Totally Clueless - Gameboy, GameCube, Play Station2, Dual Nintendo?

[lat]

My kids will soon to be 7 and 4 and I am thinking about buying a video game system for them and possibly something to use when we drive to Orlando in August/September.

I went to the store and saw all these systems. I am SO confused. What are the pros and cons of these systems and which one would you recommend for this type of age range? Where do you get the best price?

Thanks a bunch!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[d4est]

I don't know about all of them. My DS (7 1/2) has a PS2 and an XBOX. I can tell you that he prefers the XBOX. He rarely ever touchs the PS2 anymore. I don't really know why.

One good thing about the XBOX, you don't need to purchase a memory card to save games. It has space on its hard drive for that. With the PS2, you need a memory card to save any progress made.

Both also serve as a DVD player. With the PS2 you just use the controller to get things started. With the XBOX you need to purchase a remote control (Walmart sells them for $30) in order to use it to watch DVD's.

That's about all I have to offer. HTH!

ETA: My son also has a gameboy. This is a hand-held system. They are great for long trips in a car, but the screens are small. This is not something that gets as much action as a regular gaming system like the others. They are much cheaper though ($60-70?).

 

[Lars624]

My boys have the Game Cube right now but they both have been telling me that they want the X-Box next. When they got the GC my youngest DS was 4 or 5 & I was told that GC had more games geared to small children so we went with GC.
The GC does not function as a DVD player like the PS2 & X-Box do.
There seem to be more games out for PS2 & X-Box than there are for GC too.

 

[momto2inKC]

We have Gamecube, PS2, and 3 different Gameboys. The only reason we haven't gotten a X-Box yet is because most of the games are not geared for younger kids (or ones we'd allow them to play).
The Gamecube has lots of kid friendly games, my kids especially love all the Mario games. The PS2 is cool because it'll play dvd's and PS1 games. I think thier favorite by far is the Gameboys though. They can take them anywhere, they now sell movies for them, and the games are the cheapest. The Gameboy SP's have a lighted screen, which is great for in the car. And the kids have a gamelink where they can hook their gameboys together and play games with each other.

 

[Ilovestitch]

I have a purple gamecube because its the cutest of all the systems

Anyways- look into the new Playstation PSP thing that's coming out- you know how kids always want the latest system, its portable but takes disc/cd like games I think. It comes out April 1st.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/groups/psp/specs.asp

 

[VintageKnight]

We have Gamecube, PS2, and 3 different Gameboys. The only reason we haven't gotten a X-Box yet is because most of the games are not geared for younger kids (or ones we'd allow them to play).
The Gamecube has lots of kid friendly games, my kids especially love all the Mario games. The PS2 is cool because it'll play dvd's and PS1 games. I think thier favorite by far is the Gameboys though. They can take them anywhere, they now sell movies for them, and the games are the cheapest. The Gameboy SP's have a lighted screen, which is great for in the car. And the kids have a gamelink where they can hook their gameboys together and play games with each other.

I second this..

If you want a system that is good now, and will grow with them is the PS2, gamecube is fun but is mostly for the younger crowd and it has mario exclusivly, X-box you have less to buy in extras, but the main gripe on this one was the size of there controlers, it was ment for older users so the controlers are larger, even made my 29 yr old hands hurt faster than the others...and yes, there games are much more mature on a wide scale basis...

there is a reason some games are rated M for mature....they have a playboy game with full nudity....some games are very liberal on the language they use, and lets face it, things blow up. please bide by the rules.

and look at the game selection, each platform has certain games that are made only for it.....mario, starwars etc....

hope i havent scared you, but it needed to be said.

DVK

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Blockbuster rents game consoles as well as the games. Why not rent each of them for a weekend to see what the kids prefer. This would give you an idea of what they like and dislike about each system as well as give you an insight as to the level of difficulty each game has, its content and interest factor.

We actually have PS2, GameCube and XBox. DS13 prefers the XBox but the games are definitely geared towards the older children. The controllers are also larger, made for larger hands. A smaller child would have difficulty grasping them and manipulating the buttons comfortably.

