OT - Best game system for kids
I did a quick search and it looked like the last time this was discussed was a few years ago, but apologies if this is a repeat of a recent topic.
I am planning to get my 8-year old son his first game system and wanted to see if there was a consensus on the board as to which of the current options is best. The last system I owned was ColecoVision in the 80's, so I have no relevant first-hand experience on the topic.
In addition to games played while sitting, he says he also likes playing the games where you're more active (Wii, Kinnect, I believe).
I understand there is an online component to gaming, but at his current age, we're going to try to keep that under wraps for a while and keep all interaction inside our home.
My hope is this is a system that will last him a few years.
Any new systems on the horizon that are worth waiting for?
Thanks for the help.
Riiiiight. That's why the PS4 is continuing to roll the XBOX One Doorstop in sales.
If exclusives don't matter to you, then the only reason to prefer an XBOX is for the menu system and controller. Other than that, it's all equal.
And I don't get how exclusives don't matter? That's a really odd thing to say.
They don't matter to me. Why should they? As I stated, the only one right now that interests me is Spider-Man.
Another reason I don't have interest in PS is absolutely none of my friends own one, so being able to play with them is a big deal. Also, I'm not losing my Xbox gamer score. It's far too high.
Who said they were outside 8 hours a day, I am calling your bluff. Yes, I enjoyed going outside a ton. But come on, new systems were absolutely revolutionary and mind-blowing throughout our youth.
You just have to find a good balance. I'll always remember the 6+ hour Goldeneye marathons with my buddies, and also playing a ton of sports with them as well.
My favorite memories as a child were playing with a fork by sticking it in one of these just to see what happens.
don't be that guy
Says the quintessential that guy.
Man you're so cool.
Only a few games but it is "worth it" in his eyes. He paid for half of it too.
just wanted to comment that I live in a subdivision with around 250 homes. I was always a little surprised at the lack of kids outside and figured I had simply moved into an older neighborhood with empty nesters. (most homes here built in early to mid 90s
When Pokemon debuted last summer I was shocked at the number of kids outside wandering around.
Its been a return to another quiet summer as pokemon fizzles and it seems most kids have retreated back into their dens to play whatever gaming system they have. In this neighborhood, probably all of them.
Please encourage your kids to play outside more than on a video game system.
I would honestly like to see some form of a study done on this. Because I think it is something we say in 2017, but I really do not know how much, if any truth there is to it.
When I drive around my neighborhood and other subs, I still see plenty of young people outside doing whatever, biking, skateboarding.
Technology was very addictive back then as it is today. The big problem is that everything we do in life is interwoven into the phone. But, I don't buy that everyone was outside and playing and life was grand (at least during my youth, 80s, 90s). Color TV, intro to new systems, those were VERY addictive. The difference is that life did not depend on those things yet, so it was easier to get away.
I have better hand writing than that.
...and Uncle Leo... HELLO!
We can't really put the blame on the kids then, right?
Personally, I hear that thrown around a lot that you could see kids as far as the eye can allow growing up, but now it's all barren. I'm just not buying it. I probably see the same amount of kids outside that I do now compared to back then.
But crime has always been going on. In fact, violent crime rate since the 80s has been dropping steadily.
The reason everyone has this false mindset is because there were MUCH fewer options to report back then. We now have access to information all the time.
However for a new system, the switch might be good by end of this year but only 1 great game on it at the moment. Also cool to play at home and on the go. Then it's just the Xbox vs PS debate. Overall, there isn't a huge difference, just exclusives.
Thanks
This is only true if you are talking about AAA titles. In other words, the big game releases announced at E3 with movie quality trailers. Those are going to be geared toward the COD/GOT crowd.
If you get past those though, the Xbox and PS4 both have amazingly good Indie Developed games. These are always much cheaper than their AAA couterparts (When your development budget is 1/1000th that of a AAA it kind of goes without saying) and are usually clean and a ton of fun. Lots of side scrollers (Think Contra) or puzzle games etc...
if you have to buy only the big release titles for the system, then the Switch is the only one I'd recommend for any kid.
