V.Flash facts for kids
| Manufacturer | VTech |
|---|---|
| Type | Educational home video game console |
| Generation | Seventh generation |
| Release date | September 2006 |
| Discontinued | Unknown |
| Media | CD-ROM |
| CPU | ARM9 from LSI Logic |
| Storage | Memory card |
| Controller input | Joystick |
| Predecessor | V.Smile |
| Successor | None |
The V.Flash (known as V.Smile Pro in Europe) was a special video game console made by VTech. It was designed to help kids learn while they played! This console was part of the "seventh generation" of video game systems, which means it came out around the same time as other consoles like the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.
The V.Flash was a spin-off from VTech's popular V.Smile series. But unlike the V.Smile, the V.Flash used cool 3D graphics to make games look more realistic. It was made for kids aged 5 and up.
VTech first showed off the V.Flash at the London Toy Fair in 2006. It then came out for everyone to buy in September 2006.
Games for the V.Flash
The V.Flash console didn't have many games because it wasn't super popular. In total, only 10 games are known to have been released for it. Most of these games came out in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, and Germany.
Some of the games included:
- Bratz Fashion Pixiez: The Secret Necklace
- Cars: In the Fast Lane
- Disney Princess: The Crystal Ball Adventure
- Scooby-Doo!: Ancient Adventure
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Idea Sponge
- The Amazing Spider-Man: Countdown to Doom
One game called Multisports was only available in Germany.
How V.Flash Games Worked
The V.Flash used CD-ROMs for its games, just like many other video game consoles. But VTech made them a bit different! The game discs were put inside a plastic case. This case helped protect the discs from scratches or damage, similar to how old floppy disks or UMDs were protected.
This special design meant the V.Flash could also play regular audio CDs. So, you could listen to your favorite music CDs using the console, as long as you used a special disc adapter that came with it.
Inside the V.Flash Console
The V.Flash console had a special computer chip called an ARM9 CPU, made by a company called LSI Logic. This chip helped the console run its games.
The V.Flash was able to create about 1.5 million polygons every second. Polygons are the tiny shapes that make up 3D images in games. This ability, along with its 32-bit CPU, meant the V.Flash could create graphics similar to older game consoles from the 1990s, like the original PlayStation.