PS2 is good but Sony may be phasing it out in favor of it's next generation gaming system. They probably will not be making too many new games for PS2 in the near future. If you purchase a PS2 right now, you may be buying a potential orphan. Another thing that I've noticed with the PS2, is that the controllers break easily. They just are not built to be handled roughly and it might be an issue with a 4yo.

I think that the GameCube games appeal more to the younger children than any of the other systems. I actually recommended it to my DB who has a DS8 and DD5. It's been around for a while now and Nintendo isn't coming out with anything new for a while. You can get a reconditioned one from GameStop or EBGames for a fraction of the original retail price and they also have tons of used games for sale. When the kids outgrow it (or if Nintendo comes out with a better system), you could trade it in and get a credit towards the new console.

 

[sk!mom]

Doesn't your 7 year old have an opinion? I have found that kids, especially boys, seem to have a preference. My DS (now 20) is a diehard Nintendo addict. He has every Nintendo system. He has tried the others before buying new systems when upgrades come out but always goes back to the Nintendo systems.

 

[djh96]

Hi C.. For the ages of your kids I'd recommend Gamecube. Like others have mentioned, there are many more kid friendly games available.

Your next question is portability. Do you have an entertainment system in your vehicle? If so adaptors, can be purchased to hook up your gaming system. If not and you want something for the car get gameboy sp. These have a built in light which makes them much more desirable than the advance.
These work great when going out for a long dinner also!

Also we like the wireless controllers that are an option for the gamecube. Keeps wires from becoming tangled.

I'd also suggest buying used games. We've never had a problem with any we bought & gamestop gives a better warranty than new. Also if you don't like it after so many days they'll let you exchange for a different one.

good luck in your search
Kim

 

[JABEAR]

The one I would go for would be the Playstation Portable. It is coming out at the end of this month, on March 24th. I am guessing that Circuit City and Best Buy, or whatever you local electronics dealer is, will have advertisements in this Sundays paper. You should check it out. It is similar to a Gameboy except the screen is larger and the games have much better graphics. If you were going to get a Gameboy, I would go with the Gameboy Advance SP and not the original Gameboy Advance. It is backlit and doesn't need a light.

The problem with the home consoles like the PS2, Gamecube and XBox, is that the PS3 and XBox2 are coming out soon. I wouldn't want to buy the current versions only to have the kids clammoring for the new stuff come Christmas. There is speculation that the Xbox2 will be out by then.

edit-- here is a link that explains more about the PSP playstation portable. It appears that it does more than just play games.

http://www.reuters.com/audi/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=7937843

 

[becky7953]

I vote for the gamecube for a system. We have a xbox (hubby wanted it for him and the kids) but the there aren't many games that are kid friendly. My vote for handheld would be the gameboy sp My kids have the gameboy color (older style game) They are 3 and 5. I picked the gameboy colors up on half.com We took them on the plane. They worked great yet I didn't spend alot on the game system. I am now looking into gameboy sp for the 5 year old.




Edited because I got ahead of myself, and didn't make sense. Probably still don't, I am having a no brain day!

 

[Selket]

We have two boys, ages 3 and 7 and we have a game cube, a game boy advance and the new Nintendo DS (the portable dual screen game boy). My 3 yr old doesn't play much but he does like fiddling around with the spiderman and godzilla games (Destory All Monsters). I think for that age group the Gamecube system is the best. Xbox it too geared towards the older crowd.

Have you also considered the Leapster? I got one for my 3 yr old at Christmas and he LOVES it and has learned a ton from it already. I just bought one for my 7 year old and he loves it too. They have cartridges that feature Spongebob, spiderman, The Incredibles, etc. It is one game you will feel good about them playing.

 

[Sumac]

If you are looking for something portable for the drive, I would suggest either a Gameboy Advance SP or Nintendo DS for your older child. Our son has a Nintendo DS and the screen is much nicer than the old Gameboy Advance (not SP) so he tends to play it a lot more. I think the Leapster would be great for your 4 year old. My 5 year old got one for Christmas and loves it.

As for a game system for the house, hands down for kids ages 7&4 I would choose the Gamecube. My kids are a year older (8&5) and they much prefer the Gamecube over our Playstation2.

