Gamers...Need a Litle Help

LauraMacNCheese
LauraMacNCheese Posts: 7,173 Member
edited October 3 in Chit-Chat
I would like to get my kids a gaming system for Christmas this year...The Wii is relatively cheap & comes with a lot of stuff ($135 @ Target w/ a controler, a steering wheel & Mario Kart). The PS3 has the Blu-Ray capabilties; but doesn't come with squat.

I need some input...what would you all recommend and why?
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Replies

  • LauraMacNCheese
    LauraMacNCheese Posts: 7,173 Member
    And apparently I need some help with spelling...*Little
  • PennyNickel14
    PennyNickel14 Posts: 749 Member
    Hi Laura,

    How old are the kids because the appropriateness and enjoyment for the age level really varies within video games?

    :)
  • cheddle
    cheddle Posts: 102 Member
    PS3 is definitly greater value, the blue-ray player, plus the built in harddrive for storing media and the network sharing capabilities make it very versatile not only for games but entertainment in general, there is also internet TV and social networking built in...

    its not what it "comes with" but what it does that adds the value, Sony actually LOOSE money on every PS3 they sell becaues they cost more in raw-materials to build than they make selling them.
  • hypotrochoid
    hypotrochoid Posts: 842 Member
    How old are the kidlets? The Wii has games that are better suited to younger players, at least in my experience (I have a Wii, PS2, and various other gaming systems)
  • YukonJoy
    YukonJoy Posts: 1,279 Member
    It really depends on the age of the kids, and are they boys or girls?
  • cschnepf
    cschnepf Posts: 12
    How old are they? Wii games are geared toward younger kids compared to PS3 and Xbox. Although now that Xbox Kinect has launched, there are a lot of family friendly titles that can also help keep you active.

    As far as price and/or getting a good deal on whatever system you choose. I use 2 sites for price comparisons.

    http://slickdeals.net/
    and
    http://www.cheapassgamer.com

    The second one requires an account to view their forums, but it's free.
  • catclws
    catclws Posts: 15
    The Wii is the way to go.. When all my kids and grand-kids lived with me, we would have Wii nights. I miss that :cry:
    I like the fitness Wii the best!
  • LauraMacNCheese
    LauraMacNCheese Posts: 7,173 Member
    Munchkins will be 10 (daughter) & 7 (son) in November...they each have a DS right now; so they are familiar with a lot of the Nintendo games. Their dad has a PS3 with the motion controllers; so they've been exposed to that too (like bowling, ping pong & stuff).
  • woo1324
    woo1324 Posts: 168 Member
    what age group we have the three major consoles in the house wii ps3 and xbox ( lol husband works in IT enough said) and my boys aged 7 and 3 both play the wii the most it has more games and games that are more fun for that age group however if they are in their teenage years they would probably prefer the ps3 more in depth games better graphics and the ability to watch blue rays etc and better online gameplay

    hope that helped :)
  • Loko_Ino
    Loko_Ino Posts: 544 Member
    Xbox with Kinect give you the game nights like Wii..except better.
    I have a Wii and after Mario wears off it now just sits in the closet..no one wants to play it anymore.
    Now the Xbox with Kinect..that is awesome..and you actually have to move your body with it, not just the controller or on the pad.
  • javaruck
    javaruck Posts: 47 Member
    I'm the father of 2 serious gamers one of whom is now a video game programmer. Guess I can't complain about all the time he spent gaming!

    At any rate, I think the Wi is great, especially for younger kids. If your kids are approaching their teens, the xbox might be a better choice. It has more games to choose from and the new kinect controller is amazing. It's a lot pricier but you won't have them getting bored and asking for another system right away.

    My wife and I even use the Biggest Loser for kinect game - the workouts are pretty intense.

    I'm not that impressed with the PS3 - it's a great system on paper but does not seem to have near the games the other systems do.
  • lotusblossomctf
    lotusblossomctf Posts: 29
    Personally I LOVE my wii. We use it all the time...although usually to stream netflix these days. But i would agree that it definitely depends on the age of the gamers. for young children, I recommend the wii, it has more age appropriate games, and is more durable and able to take more abuse (like if it falls of the entertainment center or something). The Wii also can be a better option for multi player gaming too. The new super mario bros is LOTS of fun with multiplayer. And there are also a lot of other wii games that are meant to be played in more of a party or group setting.
  • LauraMacNCheese
    LauraMacNCheese Posts: 7,173 Member
    Xbox with Kinect give you the game nights like Wii..except better.
    I have a Wii and after Mario wears off it now just sits in the closet..no one wants to play it anymore.
    Now the Xbox with Kinect..that is awesome..and you actually have to move your body with it, not just the controller or on the pad.

