Toy aisle consoles and educational computers

The precursor to the Toy aisle console, educational computers became a new market In the 80s, simplified systems designed to be educational and ease of use. these computers started to died out in the 1990s, when the toy aisle console started to appeal to parents looking for something similar to the NES, SNES or Genesis but with a bigger focus on safe educational content. by the early 2000s, these kind of consoles had almost completely taken over the market these computers once controlled. these systems are usually not designed to compete with bigger names of the industry but to serve a niche audience.

The name "Toy aisle consoles" comes from the fact that a majority of these consoles are sold in the toy aisles of stores but this is not always the case.

(NOTE #1 - Be careful when adding systems, Video games were seen as just toys until the end of the 1993 US Senate video game hearings)
(NOTE #2 - Not all educational computers belong here, a large majority of them are clones or reskins not noteworthy enough to be added)

Educational computers

Model	Year	Developer / Distributor	MAME support	ROMs	Description
Accelerator Cyber Station	N/A	Oregon Scientific	None	No
Buzz Lightyear Star Command Laptop	2009	VTech	None	No
Carmen Sandiego Acme	N/A	Team Concepts	None	No
Children's Discovery System	1981	Mattel	None	No	The Children's Discovery System (CDS) is one of earliest examples of the modern educational computer we currently see in the toy aisles today. There's no mouse support like most computers of the era, and only had three modes built in at launch. the CDS software could be expanded though cartridges. only 16 of the 21 advertised cartridges were released.
Clickstart	2007	LeapFrog	Preliminary	No
Color Blast Notebook	2006	VTech	None	No
Computer Cool School	2008	Fisher-Price	None	No
Computer Fun	1988	Texas Instruments	None	No
Computer Kid Interactive TV	1997	Clementoni	None	No	This is not just a educational computer, it can also be connect to TV and act like a plug-n-play console
Computer Pal	1999	VTech	None	No
Computer Pal In Concert	1998	VTech	None	No
Computer Typing Instructor	1993	Radio Shack	None	No
Comquest	1995	Data Concepts	Preliminary	No
Cyber Spy Notebook	2007	VTech	None	No
Sensu-Puter (Math Master)	1984	Epoch (JP) Grandstand (UK)	None	No
Fun 2 Learn Laptop	2006	Fisher Price	None	No
FX-Micom FX-マイコン	1981	Gakken	Good	No
Genius Junior	1996	VTech	Preliminary	No
Genius Leader Notebook	1993	VTech	Preliminary	No
Girl Fun PC	2002	VTech	None	No
IQ Super PC	N/A	Team Concepts	None	No
JC The Junior Computer	1988	?	None	No
K28 Talking Learning Computer	1981 (model 7-230) 1985 (model 7-232)	Tiger Electronics	Imperfect (model 7-230) Preliminary (model 7-232)	No
Knights of Knowledge	2001	VTech	None	No
Learning Computer	N/A	Radio Shack	None	No
Learning Computer II	1987	Radio Shack	None	No
Learning-Window Teaching Machine	1986	VTech	Preliminary	No
Little Smart PC Fun	1994	VTech	None	No
Lesson One	1980	VTech	None	No
Master Pad FM	2001	VTech	None	No
Math Computer	1987	Playtime	None	No
Math Starter	1988	Fisher Price	None	No
Mega Duck Super Junior Computer	1995	Welback Holdings	Decent	No	Released around 1995, the Super Junior was Welback Holdings attempt to save their Mega Duck platform by turning it into educational computer, similar to what VTech was producing at the time. it didn't work and was quickly discontinued. Since its just a Mega Duck in a laptop shaped case, the 12 cartridges released for it should run just fine in MAME.
Mouse Computer	1992	Texas Instruments	None	No
My First Computer	1986	Grandstand	None	No
My Own Leaptop	2010	LeapFrog	None	No
Nitro Fun Notebook	2008	VTech	None	No
PC Pal	1989	VTech	None	No
Pitagorin Junior	1993	VTech	Preliminary	No
PreComputer	1988	VTech	Preliminary	No	The PreComputer was a educational computer product line launched by VTech in 1988. the first two models were similar to a Palmtop or a Pocket PC of the era, while the later Junior modal was the more common laptop design. although it doesn't use a mouse like later systems.
PreComputer Prestige Elite	1998	VTech	Preliminary	No
Preschool Desktop	~ Unknown	Team Concepts	None	No
See-A-Sound Phonics	1994	VTech	None	No
Sensu-Puter (Math Master)	1984	Epoch (JP) Grandstand (UK)	None	No
SmarTV	2002	VTech	None	No
Speak Series	N/A	Texas Instruments	NA
Spell & Count	1986	Playtime	None	No
Spell N' Math Typing Instructor	~ Unknown	Radio Shack	None	No
Spelling Starter	1988	Fisher Price	None	No
Super Color Whiz	1993	VTech	None	No
Super Note Club µ	1998	Bandai	Preliminary	No
Super Smart Start	1992	VTech	None	No
Talking Computron	1986	Sears	None	No	The Talking Computron has a Red 8x1 LCD Screen, 19 activities/games built in, and had a speech synthesis capabilities that were impressive for the time. Sears also sold four cartridges for extra content at their stores as well.
Talking Master Mouse Computer	Texas Instruments	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid	1986	VTech	None	No	The Talking Whiz Kid is the first computer in one of VTech's longest product lines.
Talking Whiz Kid Animated	1995	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Challenger	1994	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Einstein \ Millennium	1995	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Explorer	1994	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Genius	1993	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Honors	1995	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Knowledge Ball	1994	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Lessons	1997	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Mouse Pro	1995	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Notebook	1992	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Notebook 2000 \ 3000	1996	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Plus	1990	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Power Mouse	1995 (Power Mouse) 1997 (Power Mouse Deluxe)	VTech	None	No
Talking Whiz Kid Super Animated	1997	VTech	None	No
Teach & Talk Exploration Learning Laptop	2016	MerchSource\DCL	None	No
Tote & Go Laptop	2005	VTech	None	No
Ultra Pack PC	1995	Tiger Electronics	None	No
Webstart Computer	1998	Tiger Electronics	None	No

