posted on December 11, 2001 12:52:50 PM
OK. For the third year in a row Roxanne is asking me to get her a video game system for Christmas/Hannukah. Usually I dismiss her request right off the bat because I don't want her to spend so much time in front of the TV, but she's had a trying year...and while having a tough time, she's flourished in school and really been a trooper. Thus, I want to spoil her a bit.
She mentioned a Game Boy, but I tried one out at ToysRus yesterday, and the graphics were pitiful. I was looking at the other systems...Nintendo "Cube," X-Box, Nintendo 64, Playstation, yadda yadda (I don't even know if I'm getting the names of these systems right!), but they all seem the same. Roxanne is eight and Anna is four, so I don't want anything too high-tech, but I do want to get something reliable that she will be able to use for many years.
Can anyone help me out with this? What's good out there?
posted on December 11, 2001 01:24:40 PM
Your first decision is hand-held versus console. The good news is that handhelds are portable and can be taken places and shared with friends. The bad news is that handhelds are portable, and can be lost and stolen. They are also pretty much one-person units, so you'd need two for your two kids, unless you want to have them take turns.
A second criteria is favorite games/characters. If they really, really want Mario, then that sends you more to the nintendo world for example. Check the selection of games at your local store (toys r us for example) to see who owns what copyrights.
In general, nintendo has the stronger reputation for games that appeal to younger audience, and playstation more to older. The N64 cartridges hold less info (graphics, sounds, etc) than the playstation CDs, but for most of the games, it doesn't matter.
There are a lot more games available for the older versions (gameboy color, N64, Playstation) than for the newer ones (GB advance, playstation 2, xbox, nintendo gamecube), so make sure if you want to go with a newer platform, that you can find (and afford!) enough games to keep them happy.
From my experience, any one of these will keep them enthralled for hours...which sometimes can be a problem. If it were my own kids and money, unless they absolutely had to have the "latest and greatest", I'd go for nintendo products (gameboy color or advance (since the advance plays most of the existing color games and isn't priced much more than the GB color) and/or N64). I tend to buy one generation behind, since you save money and the kids still like them, but you may need to pursue a different approach.
(yes, the gameboy graphics are indeed "pitiful" compared to anything else, but you'd be surprised how addicting the games can be to kids...)
posted on December 11, 2001 01:27:21 PM
My son (now 16) is a gaming addict. He started out on Nintendo and is now pretty much into online pc gaming. But if I were going to recommend a system, it would be Nintendo. He has all the Nintendo systems except the GameCube which is on his Christmas list (although rather half-heartedly), and Playstation. Playstation games are generally cheaper to buy than the nintendo games, but he prefers Nintendo. I think you'd be safe with the Cube, or even N64, if you didn't want to pay that much.
I'd definitely stay away from Xbox. It's a Microsoft product so I have no doubt it's littered with "bugs".
posted on December 11, 2001 01:45:19 PM
Here are my opinions based on the systems I currently own (or have previously owned).
Nintendo 64 -- Has many games for younger children, cartridges are generally more durable than CDs, decent graphics, a slightly older system but still popular. Relatively inexpensive.
Playstation (original) -- Has a HUGE variety of games, many of which you can get used for just a few dollars (Half.com!), games are on CD, decent graphics, need memory card to save game, probably the most popular system out there. Relatively inexpensive.
Sega Dreamcast -- Very good graphics, decent variety of games but not nearly as many as Playstation (and not as many for younger kids), games are on CD, has a telephone connection -- can get on the internet, memory card has a built-in mini video game system for games like Sonic, etc. which is kinda neat. A good system that I personally feel is underrated. Relatively inexpensive.
Game Cube -- Have no experience with this system so I can't give my personal opinion on it.
Playstation 2 -- Excellent graphics, can play BOTH Playstation 1 and Playstation 2 games so there is a HUGE variety of games this system can play, games are on CD, need memory card to save game. More expensive than Playstation 1.
X-Box -- Awesome graphics, the most high-tech system out there (fastest, has a hard drive, etc.), games are on CD, games can be saved onto hard drive but can get a memory card for portability, most expensive. The controller is probably too large for a younger child's hands (it's almost too big for mine!). Not many games out yet, but the system is brand new, so that's not unusual. May have a harder time locating a store with X-Boxes in stock.
Some children are a bit rougher than others, so depending on your individual children, Nintendo 64 cartridge games are generally more rugged than CDs are. But as long as your children don't play Frisbee with the CDs (LOL!) they'd probably do just fine with CD games.
As far as the most "playable", I would recommend either a Playstation (original) or if price isn't a deciding factor, a Playstation 2 -- mostly because of the huge selection of games available and the prices of the games.
posted on December 11, 2001 02:25:23 PM
Wow, thanks for the guidance, folks!
I really, really like the Playstation. Price-wise, it's well-within my budget, and there seems to be a lot of compatible games involving characters my kids are geared towards. Playstation 2 looks even better, but just buying the console would break the bank and leave little $ for games.
Gosh, when I was eight all I wanted was to get my ears pierced. Amazing how times have changed...
posted on December 11, 2001 05:51:18 PM
P
L
AY
STA
T
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(NAME THAT TOON)
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.~Nelson Mandela
posted on December 12, 2001 10:33:00 AM
My girls love their playstation. There is alot of stuff out there for the little ones, too.
I saw a Teletubbies game yesterday for $10 and Toys R Us has their games on sale. You can find some real bargains on older games. The really nice thing is that your children are smaller (like mine) and won't care that it is not the latest stuff out there.
I like it because it keeps them off of my computer
By the way, last year I bought both of my girls Game Boy. They sit in the corner. You might want to think about getting a small TV for their bedroom to keep them off of the family TV, too ... games can be addicting.
