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LeapFrog Didj Custom Learning Gaming System | 
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| Brand: LeapFrog
Category: Toy
List Price: $89.99
Buy New: $79.97
You Save: $10.02 (11%)
New (26) Used (1) Collectible (1) from $69.99
Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 415
Color: one color
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 6 - 10 years
Size: one size
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 2.5 x 10.5 x 13
MPN: 30672
Model: 30672
UPC: 708431306721
EAN: 0708431306721
ASIN: B00134PLN8
Release Date: July 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | First-ever gaming handheld that connects to the computer so kids can customize both gaming and learning. | | • | Totally customized gaming: Kids customize their characters, backgrounds, animation, music and more! | | • | Truly customized learning: sync the games to skills your child is studying in school. | | • | Library of games featuring favorite characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Included and additional games teach skills in a range of subjects, such as language arts, spelling, math and math facts. | | • | Appropriate for ages 6 years to 10 years. |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Introducing Didj, the all-new gaming system featuring totally thrilling gaming and truly customized learning. It's the first-ever gaming handheld that lets you customize both learning and gaming. Just connect it to your computer to play action-packed games and sharpen your skills as you study what you need for school. Earn points as you play; then trade them for cool downloads to make each game your own. Expand your learning experience with a software library full of your favorite characters and themes. Software sold separately. Requires 4 "AA" batteries, not included.
Amazon.com Review
With games that reinforce skills like math and spelling, the LeapFrog DIDJ is a custom gaming system that parents won't mind seeing their children spending their afternoons with. Using your computer and the LEAPFROG Connect application, games can be customized to provide all kinds of learning opportunities for all kids between the ages of six to ten. 
View larger. |  |  | What We Think
Fun Factor: 
Durability:
(what this means)
The Good: Entertaining, interactive system with educational games.
The Bad: The computer interface takes a little getting used to.
In a Nutshell: Customizable digital characters and worlds make learning fun. | At a Glance
Ages: 6 to 10
Requires: Four AA batteries and a computer with an Internet connection for set up.
|  | | Making the DIDJ Your Own
Before kids start creating, an adult will want to install four AA batteries (not included) in the DIDJ and set up the system. A convenient product guide pamphlet walks you through the necessary set-up tasks. This process involves installing the LEAPFROG Connect application onto your computer and transferring the included game, JetPack Heroes, onto the handheld DIDJ with a USB cable (included). Before you close the software down, kids will want to create their own custom avatars using the Didjerator. With a huge color palette to utilize, and the ability to make your avatar a robot with vampire fangs or dress it in a tuxedo with sneakers, it may take awhile to get each character perfect. Once this is done, the avatars can be downloaded to the handset and are available to play in any game that uses Didji characters. Fun, Customizable Way to Learn
The included game, JetPack Heroes, stars your favorite character in a fight against the villain Gooracha. Players use math skills to free the energy buddies they have captured and provide light and life for the entire planet. Quick fingers control the hero's jet pack and gun that is used to navigate the erratic landscape and stop enemy goons in between answering addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. Additional games that develop skills like vocabulary and spelling are available. One enticing feature of the interactive software is that points that are earned while playing, called Bitz, can be uploaded to your computer and then traded in for micromods, game updates such as new spaceships, backgrounds, or music. Interactive Education
Overall, we had a great time creating our own characters and immersing ourselves in DIDJ worlds. The computer interface was clearly designed with young computer users in mind, which makes it easy to navigate. Several point and click menus put a wide variety of tools at your fingertips. One cool interactive feature is the learning path. After game information is uploaded from the handset, parents can follow a link in the connect software to see their children's progress, making it easy to track success. Kids are sure to enjoy studying for tests when they can set the DIDJ to use their own math facts and spelling words, making this unique system a great investment. What's in the Box
Didj, USB cable, and CD with LEAPFROG connect computer application, which includes one game.
PC Requirements:
Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system
Pentium III 500 MHz processor
Monitor resolution of at least 1024 X 768
Available USB port
256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended)
300 MB free disk space
Internet connection
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 or higher
CD reader
Mac Requirements:
Mac OS X 10.4+
PPC G4 or any Intel-based Apple computer
Monitor resolution of at least 1024 X 768
Available USB port
256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended)
300 MB free disk space
Internet connection
Safari application
CD reader
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 Not Ready for prime time November 22, 2008
Stephen L. Noe (Boca Raton, FL)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The first one I had to take back because the cartridges where unrecoginzed by the unit. I thoutht it was a fluke and took it back to get another one. After a few days of play, the second one did the same thing.