Educational computers (OS-Based)

Unlike most educational computers, the systems here have an actual OS and not just a basic GUI to get from program to another.

Model	Year	Developer / Distributor	MAME support	ROMs	Description
ClassMaster Notebook	2002	VTech	None	No
CNC-9606 Notebook	1997	Comet	None	No	Released during the 90s coupon craze that Turkey had. the CNC9606 was given out by Turkish newspapers after exchanging a coupon for it. and was designed to be both a simple PDA and a tool to teach basic English and Computer skills. there was different versions depending on the newspaper you sent the coupon to, some had floppy drives and expansion ports while other had those features removed. it's unknown how many were given out.
IQ Unlimited Computer	1991	VTech	Preliminary	No	This was the most advance educational computer Vtech ever released, it has a fully realized OS, 11 pre-loaded programs, Z80 CPU, and a BASIC interpreter. this is also one of the the rarest educational computer as it was not cheap when it launch in 1991.
IQ TV 512	1998	VTech	None	No	The 512 is a minor update to the Precomputer Unlimited, increasing the RAM capacity from 128kb to 512kb.
Precomputer Unlimited (PCU)	1996	VTech	Preliminary	No	Released in 1998 by VTech, The Unlimited is a Console-Computer hybrid akin to something like the Coleco Adam, Atari XEGS or the Odyssey 2. the Precomputer brand dates back to 1988 with the model 1000, and was your typical educational computer of the era. The Unlimited's main OS was heavily influenced by Windows 3.1 and the system it self included 45 programs built-in. Basic features and oddities that came standard on most late 90s and early 2000s VTech educational computers can be found on the PCU as well. this includes a cartridge slot for more programs and games, a parallel port for printing and an odd mouse that plugged into an RJ11 port. It is unknown how many units were sold, how many game were made for it or when it was discontinued.
The Equalizer	1996	Vtech	None	No

