Which gaming system should we get?

[danceboy]

I don't play video games. Neither does ricevermicelli. So we don't have a game system. But we're about to have two kids (5 & 2) that will be wanting to cling to, and climb over, a mother who will be trying to recover from surgery and possibly chemo. And who could hopefully be distracted by a video game console.

So what would people recommend? Both for a system, and for a few games. Something that doesn't grow with the kids is not a negative in my book (it might not be a positive either, but I'm certainly not willing to pay much for it).

ricevermicelli wants us to get something that can play netflix, but that doesn't seem to limit it much (unless some systems do it better than others?). The ps3, wii, and xbox 360 all claim to speak WPA2, so we should be ok there (unless one of them is lying...).

Also, anything that I don't even know enough to be thinking about?

Comments

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

We have a Wii, which certainly does Netflix, and has lots of fun games, many of them targeted at kids but enjoyable by adults. However, the next-gen Wii (the Wii U) will apparently be announced soon. Also, the Wii is simply not very powerful. That said, you can probably get one cheap, and the kids will love it until they're old enough to compare notes with their peers and realize they need the Next Cool Thing. And the controls are pretty simple to master.

On the other hand, if you want this experience, you're gonna want an Xbox 360 w/ Kinect. Which I hear is way cool.

[drwex]

We also have a Wii and there are a number of good-condition systems you can get for cheap. Wii has the advantage of having many physically active games that I think the kids will enjoy - sports type stuff like baseball, ski jumping, tennis, etc. My kids regularly thrash me at these things.

Also, there are a bunch of Lego-branded games available for Wii - my kids adore Lego Star Wars and others.

That said, i agree that Xbox 360 with Kinect is very cool and much more modern. At 2 and 5 they probably won't care/notice if they have the latest whatsit, but at 5 and 8 they might.

[tamidon.livejournal.com]

we have a wii too, and while the girls have grown up a bit they still will have an afternoon where they play video games and stuff. Wii is aimed younger than other sets, not as good at shoot em up games, but that sounds like a win for you. We never got the thing online to play with other folks outside the house. The thing saved their lives when we got housebound with snow for a while, as in I didnt kill them. I highly recommend the game Okami that is fun for them to play while being beautiful to watch and hear for adults

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

DL! loves machine guns, but their depiction in film instantly reduces Hotspur to tears - I think we're just not ready for shoot-em-ups. Thanks for the recommendation about Okami though. Fun + Not annoying to adults is a rare combination.

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

I've heard very good things about Okami.

[tpau]

for that age group your best bet is a wii. the playstation andn the xbox have many cool games FOR YOU, but for hte kiddies, go with the Wii. it plays netflix and it has cool games for all ages.

[desiringsubject.livejournal.com]

We have a PS3, and it plays netflix fer sher. I have no idea, really, what else it does, because ialdaboth bought it because when it came out it was the cheapest blu-ray player around. So all I've seen it do is play netflix and opera. :)

[quueer.livejournal.com]

With the wii you have the benefit of your in-home childcare actually knowing how to use it.

[graceo.livejournal.com]

We had a Wii and we love it. That said, I hear that xbox has a deal with ESPN, and therefore you might be able to watch the Olympics on it. If I were making a purchase this year, I would look in to that.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

do you have a better choice given the stated goals?

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[tamidon.livejournal.com]

read the whole post and don't judge

[tamidon.livejournal.com]

you are out of line. They are going thru an incredibly tough time right now, asked for specific advice for something they feel will help them as a family at this time, and you responded with how you never needed one as a child and they probably don't now. Now you follow up with questions about their longterm values? You're being an ass and should apologise. They don't need a Devil's Advocate right now, they need supportive friends.

[buxom-bey.livejournal.com]

Fair enough question, but I think the fact that he's made this post signifies that they have agreed on its necessity at this point.

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

BECAUSE I HAVE FUCKING CANCER.

I didn't have video games growing up either. I had two healthy and able parents and a full-time nanny to carpool me to ballet class and horseback riding lessons. This was all very nice, and I would adore to be able to promise my kids the same, but see above about the FUCKING CANCER.

I have two small children accustomed to parents who have encouraged them in athletic expressions of affection. I've enjoyed having the kids jump and climb on me. They do mid-air somersaults from my hands. I use them as weights for arm exercises. But I need a FUCKING MASTECTOMY, after which I am advised to wait at least two weeks before attempting to lift more than 10 pounds with my right arm. And then I'll probably need chemo, which I hear is like an all expenses paid trip to DisneyLand, plus Brad Pitt gives you a blowjob.