The games are very poorly executed. The educational content is just placed into B or C grade gaming. The unit is very slow to start up and if you want to change games, you must restart the unit (slow).
The "leap frog connect" application is very poorly thought out. It is in no way intuitive nor fun or interesting. It is slow as well.
When this one breaks (probably soon), I'll not buy another one even though I have [...] worth of B grade game cartridges for my kids.
People, if your kids like games, get them a Nintendo DS. What I'd hoped for the didj turned out to be a waste of money. Totally disappointed....
 Mom's joy in a little toy!! November 21, 2008
M. Norton (merritt island, florida United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the best gaming system I ever invested in, not only does my son prefer to play on it rather than his DS, XBOX, PS2,3 and the computer he really enjoys playing it. He loves the fact that he's getting his homework done at the same time he's playing fun games. His teacher has no problem with him using the didj for homework assignments in fact she said that it's improved his grades in all subjects which is something the DS and other systems couldn't do. The start up with the didj on Leapfrog is a little confusing but once you figure it out (about 10mins) you will be so glad that you stuck with it. You do not need to purchase a game to use the didj your child can download jetpack heroes game to play. You can set the Didj up for the spelling words he needs or for math or both depending on the game. The more the child plays the more points that are earned and with those points (bitz) you can trade them for upgrades for the games. Plus you can monitor their progress and make it more challenging as they improve. This is the first time I've ever asked my child to go to his room and play his video game. In just a couple of weeks he's improved his math skills and reading from playing this system. Summer school is no longer needed nor is the tutor I thought we might need. The best part of this is that if your child has any type of neurological disorder (besides seizures) this system is a must for them. My child has ADD, Tourettes, Dyslexia, and OCD which usually impairs his ability to do school work well not anymore!! This system is a godsend for mothers like me that have to beg, plead and spend hours just trying to get their child to do homework. My son loves to do homework now. He can now understand the concepts he wasn't getting while being taught the traditional way. With the Didj it's one on one just him and his game. It's worth every dollar I paid to see him enjoying school and homework! What parent wouldn't love it?
 Jury is still out November 17, 2008
Doug (Illinois)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought this as a step up for our son, who has had a Leapster and a Leapster LMax. He says he likes it, but I note less enthusiasm than for his previous Leapster and LMax.
RUN don't walk to get a Didj this holiday season November 12, 2008
L. Jackmauh (Tiburon, CA USA)
I can't say enough about the Didj. I had been successfully avoiding any kind of gaming system for my kids, figuring it would just be one more thing to regulate. My 8 year old son sold me on the didg just before we were planning an international trip - i figured that even if it wasn't truly 'educational', it would at least keep him busy for some part of the journey. I grossly underestimated the power of the didg....my son was immediately hooked, but not in that glassy-eyed, mouth breathing gamer way. He was truly engaged and learning and interested. Even his 11 year old sister had to admit that it was pretty awesome. I couldn't be happier with it - and at the price point it is a ridiculous steal. A great holiday gift!
Great Concept, Poor Execution November 4, 2008
scubed (baltimore)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is a great concept but poorly executed by Leapfrog. It appears to have not been fully tested and rushed to market.
First, the gaming unit worked great. The sync process went smoothly and we read all the directions. I thought we were in the clear and then the issues started creeping up. The first issue was the constant shut down of the Sponge-bob game at random times. Still don't know what that was all about. Before we could figure that out the unit would no longer sync to the computer. A huge disappointment to me and my son. So started my quest to fix the problem. I typed in the problem via Leapfrog's support system and started a nearly 5 week journey to find and fix the problem. After nearly daily emails and testing we were told to return the unit for a refund. ARGH. I plan to do so soon and will be getting a DS. I am just too scared to go through this much trouble again.
Other issues:
The recharger was already recalled due to an overheat burn hazard (Sweet, will get my money back but yet another hassle)
The case is very flimsy, doesn't stay closed well and will not fit the unit with the jelly skin. Huge oversight on Leapfrog's part. We bought the case for general protection when not in use and for travel, and the jelly for protection when in use. Oh and you cannot play the game unit while in the hard case.
Finally, the skins or customizable static decals that come with the jelly did not stay on long at all and were useless in a few days.
I wish this had worked out better. I was so please at first that I bought one for my daughter which has been sent back.
Hopefully all these issues will get worked out.
Leapfrog really missed the boat with this and has certainly lost my business.
If you buy the unit. Keep your receipt. There is a 90 day guarantee!
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