Toy aisle consoles

Name	MAME support	ROMs	Description
Arcadia Skeet Shoot	None	No	Released in October of 1998 by Toymax (The makers of the Creepy Crawlers and My Pet Monster toys), this Projector-based console, that only played Light-gun games, sold 435,000 units in the first 18 months before being recalled after reports of projectors overheating, melting, smoking and in a few rare cases, causing burn injuries (Faulty cartridges were to blame). After about three revisions, the system was discontinued sometime between 2000 and 2001 with only 5 out of the 9 games advertised known to have been released. It's unknown how many units were sold once the console was relaunched after the recall.
Barcode Battler	None	No	Released in Japan by Epoch in 1991 and internationally later the same year. The console was basically a digital trading card game, whereas the player used Barcodes to get new characters, enemies and power-ups, Barcode cards were available in packs and the player was even encouraged to use Barcodes found on everyday products around the house. The Barcode Battler was hugely popular in Japan but a major flop everywhere else. It's unknown how many units were sold or how many cards were officially released.
BattleVision	None	No	BattleVision is VHS console released by Tiger Electronics in 1994.
Bible Challenge	None	No	Release sometime in the early 2000s by Excalibur Electronics, Bible Challenge is a educational game handheld console made to teach kids the Bible. It was re-released as "Bible Quest" at some point but its unknown when this variant was released. Around five games were released for the system and it's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued.
Bright Things Bubble	None	No
Buzztime Home Trivia System	Preliminary	No	Released around 2004, the system is the result of a partnership between Cadaco Toys and NTN Network (Now known as NTN Buzztime after 2005); and, as the name implies, the console was designed around playing trivia with family and friends. The console runs on Elan Hardware. It's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
Cube World	None	No
Tomy Data Battle Virtual Simulation	None	No
DVD-Kids	None	No	Released by the 3-Plus circa 2005. DVD-Kids is a rare Icelandic console that plugged into your DVD Player. It's unknown how many units were sold, how many game were made for it or when it was discontinued.
Fisher-Price iXL	None	redump	Released in 2010 and discontinued in 2012, The iXL is a Touchscreen-based console designed for kids 3 to 7 years of age, it's unknown how many units were sold or how many games were released for it.
Giga Pets TV Game System	None	No
Giochi Preziosi My Life	None	No	Released in Italy in 2007, My Life was marketed towards young girls five to thirteen years of age, A Simple life simulator serves as the built-in game and as the main UI. How many units sold, number of games were released and when it was discontinued is unknown.
GoGo TV Video Vision	Preliminary	No	Released in sometime between 2005 and 2006 by Manley, the GoGo is Another PS2 Eye-Toy turned into edutainment console and like the Ion, it flopped and has since fallen into obscurity, it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
Elonex iGAME	None	No
Hasbro Ion	None	Yes (incomplete)	Released in time for the 2005 Holiday season, the Ion is basically a PS2 Eye-Toy turned into edutainment console for preschoolers and at the time, the Ion was turning heads at toy fairs, hype was building and the console looking to be real hit for Hasbro but for whatever reason, the console flopped and disappeared into obscurity faster then the refunds could be made, it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
Mattel Hyperscan	Preliminary	Redump	Something you would expect to see under a bargain bin at Wal-mart, the Mattel Hyperscan was a card/disc based system released in 2006 to appeal to some poor child's aunt at Christmas. It ran on a 32-bit Sunplus system-on-a-chip CPU, a successor to the 16-bit CPUs used to run consoles such as the V.Smile, many Jakks Pacific TV games and Vii. CGR Review.
Interac TV	None	No	Released by Fisher-Price in 2006. The Interac TV was designed to turn any DVD Player into an educational console. just sync the custom wireless controller to your DVD Player and put a game disk in. Unfortunately incompatibly issues resulted in most people been unable to sync the controller to their player and some even said that their DVD player couldn't even read the disks. it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
K-Magic	None	No	Released in 2010 by K's Kids for the 0-6 years market, The K-Magic is an educational handheld console that used cartridges called "Magic Cards" and was overall designed to be as simple as possible. It was discontinued in 2018 with the release of the K-Magic 2. It's unknown how many games were made for it or how many units were sold.
K-Magic 2	None	No	Released in 2018 by K's Kids for the 0-6 years market, The K-Magic 2 simplifies the original console by having everything already built-in and ready for parents and children to use, Because it's still being sold, when it well be discontinued and info on how many units have been sold so far not been released to the public.
Kasey the Kinderbot	None	No
LeapFrog RockIt Twist	None	No
LeapFrog Zippity	Preliminary	Yes