    Do you have to subscribe to Xbox Live for a lot of their stuff?
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    wii games are a LOT cheaper that playstation ones, and generally aimed at family entertainment.

    I don't own a playstation 3, so can't comment, but I love my xbox 360. if i was buying a console for kids, i'd defiantly pick a wii...and as you say, if you look around, you can get super cheap bundles for it. also, it's worth bearing in mind a playstation 3 or an xbox 2360 need a high definition TV set to get a decent quality picture.
  • LauraMacNCheese
    LauraMacNCheese Posts: 7,173 Member
    wii games are a LOT cheaper that playstation ones, and generally aimed at family entertainment.

    I don't own a playstation 3, so can't comment, but I love my xbox 360. if i was buying a console for kids, i'd defiantly pick a wii...and as you say, if you look around, you can get super cheap bundles for it. also, it's worth bearing in mind a playstation 3 or an xbox 2360 need a high definition TV set to get a decent quality picture.

    I have a 1080p TV...and really the system would be used for family entertainment & possible NetFlix. A lot of people I know keep pointing away from the Wii b/c the technology is going away...
  • _Ben
    _Ben Posts: 1,608 Member
    I would say go with the wii, but as soon as your kids, mainly your son, turns about 10-11, they are going to hate it. The 360 has fun interactive games like the kinect, but when they get older they can get into more 'gamer' type games
  • PlunderBunneh
    PlunderBunneh Posts: 1,705 Member
    we have the three major consoles in the house wii ps3 and xbox ( lol husband works in IT enough said)

    That's awesome. Mine does too, that's why we have a computer in the kitchen, a modified xbox that works as a fully functioning media server networked to the server arrays in the basement. I can play mario anywhere I want! He keeps bugging me about the PS3, so maybe christmas time, but he'll have to choose between that and more server racks.
    Pretty neat to have husbands in IT, in my opinion.

    Sorry, off topic. Back on topic, I vote Wii for kids. More family games. Seems like the other consoles are better suited for adult/teenage gamers.
  • albinogorilla
    albinogorilla Posts: 1,056 Member
    wii games are a LOT cheaper that playstation ones, and generally aimed at family entertainment.

    I don't own a playstation 3, so can't comment, but I love my xbox 360. if i was buying a console for kids, i'd defiantly pick a wii...and as you say, if you look around, you can get super cheap bundles for it. also, it's worth bearing in mind a playstation 3 or an xbox 2360 need a high definition TV set to get a decent quality picture.

    I have a 1080p TV...and really the system would be used for family entertainment & possible NetFlix. A lot of people I know keep pointing away from the Wii b/c the technology is going away...

    ps3..........i have them all but, if i had to have one this is the one i would get, no additional costs for the online services like with xbox, and HD, unlike wii
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I've owned every video game system since Colecovision. My vote is PS3, hands down the top system in the current generation. A new Nintendo game console will be coming out next year, so the Wii is just about done. The 360 never impressed me much either time I owned one, and paying for Live is a disadvantage. My PS3 gets a ton of use, games, blu-ray movies, Netflix, streaming movies off of my computer, it's extremely versatile and powerful.
  • SprDg
    SprDg Posts: 5
    Here are some sites that might help.

    http://www.consumersearch.com/video-game-consoles?gclid=CO2iuZ_Ow6sCFQ1U7AodNRtd4A&ef_id=37dOg9GMLREAAE5B:20110929233013:s

    http://www.consumersearch.com/video-game-consoles?gclid=CO2iuZ_Ow6sCFQ1U7AodNRtd4A&ef_id=37dOg9GMLREAAE5B:20110929233013:s

    Btw, the Kinect has lag, which I don't care for.
  • LauraMacNCheese
    LauraMacNCheese Posts: 7,173 Member
    Here are some sites that might help.

    http://www.consumersearch.com/video-game-consoles?gclid=CO2iuZ_Ow6sCFQ1U7AodNRtd4A&ef_id=37dOg9GMLREAAE5B:20110929233013:s

    http://www.consumersearch.com/video-game-consoles?gclid=CO2iuZ_Ow6sCFQ1U7AodNRtd4A&ef_id=37dOg9GMLREAAE5B:20110929233013:s

    Btw, the Kinect has lag, which I don't care for.

    Awesome...I will check these out when I get home...thank you!!! :happy:
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,956 Member
    I would like to get my kids a gaming system for Christmas this year...The Wii is relatively cheap & comes with a lot of stuff ($135 @ Target w/ a controler, a steering wheel & Mario Kart). The PS3 has the Blu-Ray capabilties; but doesn't come with squat.

