Shrek, Disney Princesses and Dora. Tap, slide or flick with MobiGo - kids pick the way they play and learn about colors, shapes, spelling, math, logic and more.
Features:
- Touch-screen: MobiGo’s touch-screen technology adds a modern twist to electronic learning games, so kids learn while mimicking the way parents use touch-screen devices.
- Educational games: From fishing, coloring book pages, drawing and playing instruments, kids can discover a wide variety of fun and engaging learning games.
- Learning skills: MobiGo teaches a wide range of skills including math, vocabulary, spelling, logic and categorization. The slide open QWERTY keyboard introduces older kids to text typing skills.
- Portable: Handheld robust gaming console makes learning fun on the go for little hands and is equipped with headphone and AC adapter jacks.
Momma Findings Family Thoughts:
We were one of the VERY lucky families to get a sneak preview of MobiGo. My 3-year-old son was over the moon when he saw the box and Daddy couldn't open it fast enough:
It doesn't hit store shelves until August, so I was really excited, but not AS excited as this little guy:
This is a handheld gaming device, however, it's a bit big for my toddlers hands. He maneuvered just fine by mostly using it in his lap. The picture shows just how little his hands were on the device:
So, how did it fair with a little boy who's already used to the Nintendo DS? Well, pretty good! The graphics are almost comparable, not that it really matters to such a young child, but I noticed being the DSi junkie I am. Again, the size didn't matter much because if a child wants to play a video game, he'll find a way. The device slides up (like Momma's Palm Pre Plus) to reveal the QWERTY keyboard and this was/is a little hard for him. He just can't figure out how to slide it, which will come in due time, once he gets used to it.
We really love that it's a touchscreen gaming system. I say that, because he's used to the Nintendo DS. You don't need a stylus and the screen detects your touch almost immediately. Here's my guy learning his first game:
As I mentioned before, MobiGo doesn't release until August, however, there is already an array of games being lined up for this system including: Dora, Disney Princes, Shrek, Cars, Mickey, and MORE! I really don't see my child getting bored because these are all our favorite characters. Another thing I liked are the big buttons. My son can easily find the On/Off Switch and the Arrow/Enter/Help buttons are visible and accessible as well.
What does MobiGo Come With?
When you purchase the system you'll find it comes with: USB Cable, Users Manual, Mobi System, and One Game Cartridge Touch and Learn Game Pack. Once your child earns rewards, the system will indicate for them to have a parent plug it online to receive them. I thought that was pretty cool! Game cartridges are sold separately.
Momma Findings Improvements and Suggestions:
Battery Life: This one is really important because I don't want to spend a small fortune on batteries. MobiGo takes 4AA batteries. Like the Nintendo DS, I'd like to see a simple charger included in order to charge it on-the-go or even at home. I have found that there will be a car charger you can buy separately. That's a big plus. I, instead, use rechargeable batteries. It is a few extra steps to take the batteries out, but it saves money.
Screen protector: I don't see this being or getting AS scratched up as our Nintendo DS because children are not using a stylus, however, it would be great to protect that screen to avoid problems in the future.
Buy It:
MobiGo will be available to purchase in August at retailers such as ToysRUs, Amazon, Target, etc. for the suggested retail price of $59.99.
WIN IT!
Thanks to VTech, Momma Findings has an EXCLUSIVE giveaway of a MobiGo System. You know this isn't available in stores yet, right? One lucky reader will win one here!
Required Entry:
Tell me, in the comment section, what feature you think your child would like most if he played with a MobiGo. Why? (Don't forget to tell me why)
Extra Entry Options:
- 5 Extra Entries if you blog about your child's gaming habits and how you think MobiGo can help. Please link to VTech and this post.
- Follow me on Twitter and send out a Tweet linking to this contest and @Sarann
- Sign up to be an email subscriber right there on the right side
- Add the Momma Findings button to your blog sidebar
- Follow Momma Findings on Facebook Networked Blogs (scroll ALLL the way to the bottom of the blog for the link).
- Follow Momma Findings on Google Friends.
Contest starts today June 1st - June 15th Midnight Central Time and open to US residents only. Leave each entry in separate comments. You don't have to be a blogger to enter, but please leave a valid email address for contact purposes.
***CONTEST HAS NOW ENDED*** Congrats to Gloria B. Please check your inbox on how to claim your prize.
Ohh my daughter will love that she can take it anywhere
I think my son would really like the QWERTY slide-out keyboard because it's a new feature not found on other handheld games.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
I'm an email subscriber.