Leapster	Preliminary	Yes (No-intro)	The Leapster Learning Game System (Released in late 2003) is an educational handheld game console aimed at 4 to 10-year-olds (preschool to fourth grade) and made by LeapFrog Enterprises. Its games teach the alphabet, phonics, basic mathematics (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), art, and animal facts to players. It featured a touchscreen and games from various licenses from Thomas & Friends to Sonic X. Its software seems to be based on Macromedia Flash. Oddly enough it's successors, i.e. the Didj, Leapster Explorer, and LeapPad series of tablets which run on the Pollux and NXP3200 platforms along with a customized Linux distribution has a homebrew scene that even features some emulators.
Leapster Didj	Preliminary	No
Leapster Explorer	Preliminary	No
LeapsterGS	None	No
Leapster TV	Preliminary	No
LeapTV	None	No
POP Station	None	No	This infamous Game & Watch clone was originally released sometime between late 2004 and 2006 by an Unknown Chinese Manufacturer, the first few modals had a selection of four games and each system only had one built-in game, meaning you would need to buy four of them to get all the games available, later models used interchangeable cartridges. it's unknown if these later models are were made by the same manufacturer that made original systems or if theirs other companies making clones. It's unknown how many units have been sold so far.
Pixter	None	No	Released in 2000 as Fisher-Price's first Video Game Console, the Pixter was one of many consoles from the 2000s sold in the toy aisle and marketed towards children; around 25 to 50 games were released for it before being discontinued in 2007.
Pixel Chix	None	No
Sega Pico	Good	TOSEC/No-intro	Child's edutainment console released in 1993. Was actually fairly successful. Has good support in MAME.
Sifteo Cubes	None	No
Smart Cycle	None	No	Released in 2007 by Fisher-Price and not to be confused with their later phone\tablet controller of the same name. the Smart Cycle is a hybrid between an exercise bike and a edutainment console. it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
Smart TV Consoles	Preliminary	No	Launched sometime in the early 2010s by Italian toy company, Clementoni seemingly as a partnership with Hong Kongese toy company, WinFun, Smart TV is series of educational consoles mainly sold in Italy (Example). The controllers of these consoles ranged from traditional to the gimmicky with some having motion and PS2 EyeToy-like controls. There is around 10 to 25 games that were released for these European systems. It's unknown how many units have sold been or when this line of systems was discontinued. Smart TV console was also release in north american circa 2015 by Wal-Mart, under their Kid Connection brand, called the "Funtastic TV Adventures". It was a failure and only two games were released for the system, and both came bundled in with the console (Examples 1, 2). It's unknown how many units have sold been or when the NA console was discontinued.
Story Reader Video +	None	No	Release in 2006 by Publications International. The Video + turns the Story Reader electronic book into one of many educational consoles of the 2000s. It's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued. Around 7 games were released for the system,
Telestory Interactive Storybook System	Preliminary	No	Release in 2006 by Jakks Pacific for kids aged 3 and up, The Telestory is yet another edutainment console from 2000s and all the games are exactly what the console name would suggest, it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
TI Speak Series	NA
V.Flash	None	Redump	Released in 2006, The V.Flash was a spin-off console to the V.Smile Series created by VTech. Like the V.Smile, it was an educational console for children around ages 6-9, but, unlike the V.Smile that used ROM cartridges, the V.Flash used CD-ROMs. It also had 3D based graphics rather than 2D on the V.Smile. It didn't have many games, around 10 to be exact. Mostly being licensed children IPs such as Disney. It was discontinued a year after its release.
V.Smile	Decent	Yes ✓	An educational game machine by VTech. It derived from Sunplus' 16-bit SPG-series CPU architecture, which had similar peers including most Jakks Pacific TV games and Vii. The XaviXPORT was similar but had its own custom XaviX CPUs. Several variants of the V.Smile console are sold including handheld versions, or models with added functionality such as touch tablet integrated controllers, microphones or motion sensitive controllers. 69 unique V.Smile games were known to have been released. Since July 2020, every dumped V-Tech V. Smile Motion game now runs in MAME. So, too, do all V. Smile games that use a standard controller, apart from one bad dump (Italian version of Toy Story 3) (Same month Nintendo's Game & Watch titles were fully compatible for v 0.223).
Video Buddy	None	No	Released in November of 1999 by the Interactive Learning Group, this VHS-based console was designed for children aged 3 to 7 years old and had about 20 games released for it. A revision of the Video Buddy that used DVD's instead of VHS's was released in 2003 and while both versions were initially successful, a crowded "Children" console market led to its downfall. The other company that made the DVD-based console shut down in 2006. It's unknown how many units were sold.
VideoNow XP	None	No	Released in 2003 and underwent 5 total revisions. An often forgotten attempt by Hasbro and their subsidiary Tiger Electronics (of Game.com fame) to use the popularity of their VideoNow portable video players to enter the Video Game market.
Vtech Learning Lodge	NA
Vtech Nitro Vision	None	No
Vtech Voyager Adventure System	NA