Pixter
A stylus-driven handheld drawing and gaming console for children.
The Pixter was a handheld game console series for children, designed by Rehco, LLC and sold by Mattel and its Fisher-Price division. Released between 2000 and 2007, it was one of the earliest portable touchscreen drawing toys aimed at kids, combining digital art, educational tasks, and simple games controlled by a stylus. The device came with built-in activities and could also run cartridge-based games and creative software. Early models used a black-and-white LCD screen, which contributed to their commercial success at launch. Later versions, like the Pixter Color, added color displays, better graphics, and more multimedia features. The Pixter line featured licensed content from companies such as Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network, including characters from SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. It stands out as Fisher-Price’s only handheld gaming system and one of the last console-type products Mattel ever released. The original Pixter had an 80x80 monochrome LCD, a touch-sensitive screen activated by a stylus, ran on four AA batteries, and used a Sunplus system-on-a-chip based on a 6502 processor. Models included the Pixter, Pixter 2.0, Pixter Plus, Pixter Color, and Pixter Multimedia System.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Rehco, LLC
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Pixter was inspired by the Apple Newton and was designed as a touchscreen drawing toy for children. Its original model featured a monochrome black-and-white LCD display, which helped make the product commercially successful during its initial release. The device used a stylus to interact with its touch-sensitive screen and ran on four AA batteries, powered by a Sunplus system-on-a-chip based on a 6502 core. Later versions, such as the Pixter Color, upgraded the hardware with color screens, improved graphics, and expanded multimedia capabilities. The Pixter came preloaded with built-in activities and also supported cartridge-based games and creative software. Licensed content from Nickelodeon, Disney, Cartoon Network, and BBC appeared on the platform, including titles based on SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.
Reader's Guide
The Pixter series remains notable as Fisher-Price’s only handheld gaming platform and one of the last console-style products released by Mattel. It is, 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. The line has become something of an obscurity, with little information left on the internet about its history, sales records, original pricing, or release dates. Despite its commercial success in its early years, the Pixter is now largely forgotten, though it represents an early attempt at a touchscreen handheld device aimed at children, predating many later mainstream touchscreen gaming systems. Its combination of drawing, educational activities, and simple gaming, along with licensed characters, made it a distinctive product in the late 1990s and early 2000s toy market.
Did You Know?
- The Pixter was among the first manufactured portable handheld touchscreen drawing toys designed for children.
- The original Pixter had an 80×80 black-and-white LCD display.
- The Pixter line included licensed content from Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and BBC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created and sold the Pixter?
Rehco, LLC was responsible for designing the hardware, while Mattel and its Fisher-Price division handled the marketing and retail distribution aimed at young children.
What was the Pixter's screen like in the original model?
The first Pixter featured a small 80×80-pixel monochrome black-and-white LCD panel. Later revisions, such as the Pixter Color, upgraded to a full-color display for richer drawing and game visuals.
How did players interact with the Pixter?
All input was handled through a stylus pressed against a touchscreen, letting kids draw, trace, and select options without any physical buttons or a traditional D-pad.
What years was the Pixter on the market and which generation did it belong to?
The series ran from 2000 through 2007, placing it squarely in the sixth generation of video game hardware. It was marketed specifically as a children's handheld rather than a general-purpose gaming device.
What kinds of content could the Pixter run?
Beyond its built-in drawing and educational activities, the console accepted removable cartridges that added simple games and creative software. Power for all of this came from four AA batteries, making it easy for kids to swap out when the unit ran down.
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