I follow you on networked blogs (Mary Happymommy).
My son would love the keyboard just cause it looks like the keyboard on my cell phone
amyfedorchak1(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow you on GFC.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
follow you twitter and tweeted
http://twitter.com/highlight4u/status/15178390758
My daughter would love that it has a touch screen, just like mommy's phone!
dmkayes@gmail.com
I subscribe via email!!!
dmkayes@gmail.com
I follow via Google Friend Connect
dmkayes@gmail.com
I follow via Networked Blogs
dmkayes@gmail.com
My grandson will love the touch screen. He already knows how to use my itouch.
He would like the entire package as my older son has a DS and my younger son (who this prize would go to if we won) would love to be able to be like his big brother, without the expense and breakage factor!!
Jordan B
oneadem@gmail.com
touchscreen gaming system because that prepares him for future electronics - touch screen is the future!
tvollowitz at aol dot com
it would be a tie between portable and touchscreen my kids would love
i follow
fb follower
My kids would like that they can take it everywhere.
i subscribe
GFC follower
I think my child would love the touch screen feature. We don't currently own any handheld gaming systems, so he would be very excited to try this out.
lenz.nicole(at)gmail(dot)com
subscribe email
amyfedorchak1(at)gmail(dot)com
follow you on Network Blogs
amyfedorchak1(at)gmail(dot)com
My son would love the touchscreen, he is very hand son.
the play mverno@roadrunner.com
There are 11 titles in their launch library and two of them are Disney Princesses and Mickey Mouse Club House. My four year loves both of those a lot and I think she would enjoy this a lot more than trying to play on her sister's DS.
smcary(at)att(dot)net
I think my cousin would love that it's a touch screen as I'm sure he'd find it a bit easier to use...he's on the younger scale for this product so it might take him awhile to get used to the keyboard too.
lauren51990 at aol dot com
follow you on google
lauren51990 at aol dot com
We don't have any handheld gaming systems in our home so I think the touch screen would be unique to the experience.
six_one_nine_girlie86 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I follow on Networked Blogs
six_one_nine_girlie86 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I'm a Google Friend Follower!
six_one_nine_girlie86 (at) yahoo (dot) com
My 3 year old daughter would love the touch screen option. She's always stealing her 9 year old sister's DSi. This sounds like it would be a great alternative to a DSi, which were planning on getting her for Christmas, because vtech is geared towards more educational games.
mommieseatsoggycereal at gmail dot com
I think my son would use the drawing abilites the most because he is a little artist.
monster6236 at gmail dot com
My daughter would love the touch screen because it seems so easy to use for a younger kid.
kilijen at yahoo dot com
I think he would like the touch screen the best!! I say that because he has such a hard time with the stylus on the DS!
residentmayor at satx.rr.com
I follow (@Doodle741) and tweeted! http://twitter.com/Doodle741/status/15267178162
I follow with Google connect! (Doodle741)
Oh he'd love the touch screen haha. If he can't smudge up something with his lil' fingers he's just not happy. lol
sign me up for this
My favorite feature is that it is Portable. Can go from room to room, in the car and to grandma's house! Thanks for the review and giveaway!
jackievillano at gmail dot com
I subscribe via email
jackievillano at gmail dot com
I follow on google friend connect
jackievillano at gmail dot com
I think that my child will most like it because it is a gaming system. Why? Because he will finally be able to play games like his mommy and daddy! We are nerds! jrderatany@gmail.com
I am a google friend jrderatany@gmail.com
I follow you on twitter jrderatany@gmail.com
i like the touch screen feature for my little guy i think it would be easy for him to use//he has a system know that he doesn't know what to hit..the screen would make it easier for him
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
e-mail susbcriber
gfc follower
I think my grandson would love the fact he can take it anywhere with him,why,because its light weight an he doesnt have anything small that he can travel or ride with,he would love taking it with him everywhere!
blogged # 1
http://vickiecouturier.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-mobile-play-with-vtechs-handheld.html
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
blogged # 2
http://vickiecouturier.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-mobile-play-with-vtechs-handheld.html
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
follow on twitter an tweeted
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/15323539505
blogged # 3
http://vickiecouturier.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-mobile-play-with-vtechs-handheld.html
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
blogged # 4
http://vickiecouturier.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-mobile-play-with-vtechs-handheld.html
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
blogged # 5
http://vickiecouturier.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-mobile-play-with-vtechs-handheld.html
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
email subscriber
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
button
http://vickiecouturier.blogspot.com/
Follow Momma Findings on Facebook Networked Blogs
Follow Momma Findings on Google Friends
cdziuba@aol.com I think my kids would like the Qwerty keyboard so they could copy what they see mom and dad do on their keyboards. I also know they'd love to take it everywhere
Follow on Twitter cdziuba and tweeted http://twitter.com/cdziuba/status/15333930212
email subscriber
button ceeceeblogger.blogspot.com
carol p dziuba Follow Momma Findings on Facebook Networked Blogs
- Follow Momma Findings on Google Friends.