So maybe, we thought, maybe it would be easier on everyone involved, if we installed something in the living room that would be fun for the kids and require minimal exertion from me. Maybe it would be good if the kids could watch Phineas and Ferb without anyone worrying that a click or two on the remote could get them an eyeful of CSI:SVU.

It's really important to me right now that we make sure that the kids and I always have a way that we can play together, because so much of our connection and communication is embedded in playing, and I do not in any way want them to feel cut off.

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

My apologies - the above is possibly a little harsh.

There is no part of this that doesn't suck. Our focus is on coping with the cards we're dealt. We feel pretty good about the video games decision, given the circumstances.

[chalgaryn.livejournal.com]

No, that was a perfectly justified rant. Something like the Wii or Kinect that will get the kids up and jumping around near, but not on, you is a great idea that I'm not sure I would have thought of.

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

the above is possibly a little harsh.

No, it was spot on.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

so, wii, ps3, xbox 360...

wii has cool controls that respond to waving around and some VERY well done games aimed at kids of all ages. netflix playback is poor (low rez - you won't get anything nearly HD out of it). has some unique games that cannot be found anywhere else, but as usual, games get ported.

ps3 is probably the BEST blu-ray player on the market (if that's important to you) - does all audio and video codecs of note and is up to date and updateable nicely. has some good games with magic wavy around controllers, some good stuff for kids plus a camera thing to track SOME non controller motion, and some unique games to the console, otherwise MOST games can also be found on the xbox 360 as well, for both most in HD. NOTE: really Really REALLY good netflix experience with no added monthly rate. can also play at least amazon, and probably hulu, and others (i haven't checked out those signup/pay-for services)

xbox 360 - probably the best gaming experience for a console at this time; kinect feature can track you doing all kinds of stuff, WITHOUT controllers, and i do generally like their joy pads. less with the controllers that go all wavy like the prior two. can play and stream several video services buy you have to buy monthly/yearly "gold" service to do so (additional cost). some very good games overall, but few unique to the console compared to the more interesting (to me) that Sony has. cannot currently play blu-ray. acceptable dvd player.

all three can download games from a service. i think the xbox setup is more slick for that. all three have vast USED libraries of games you can buy relatively cheap from a variety of sources, and many of the older games are VERY cheap new in box.

there's also "apple tv" if you want more streaming services, esp from a networked computer (esp if you have apple, they're friendlier for that; so you might be able to stream anything you'd ordinarily view on a mac to the apple tv box, and then tv...), which might cover all streaming services nicely, and then you just choose the best gaming system.

#

[athenasbanquet.livejournal.com]

I have a PS3, which absolutely plays Netflix+DVD+Blu-Ray. I get annoyed when it wants to update its firmware, which seems to happen about every two weeks, and I found the Netflix interface obnoxious at best (but that may be due more to Netflix than PS).

I highly recommend buying a copy of Katamari Forever, which is both fun for kids and great for adults. And jazzy music, too! (Pain meds may actually make it more fun, for serious.) I've heard good things about Braid as well, but have no personal experience.

I'll check with my mom on some other games as well; she runs a video game library in her hometown.

[athenasbanquet.livejournal.com]

Also the Lego: $MediaProperty games are pretty fun and have good collaborative modes.

[athenasbanquet.livejournal.com]

Mom says:

Katamari is really too hard for young kids.  Too long to load, requires too much attention to learn the controls, and most importantly, the storyline is completely lost on children, although they do love to see the things roll up.  Also frustrating since they hardly ever get the ball big enough to move onto the next level.  Your friend might like it, though.

For children that age, the Wii is probably the best system with the most family friendly games.
And there is no Katamari  for the Wii.

Boys, girls, or both?

For girls, the Disney Princess Enchanted Journey for Wii is enchanting--Becca stood in front of the TV for hours waving the Wii controller like a magic wand.

Any Mario/Super Mario title is good--Mario Kart, Super Mario at the Olympics, etc.

Also, any Lego title is good--Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Harry Potter.

Look for games that have two players although they may too young to "share"--depends on the children.

In which case, she may want to get a refurbished iPod touch and load it with some apps for kids--Jennifer's children were busy with that all during the holidays and apps are really cheap--especially compared to video games.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod

GameStop is a good place to get "used" games--they are like new cars that lose their value as soon as you open the box.

Also, check your library system for available games.  Mediatech and FFPL are not unique, although we probably have more titles than any other library system.

[zuleikhajami.livejournal.com]

I have a serious gamer friend who thinks Braid is one of the best games created. I don't know what it's like for kids, though.