    I need some input...what would you all recommend and why?
    Wii for kids. You can by a Blu ray player for $100.
  • LauraMacNCheese
    LauraMacNCheese Posts: 7,173 Member
    I would like to get my kids a gaming system for Christmas this year...The Wii is relatively cheap & comes with a lot of stuff ($135 @ Target w/ a controler, a steering wheel & Mario Kart). The PS3 has the Blu-Ray capabilties; but doesn't come with squat.

    I need some input...what would you all recommend and why?
    Wii for kids. You can by a Blu ray player for $100.

    See that's what I was thinking...but a lot of people brought up a good point...that the kids will grow out of the Wii games in a few years. And that the PS3 would be a better investment, in part, because Sony has a wider selection of games for teens.
  • BrewerGeorge
    BrewerGeorge Posts: 397 Member
    Munchkins will be 10 (daughter) & 7 (son) in November...they each have a DS right now; so they are familiar with a lot of the Nintendo games. Their dad has a PS3 with the motion controllers; so they've been exposed to that too (like bowling, ping pong & stuff).
    Wii for sure. My youngest is 10, and we've had the Wii for about 3 years.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I would like to get my kids a gaming system for Christmas this year...The Wii is relatively cheap & comes with a lot of stuff ($135 @ Target w/ a controler, a steering wheel & Mario Kart). The PS3 has the Blu-Ray capabilties; but doesn't come with squat.

    I need some input...what would you all recommend and why?
    Wii for kids. You can by a Blu ray player for $100.

    See that's what I was thinking...but a lot of people brought up a good point...that the kids will grow out of the Wii games in a few years. And that the PS3 would be a better investment, in part, because Sony has a wider selection of games for teens.
    This is true, and the PS3 also has a very good selection of games aimed at kids as well. My 11 year old nephew has a Wii in his bedroom, and it collects dust, as when he plays video games he's usually playing something on my brother-in-law's 360.
  • Enforcer25
    Enforcer25 Posts: 350 Member
    My kids are 8 and 10 and have a wii, I have a ps3 upstairs. With the wii you can stream Netflix movies and with a program called playon tv you can stream hulu and other things to your wii and ps3. I think the wii is geared more towards kids while the ps3 is more for teens and adults. I will probably get them a ps3 in a few years, but now they play handhelds and use the wii for watching movies and some game playing.
  • LauraMacNCheese
    LauraMacNCheese Posts: 7,173 Member
    I'm really thinking of getting the Wii bundle that is on sale right now...the console w/ a controller & a steering wheel and Mario Kart. Then getting a 2nd steering wheel & Guitar Hero. I think that's a good starter combo for them...just need a 2nd guitar controller.
  • BrewerGeorge
    BrewerGeorge Posts: 397 Member
    I'm really thinking of getting the Wii bundle that is on sale right now...the console w/ a controller & a steering wheel and Mario Kart. Then getting a 2nd steering wheel & Guitar Hero. I think that's a good starter combo for them...just need a 2nd guitar controller.
    Sounds awesome to me.

    I strongly recommend you get the real guitar controller. The generic ones are pretty crappy, and we went through 3 of them in two weeks before we got the real one (which has lasted a couple years now).
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    We have the PS (original platform, 1st gen), PS2 (original platform, 1st gen) and the PS3 (original platform, 1st gen, upgraded hard drive)

    The games are capable of playing on the next higher platform. So, if my PS is down, I can play them on my PS2... or my PS3...

    PS3 is AWESOME - connect up on the internet, you can get movies, games, updates, walkthroughs, etc... love love LOVE the PS3 because of the versatility it has...

    I think we paid an additional $30.00 for another controller (hubby and I like playing together), and we purchased a 12ft extension cord that way if we rearrange the living room, and the couch is too far from the PS3 on a controller that is about to DIE... the cord is long enough to charge AND keep playing! 8-)
  • TaraTLC83
    TaraTLC83 Posts: 93 Member
    Munchkins will be 10 (daughter) & 7 (son) in November...they each have a DS right now; so they are familiar with a lot of the Nintendo games. Their dad has a PS3 with the motion controllers; so they've been exposed to that too (like bowling, ping pong & stuff).

    If Dad already has the PS3 with move I would suggest getting that. I'm sure Sony will have PS3 with move bundles. It has awesome capabilities. I love loading special family photos to show friends. The blue ray player is also nice. The PS3 is very versatile and I found the user interface easier to use. I actually sold my wii because I wasn't using it.

    Because Dad has one, the kids can bring the games back and forth between the two households. If one child is at dads, and one at moms, they can chat with each other online while playing games.

    The games available are almost the same with a few exceptions. Nintendo has mario... PS3 has Little Big Planet. I'm biased. I LOVE little big planet. It's not only fun to play, but teaches them physics and gives them the ability to create.

    Go to youtube and check out Little big planet.

    I'd recommend the PS3 for sure!
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