I think my son would love the QWERTY keyboard...he loves buttons of all kinds!
kt1969 at comcast dot net
I'm a follower on GFC!
kt1969 at comcast dot net
my both daughters will love that it is mobile, doesn't require internet connection.
http://twitter.com/hminnesota/status/15344858894
tweeted and follower @hminnesota
following on google
hetal
networked blog follower
heta s
My 3 boys 2 yr old twins and 6 yr old would be in heaven for this toy. They love games of any kind, so this would be right up their alley.
My daughter would LOVE this!! Perfect to take with us traveling.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
I think Emma would feel like a big girl because her "toy" would have touch screen interaction like her big sister's iPod.
following sarann on twitter
subbed to your emails
following momma findings on networked blogs
following via google friends
my son would loveee this
Sara,
I think that Marissa would need this game system because...she will be starting Pre-K this coming year and I feel like she is left behind on the technology that most kids are at. I feel like she could get more eye hand coordnation and I feel like it would really benefit her.
thanks Gloria b
gloriabreaux@hotmail.com
My twin boys would love this for the variety because they get bored easily and it offers so many different learning options. It would be perfect for our 14 hour car ride to my parent's house.
denise_22315 at yahoo dot com
email subscriber
denise_22315 at yahoo dot com
I follow you and tweeted.
http://twitter.com/wiscmom24/status/15507915211
denise_22315 at yahoo dot com
My three year old would love this because he's always trying to use my blackberry.
I follow you.
Proudtobeapoppa.blogspot.com
I have your button on my site.
proudtobeapoppa.blogspot.com
i follow you on twitter.
proudtobeapoppa.blogspot.com
My chiild would like that it is portable and that you can download different games to play on it.
Jeanette Huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com
Following you on twitter
http://twitter.com/josephvh1982
Jeanette Huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com
Following you on network blogs
http://www.facebook.com/jeanette.huston
Jeanette Huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com
Following you on google connect
Jeanette Huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com
My little guy will love the touch screen. He is so jealous of big brother's electronics that have this. Thanks for the opportunity. the_angel_forever at yahoo dot com
Follow on Google Friends the_angel_forever at yahoo dot com
It wuld be the slide out keyboard. On my cell phone my daughter loves to play with that.
carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
The feature my granddaughter would love is the touch screen. I am constantly telling her not to touch the screen of my laptop-she would have so much fun touching "hers".
smchester at gmail dot com
I have your button on my sidebar.
smchester at gmail dot com
I follow you on Google Friend Connect.
smchester at gmail dot com
He would love the coloring book pages, he loves to color and of course he would love to play the games.
mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com
oh my boys would have so much fun with the sliding keyboard. The would probably slide it open and closed until it fell apart. And then, they would bang on the keyboard.
member (dot) thao (at) gmail.com
I subscribe to email updates
member (dot) thao (at) gmail.com
Your button is here
http://wondertwinadventures.blogspot.com
member (dot) thao (at) gmail.com
I follow in google friends
member (dot) thao (at) gmail.com
so my daughter loves touch screens. she loves my dads iphone touch screen and she is so good at it now so I know she would love the touch screen on this.amypugmire@live.com
follow on twitter and tweeted. amypugmire@live.com
http://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/15863135478
I subscribe to u now. amypugmire@live.com
I follow your blog. amypugmire@live.com
I follow u thru networked blogs. amy bolda pugmire. amypugmire@live.com
I think my son will be most excited about the pull-out keyboard - because it's just like Daddy's cell phone.
jdeemarie @ gmail.com
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/jdeemarie/status/15870237026
jdeemarie @ gmail.com
I follow your blog.
jdeemarie @ gmail.com
I subscribed to your emails.
jdeemarie @ gmail.com
My daughter would love that some of the games can be downloaded to the game system itself, because her little hands have trouble pushing the game cartridges in far enough on another game system that we tried! She would also like that the MobiGo has a slider, like Mama's phone!
hubb2424 at yahoo dot com
I think my kids would like the Smart Touch Screen. It would be a bit easier for their little fingers to use comapred to a stylus. I also think the would like the QWERTY keyboard, looks like the big kids computers. :)
My daughter would love the touch screen, (she always wants to touch the screen on my laptop), and that it is a hand-held device.
