Leapfrog Leaping into the Gaming Console Market

Leapfrog, creators of educational entertainment designed for young kids, are throwing their hats into the console market with LeapTV, according to a report from Polygon.

LeapTV is the first home console of its kind specifically targeted at young children. The device has three main parts: the disc-based drive that will read the games purchased, the two-handled joystick with buttons and a control stick, and a camera that will show children right in the middle of the games they're playing. The controller can change from the analog shaped pictured above into a "wand" for different types of gaming experiences.

In the Polygon report, Leapfrog VP of content development David Perkinson says that the LeapTV gives peace of mind that other consoles can't achieve, saying, "parents won't have to worry, and there isn't any content in there that would be too advanced for children. Even with something like the Wii, which is still seen as a kid-friendly platform, there are still games that are too complex, too fast or the user input is too complicated. LeapTV is designed to meet the needs of these younger players."

We think this is a stellar idea, as long as the camera works the way LeapFrog wants it to and not almost getting there like the Xbox Kinect. Perkinson is absolutely right in thinking that putting kids in the game will keep their attention, but we worry that the tech might not meet expectations. We're curious to see what LeapTV brings to the table when it launches this fall.