Probably the Switch, which I want. I am also an avid Xboxer. The Switch seems awesome, though. I'd love to get my hands on the new Zelda and Mario Kart games.
(Somewhat seriously)
sports games better than the 2600. Arcade games hold their own. O^2's version of Pacman infinitely better than the 2600's!!!
To spend 1500 dollars to buy a nice PC.
You can build a pretty damn good gaming rig for way less than that.
A long-term investment, as long as you provide it the room to grow. If you want to update your graphics card, your RAM, your CPU, you can. It's all available to you.
Once you buy a console, you are stuck with the specs.
OP isn't looking for an enthusiast rig like that, you could buy an entire console for the price of just the 1080. A PC with a 1050Ti would be a pretty good alternative to a console, unfortunately OP wouldn't find a 1060 anywhere near MSRP with the recent mining craze.
Screens are either A) the ruination of civilization or B) what rock 'n' roll was to the 50's - all the adults who didn't understand it thought it was the ruination of civiliation, but it turned out to be a progressive period in music that gave way to other genres, and still maintains its popularity today (without having ruined civilization).
We got an Xbox a couple years ago. I grew up with Intellivision which I thought was pretty awesome when compared to Atari or Colecovision. The Xbox frustrates me as you have to sign up with an email for each player and then constantly get bombarded with pop ups while playing to purchase Xbox Gold or some shit like that. I'm sure it's easy to get around for the younger folks that play all day, but for the "older" parents it is really annoying. I just want to be able to put the disc in the machine and play the game.
/now get off my lawn
If we can find one, we will get a Switch at Christmas
If you go PS4/Xbox One check out the new game subscription services.
Ex: You can give EA $5 a month for last year's Madden, NHL, FIFA, NBA Live (which sucks compared to 2k, but still) and a bunch of others. If your kid plays sports games with friends that might be more appealing than dropping a bunch on titles, and you can cancel anytime.
How many jerks on here are going to say "none, make them play outside" instead?
It's all about a finding a balance. I agree that kids shouldn't lock themselves away for 8 hours a day playing video games, but there's nothing wrong with them playing it a few hours a week either.
That all being said, I have a PS4 now and I love it. I don't play it very much, maybe an hour or two a week, but its a great way for me to relax if I've had a crappy day at work or just want to mellow out. But in a few years, I think it's going to be the new Oculus Rift. Once every game is compatible for that kind of VR technology, gaming as we know it will change forever.
I said the same thing above. I find it hard to believe that everyone saying that was just living outside every day. Don't buy it.
People were saying the same crap about TV 30-40 years ago and now we all watch it at least several hours every week. In some cases a lot more than that with "binge-watching."
Video games are becoming mainstream entertainment more and more every year. No point in fighting it. Not that hard to set ground rules with your kids on how often they can play and what else they should be doing with their lives. If you can't do that, maybe the kids or the video games aren't the problem. Maybe it's you.
And to be honest, some of my best times have come through bonding with friends playing v. games.
I know it is lame, but it gives kids the opportunity who will never excel at sports, or who just don't like playing sports to make friends.
Agreed. I've had quite a bit of fun in the past on some late-night Halo escapades. I don't mind video games being part of my kid's lives, as long as they don't BECOME my kid's lives.
If you play video games, all well and good by me. But you're also going to either play sports, or learn a musical instrument, or join some after-school clubs, or get a part-time job, or something else productive that gets you the hell out of the house.
Just get an original Nintendo? Good luck finding one that works. Also, why do you hope he limits the time?
My wife bought me a refurbished one from eBay as a gift. The seller for some reason accidentally sent two (complete with 2 sets of controllers and 2 duck hunt guns). I have a backup now if the first one ever dies (stil working fine after 5ish years).
It's important for kids to get early exposure to technology. That said, I'd stick with PC gaming and us an Xbox One or Steam controller. Knowledge of PCs outweighs knowledge of consoles.