My daughter would love the keyboard. She loves playing with my little laptop and now she would have her own little system. It would make her feel so grown up.
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com
Follow via GFC - Chip
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com
Follow on Networked Blogs - Jill Lear
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com
The touch screen because she loves playing with my iphone plus no other gaming system has the touch screen.
kport207 at gmail dot com
My child will love the screen flip feature thing because it looks like a big version of dad's cell.
the touch screen to make it easier to use - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
I think my daughter would really love the QWERTY slide-out keyboard because it's just like my cell phone.
My daughter would love the educational games because she enjoys playing them so much on our home computer. This I'm sure she will love even more though because she can take it anywhere.
Jewels4420@aol.com
I signed up to be an email subscriber.
Jewels4420@aol.com
I follow your blog on Facebook.
Jewels4420@aol.com
I Follow Momma Findings on Google Friends.
Jewels4420@aol.com
My daughters favorite feature will be the touchscreen.
To her it will be like her own cell phone with the slide out keyboard and touch screen.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I am subscribed via email as jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com.
I am following via Networked Blogs.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I am following via Google Friends Connect.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
The touch screen because he'll feel like dad. Thanks!
I follow via google friends.
I like the QWERTY keyboard and the touch screen...my little munchkin would definetly be keeping up with the high-tech gadgets!
melissamcnicol at yahoo dot com
I think my nephew would love that he could take in anywhere and play games. The touch screen just makes it (and him) even cooler. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com
I'm sure my grandson would enjoy the touchscreen & a fishing game would be his favorite. Also, coloring (being able to choose his colors) is something else he would enjoy. And the alphabet too.....gotta love it! And i'm sure he would, especially on the go! :)
The flip screen; it would be less likely to be damaged with this feature!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
My son would love the touchscreen, he would think it was "cool", thanks!
Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com
the touch screen, because little hands want to explore everything
the touch screen simply bse he finds them fascinating
jdmimi at gmail dot com
My kids would love the fact that it has a touchscreen like daddy's phone. It would be educational and make them feel special at the same time.
My son would love the touch screen on it.
samsakara@twcny.rr.com
I subscribe via email
samsakara@twcny.rr.com
My daughter would probably spend a lot of time on the coloring pages.
I think the ease the touch screen affords, and later the keypad.
My sister would like that it is portable and looks like a cell phone. She's always trying to be like her big sisters - so she'd think this is awesome!
I think both my sons would love the touch screen,a lot of fun to be hands on!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
subscribe
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
fb friend request
amyd
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
follow by gfc
amyd
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
My son would like the keyboard and the touch screen so he could use his toy like I use my computer.
http://twitter.com/susan1215/status/16248718382
follow via GFC
I like that it's got a slide out keyboard!
my niece would love the keyboard feature she is always trying to type on my computer..she would love it :)
My kids would like the big buttons because they're easy to use without having to ask for help.
following on networked blogs Kathy L Pease
Google Friend klp1965
I think my daughter would like the fact it is a touch screen - just like her older brother's ipod. Thanks!
I think my son would love the fact that it's portable so he can play with it on road trips, at Grandma's etc. It looks nice & sturdy too! tylerpants(at)gmail.com
I'm a subscriber. tylerpants(at)gmail.com
I'm a follower. tylerpants(at)gmail.com
My daughter loves my iPhone so I know she would love MobiGo's touch screen! peanut[at]nyc.rr.com
I subscribe via email.
I follow your blog!
Without a doubt, the touchscreen would be a big hit!
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
follow you and tweeted
http://twitter.com/Ardy22/status/16279851923
subscribe via email'
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
HAVE MAIN BUTTON
http://ardy22.blogspot.com
follow google friend
ardy22
follow networked blogs
rich hicks
The touch screen would be a big hit I think because for a 3 yr old thats interactive
brdgcombs at ao ldot com
email subscriber
brdgcombs at aol dot com
follow you on network blogs
brdgcombs at aol dot com
follwo you on GFC
brdgcombs at aol dot com
follow you on twitter- @bridget3496
tweet http://twitter.com/bridget3496/status/16281713737
brdgcombs at aol dot com
The portability is the best feature because it could be used in the car!
My 5-year-old would love the touch screen since she LOVES playing games on my iPhone.
savvyhousewife@ yahoo.com