Now, a Wii-inspired games console for 3 year-olds

London, Jan 23 (ANI): Inspired by the success of Nintendo Wii, a Hong Kong-based toy company has launched a similar gaming experience in the UK for children as young as three-years-old- the Smile Motion console.

Vtech's Smile Motion console is a games machine that has motion sensitive gear sticks, which uses similar technology to the Nintendo Wii.

Available for 60 pounds, the machine targets children between the age-group of 3-7 years.

The console has been claimed to be an educational gadget, allowing toddlers to learn about colours, numbers and spelling.On Smile Motion, children can play games including Thomas the Tank engine, Dora the Explorer etc.-all they need to do is move the gear stick in their hand and the characters on the screen move too.

VTech has said that their new console is not meant to introduce gaming to children at too young an age.

"There is a time and a place for all aspects of play, but this is very educational and something mums can buy knowing their children will learn from it," The Telegraph quoted Clive Richardson, the company's marketing director as saying.

Although, Vtech had entered the gaming market five years ago, its latest model is the most sophisticated yet, as it is the first to use motion-sensitive technology and the first to connect the gear stick wirelessly to the machine.

"I think it's great. Serious gamers like me find the motion sensitive technology on the Wii not quite good enough. But for children it is perfect," said Guy Cocker, a gaming expert at the website GameSpot.

He added: "I am not surprised other companies have looked at Nintendo, seen their success with the Wii and decided to get in on the market." (ANI)