 

[penguinande]

If you want a console (a system that hooks up to your television) I would recommend the Gamecube for children of that age. The XBox and the PS2 both play essentially the same games, while the GC has many of the same games that the other 2 have, but also has lots of games of its own (e.g. Mario, Pikmin). Many of the GCs games are geared toward the younger crowd. However this would not be a good option if you are looking for something to bring on trips. Most hotel TVs dont have AV hookups, so they wouldnt be able to use it. For something that they can use in transit as well as at the hotel, I recommed the Nintendo DS. The Gameboy Advance was great, and they are still making new games for it, but the DS's technology blows the Advance out of the water. The advance's graphics are 2d, while the DS's graphics are 3d and comparable to the graphics on the new consoles. It also has a touch screen which is just COOL! The new Playstation portable (the PSP) is going to have a lot of features, like a DVD player and an MP3 player, but kids that age probably don't need those kinds of features. The PSP's graphics wont be any better than the DS's, and it won't support those Nintendo quality kid-friendly games that the DS has.

 

[penguinande]

Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention that the DS is pretty affordable, considering how new the handheld technology is. Here's a list of prices of the different systems (I'm doing this from memory, so if anyone notices an error, please correct it):
PS2 - $150
XBox - $150
Gamecube - $100
Nintendo DS - $150
PSP - $250

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

MY DS13 got a Nintendo DS for Christmas. The games for it are really itty bitty. They look like the memory chip that you would put in a digital camera. They do not have the plastic cover like the GameBoy games do, although the Nintendo DS will accept GameBoy Advance games as well (they just don't show on the 2nd screen.

I really would not recommend this system for a 4yo and would be hesitant to buy one for an 8yo if he isn't a careful child. The games cartidges are too easy to break or lose (or swallow!).

 

[lat]

I really appreciate all your replies. It seems that Gamecube and Gameboy Advanced SP will be the way to go for their ages.

I guess I should look into the new systems when they come out.

We are the type who really don't like kids to spend a lot of time on video games, so the kids are hardly ever exposed to them. However, DD6 feels very frustrated when she plays with her friends because she is not good at it. So I started thinking maybe I should at least get it, so that she knows what this is about and just try to control her time playing it (not sure if that is realistic).

Thanks again.

 

[casey49781]

i am also having the same problem as you,,,my dd is soon 8 and goes to her cousins and they play games there and she loves it ,<<<spongebob>>>,,,,however i am having a hard time trying to figure out what to buy her since i dont really like the thought of them playing games all day long,,,,my ds will be 5 soon and has also asked for games to play,,,,i will make sure i can find something that can grow with them before i buy it,,,,,

 

[harleyquinn]

There has been a lot of great advice out here.

I just wanted to through a couple of things out there, I have a ton of experience with the systems as I used to work for Toys R Us and am an avid gamer.
For the road my advice would be either a DS or a SP. The DS doesn't have a lot of games right now, but it will soon. The DS has a stylus to use with the touch screen (which is very durable, don't let the demo versions in stores fool you! I've seen people use keys on them!) The DS plays the old Gameboy games, which you can find at great prices.

There will be a new Nintendo Console out next year along with the new Playstation. If I were you, I'd hold off on a home console until then. Bite the bullet and spend the extra money on it when it is new. you'll have it then for at least 5 years, maybe a lot more. The biggest complaint I always heard was when people would buy the old system with a new one coming out the next year and then be mad, because their child wanted the new system.

The way the industry is going right now, consols are being replaced with much smaller frequency then in past generations. The handheld market is really hot now so there are new ones coming out often.

If anyone has questions feel free to PM me! Or email triple_s@hotmail.com

Video game advice was always my favortie part of the job!

 

[maxaroni]

is to buy screen that attaches directly onto the GameCube. Therefore, you can use it in the car or anywhere for that matter. My DS 12 has Gamecube and wants PS2 but am waiting for PS3 at this point. However, he has the added screen on the GC and loves it. He can take it to grandmas, in the car, at a hotel etc. This way, if both of your children want to play a game together they can. Just a thought