Pixter
{{Short description|Portable handheld game system}}
Pixter was among the first portable handheld touch screen drawing toys for children invented by Rehco, LLC and marketed by Fisher Price from 2000 through 2007. Pixter was pre-programmed with fun content and repeatable play. Pixter also could accept cartridge-based games and other activities. Pixter was originally marketed successfully with a black-and-white display but later was upgraded to a color display.
Inspired by the Apple Newton, the Pixter line has become something of an obscurity, with little information left on the internet about the history of it, sales records, original pricing, release dates, etc. It also included licensed content from Nickelodeon, Disney, Cartoon Network, BBC, etc.
The Pixter remains, as of 2017, the second to last console Mattel has released, after the HyperScan, but the Pixter is Fisher Price's first and only handheld game system.
Gameplay
The original Pixter had a black and white LCD display. Its touch-sensitive LCD screen was activated by a drawing stylus. It used 4 AA batteries.
Models
=Pixter (2000-2002)=
The original Pixter came in several colors, but otherwise they are the same unit.{{cite web|title=Green Pixter™|url=https://m.service.mattel.com/us/Technical/productDetail?prodno=73983&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018}}
- Purple{{cite web|title=Purple Pixter™|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=73984&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018|ref=1}}
- Green
- Blue{{cite web|title=Pixter|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=74324&siteid=27|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018|ref=1}}
=Pixter Plus (2002)=
Similar to the original Pixter, except with a "Plus" subcategory of 10 additional activities in the Pixter's main menu and 20 times more storage space than the original Pixter unit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/43381122@N02/4132697798/|title=Pixter plus|date=19 November 2009}} It also has a flexible screen light.{{cite web|author=Liam|title=Pixter Plus 73678|url=http://electronictoy.pro/item/B0047LPEMW-fisher-price-pixter-plus-w-flexible-screen-light-attached-stylus-2002|website=electronictoy.pro|access-date=7 January 2018|date=December 2017}}
=Pixter 2.0 (2003)=
Played the same cartridges as the original, but included digital drawing and quick-paint tools, as well as a wireless link. The wireless link could be used to send messages and pictures between other Pixter 2.0's. It used 4 AA batteries.{{cite web|title=Pixter 2.0|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=B0657&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018|ref=3}}
=Pixter Color (2003-2005)=
Pixter Color is similar to the original Pixter, but with 128 colors and double the screen resolution. It used newer cartridges that could not be used with the original Pixter. With the use of an adapter, Pixter Color could play original Pixter titles. It used 4 AA batteries. The main menu of the system contains 2 unique music tracks, but outside of games or the home menu music is not implemented.{{cite web|title=Pixter® Color|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=B7711&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018}}
The system uses a custom built LH75411 system, with a 70 MHz ARM7TDMI CPU, and 32 Kilobytes of SRAM, working as Random Access Memory and storage for one picture at a time in local memory.{{Cite web |title=Pixter - eLinux.org |url=https://elinux.org/Pixter |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=elinux.org}}
=Pocket Pixter (2004-2006)=
The Pocket Pixters were key-chain sized dedicated consoles that included a drawing program centered around a theme and a built-in game. They used three Button Cell (LR44) batteries.{{cite web|title=POCKET Pixter® Fashion|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=C6507&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018|ref=2}}
==Editions==
- Pets{{cite web|title=POCKET Pixter® Pets|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=C6506&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018|ref=2}}
- Fashion
- Sports{{cite web|title=POCKET Pixter® Sports|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=C6508&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018|ref=2}}
- Dino{{cite web|title=POCKET Pixter® Dino|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=C6503&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018|ref=2}}
- Hearts{{cite web|title=POCKET Pixter® Hearts|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=C6504&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018|ref=2}}
=Pixter Multi-media system (2005)=
The Pixter Multi-Media System reportedly had 100 creative tools, games, and activities-built in, including a touch screen with stylus and had streaming video capabilities. There were also exclusive cartridges available for the system. It used 4 AA batteries.{{cite web|title=Multi-Media Pixter (Silver)|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=J4288&siteid=27|website=service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018|ref=1}}
Games/media released
=Pixter, 2.0, Plus=
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
- Action Art
- Arcade
- Art Safari
- Barbie: Fashion Show
- Cool Wheels
- Crazy Word Factory
- Dino Draw
- Dinosaurs Adventure
- Discovery Kids
- Disney Fun
- Enchanted Princess
- Learning Fun
- Monster Shop
- Music Studio
- Music Video
- On the Go Games
- Rescue Heroes: Mission Masters
- Rocket Power
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Aqua Adventure
- Sports
- Story Composer
- The Powerpuff Girls
- Toy Designer
=Color=
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
- Alphabet Forest
- Arcade
- Arthur's Birthday
- Atomic Betty{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.in/Pixter-Color-Creativity-ROM-Atomic/dp/B000GKDWXQ|title = Amazon India}}
- Barbie Fashion Show
- Barbie Writing
- Cars
- Clifford the Big Red Dog
- Color Pixter Digital Camera{{Cite web|url=https://service.mattel.com/us/productDetail.aspx?prodno=H0162&siteid=27|title = Mattel and Fisher-Price Customer Center}}
- Creative Genius
- Cyberchase
- Dino Draw
- Dora the Explorer
- Global Passport
- Hot Wheels
- Just Grandma and Me
- Math Mansion
- Pet Shop
- Puzzles and Games
- Rescue Heroes
- Scooby-Doo{{cite web|title=Color Pixter Scooby-Doo Software|url=https://m.service.mattel.com/us/Technical/productDetail?prodno=H0404&siteid=27|website=m.service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018}}
- SpongeBob Squarepants Color Aqua Adventure
- Spongebob Squarepants 2: Math Mania
- Starter Learner Game
- Symphony Painter
- Teen Titans
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
- The Angry Beavers
- The Fairly OddParents
- Word Island
- ¡Mucha Lucha!{{cite web|title=Color Pixter® Software Mucha Lucha|url=https://m.service.mattel.com/us/Technical/productDetail?prodno=H0057&siteid=27|website=m.service.mattel.com|publisher=Mattel, Inc.|access-date=7 January 2018}}
=Multimedia system=
{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}
| class="wikitable sortable" id="softwarelist"
!Title !Released |
| The Best of Dora with Cartoon Creator Software |
| The Best of Monster Jam World Finals 4 with Video Creator Software |
| The Best of SpongeBob SquarePants with Cartoon Creator Software |
| The Best of Winter X Games with Video Creator Software |
| Walking with Dinosaurs with Scene Creator Software |
| Winx Club with Scene Creator Software |
| The Best of Friday Night Nicktoons with Cartoon Creator Software |
| LazyTown
|Unreleased |
| Yu-Gi-Oh!
|Unreleased |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2280&e=hasflash Pixter Homepage]
- [http://www.fisher-price.com/ Fisher-Price Homepage]
{{Mattel}}
{{Sixth generation game consoles}}
{{Handheld game consoles}}