V.Flash
The V.Flash (known as V.Smile Pro in Europe; stylized as V.FLASH HOME EDUTAINMENT SYSTEM) is a seventh-generation educational home video game console. It is a spinoff of the V.Smile series of video game consoles and was manufactured and released by VTech. Unlike the V.Smile, the game console uses 3D graphics and is designed for kids aged 5+.
| 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 |
It was revealed at the 2006 London Toy Fair,[1] and came out in September 2006.[2]
Games
Not many games were made for the console because it was not very successful. All games came out in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Germany, except for of Bratz Fashion Pixiez: The Secret Necklace, which did not come out in the United Kingdom and Germany, Multisports, which was exclusive to Germany, and Scooby-Doo!: Ancient Adventure, which did not come out in Germany.
There are 10 titles known to have been released;
| # | US/UK title | Overseas title(s) | Age range | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bratz Fashion Pixiez: The Secret Necklace |  Bratz Fashion Pixiez: El Misterio del Collar  Bratz Fashion Pixiez: Le Collier Magique |
 6-8 6-9 6-9 |
|
| 2 | Cars: In the Fast Lane | Cars: El Carril Rápido Cars: À Fond La Caisse!  Cars: Auf Der Überholspur |
6-8 5-7 6-9 6-9 6-8 |
|
| 3 | Disney Princess: The Crystal Ball Adventure | Disney Princess: El Castillo de las Princesas Disney Princess: L'aventure enchantée Disney Prinzessinnen: Das zauberhafte Märchen-Abenteuer |
6-8 5-7 6-9 6-9 6-10 |
|
| 4 | N/A | Multisports |
6-8 |
|
| 5 | Scooby-Doo!: Ancient Adventure | Scooby-Doo: Viaje Al Pasado Scooby-Doo!: Les Civilisations Perdues |
6-8 6-9 6-9 |
|
| 6 | Shrek the Third: The Search for Arthur | Shrek Tercero: ¿Donde Está Arturo? Shrek Le Troisieme: En quête d'Arthur Shrek Der Dritte: Die Suche nach Arthus |
6-8 7-9 6-9 6-9 6-8 |
|
| 7 | SpongeBob SquarePants: Idea Sponge | Bob Esponja: Misión Esponja Bob L'Éponge: Une Idée Spongieuse Spongebob Schwammkopf: Ein Schwamm voller Ideen |
8-10 7-9 6-9 8-11 8-10 |
|
| 8 | The Amazing Spider-Man: Countdown to Doom | El Asombroso Spider-Man: Persecicíon en la Ciudad Spider-Man: Course-poursuite à Manhattan Spider-Man: Angriff der Super-Schurken |
8-10 7-9 8-11 8-11 8-10 |
|
| 9 | The Incredibles: Mission Incredible | Los Increíbles: Misión Increíble Les Indestructibes: Les Indestructibes À La Rescousse Die Unglaublichen: In unglaublicher Mission |
8-10 7-9 8-11 8-11 8-10 |
|
| 10 | Wacky Race on Jumpin' Bean Island | Carrera Loca En La Isla De Las Vainas Fritas Dingo'Rallye: Fou! Fou! Fou! Das Verrückte Rennen Der Hüpf-Bohnen Insel |
5-7 5-7 6-9 6-10 6-8 |
- Although the name is in English, Multisports was exclusive to Europe and no English version exists.
CDs
Unlike most other consoles that use CD-ROMs, this system's CD-ROMs are inside a plastic case to protect them from damage from touching, similar to 3.5" floppy disks or UMDs. The discs use the ISO 9660[3] file system, without any copy protection other than a simple sensor in the case jacket, making it possible to make a disc image from the disc. However, there are no known cases of piracy involving the V.Flash. Because of this, the V.Flash can also play audio CDs and user-recorded CD-Rs using the disc adapter that comes with the console.
Other hardware
The console's CPU is an ARM9 CPU from LSI Logic. Files are stored in 3 main formats: .mjp, .ptx, and .snd. .snd files are actually PCM WAV files.
The console can render 1.5 million polygons per second and has a 32 bit CPU, making the console directly comparable to fifth-generation game consoles, such as the PlayStation.
References
- ↑ "VTech Unveils a New CD-Based Home Edutainment System – V.Flash at London Toy Fair". VTech. 26 January 2006. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
- ↑ Orland, Kyle (October 26, 2006). "Nine year old wins scholarship for edu-game idea". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ↑ "V.Flash Explorations". Emu Vibes. 26 May 2007. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
Other websites
- Official Site
- ARM Processor Archived 2007-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
- Vtech V.Flash Educational Line Archived 2013-12-27 at the Wayback Machine
- http://dso.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=177100739 Archived 2006-10-25 at the Wayback Machine
- V.Flash reverse engineering Archived 2010-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
- VFlash technical details and reverse-engineering
- V.Smile Shop Archived from the Wayback Machine on December 27th, 2013