Video game people I need your advice

[kpgclark]

My son will be turning 9 soon and we are considering getting him some sort of video game system. I know absolutely nothing about them. What is the best system to buy and why? Where is the best place to purchase? Do you find that your kids spend too much time playing video games if you have a system?

If you have any other ideas for a nine year old boy, I'm listening!

 

[StampMom]

I am sure you will get some advice from people much more knowledgeable than me, but here's my 2 cents! I have an almost-5-year old, and we recently got a Game Cube for him. Based on the asking around and web research I did, the general consensus seemed to be that Game Cube has more games for younger players -- that would include a 9 year old, I think. (This is in comparison to Playstation2 and X-Box.)

We got our Game Cube at Costco -- if you're a member there, they seem to have (by far) the best prices, both on the game systems and the games.

We have very specific limits on how long my son is allowed to play, and if he doesn't turn it off nicely when we ask him to, he loses the privilege of playing for the following day. So we haven't had problems with him playing too much. (Ordinarily, we probably wouldn't have bought this for a child so young, but we do a "behavior mod" thing with our son where he earns poker chips for good behavior, and he chose to spend his chips on this.)

HTH a little!

 

[whtyger97]

For a nine year old boy, I'd suggest a game cube the games are more geared at a younger audience. Its also the lowest priceded of the big 3. The only way to get mario, luigi, zelda, etc is with a game cube. I also think the controllers are *slightly* smaller, so easier for small hands.

On the other hand - Playstation 2 has been along for a while and has a HUGE library of games, as well as being able to play old playstation 1 games. Playstation also has Kingdom Hearts, a REALLY kewl disney game.

What does most of his friends have? He might want the same ones as his friends so he can trade games, or a completely differnet one so they can play games exclusive to that platform. Has he asked for a specific one?

As for time, its like anything else your the parent you set the rules. As a gamer though i would suggest a 10 min warning period before you tell him to get off because some games have save points that take a while to get to and it can be fusterating losing an afternoons work.

 

[dizneenut]

Game Cube has more games for younger kids. We have every system and the Game Cube & X-Box get played the most by my 4 boys: 12, 11, 9, & 7.

While they are in school, my boys are only allowed to play on the weekends.

 

[ahutton]

We bought a PlayStation2 for Christmas. I really looked and thought long and hard about which system. True, there are a lot more games for young kids on the GameCube, but it seemed to me there were plenty I was okay with for PS2, lots of racing type games, DDR (great exercise for me!) and some other cute stuff. This seemed like a system that we could use long term, that as the kids (and we) want to try new games they had a great selection. We also have bought many very inexpensive PS1 games, which can be used on this too, which have been great for the kids, and they have been less than $10 a game.

We bought our system at Sam's Club. It came with the console, two controllers, a memory card, two games (that were ones we wanted - Sly Cooper is great fun and family friendly) which was about everything we would have bought. It was less than $300 (still a bit of an ouch), but other than a game here and there I haven't had to get anything else.

 

[madonna31]

If he likes Disney, then a PS2 (Play Station 2) by Sony....

Sony is the only game company with rights to produce Disney games. They have exclusive rights to Disney and don't give them up (X-Box is owned by Microsoft hence the reason that X-Box doesn't have ANY Disney games)

PS2 has a game called Kingdom Hearts that I HIGHLY recommend for ANY Disney buff (trust me - your 9 year old will NOT be bored with it...it took me and my DH like 3 months to complete it) IMHO - this game ALONE is worth getting the PS2 system over the others!!!
www.kingdomhearts.com then click on Game Info.

As for saving money - ALWAYS consider buying these games used!!! They still have 6 month guarantees and can be up to 50% off the original price of the game!!!

 

[tkd lisa]

Something that made a difference for us was that the PS2 plays DVDs without a converter pack.

I was looking for a DVD player, since we didn't have one. I think it was xbox that also had DVD capability, but you had to buy some extra something to be able to play them (I think it was about $30 for the extra thing).

Our son is 9 1/2, and we've found lots of age appropriate games for him. We rented a few this weekend, because I'm not about to spend 30-50 bucks on something he doesn't like! I didn't know PS1 games could be used, I'll have to look into that as a way of $ saving!

 

[madonna31]

Oh yeah - and you can play old PS1 games on the PS2 system (which are REALLY cheap)

Check out this game for Disney fans:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3020077130&category=27251

You get to *race inside the attractions of WDW like HM, SM, POC, RnR Coaster, Test Track and MORE - it's VERY cool!!!

 

[ChibiJones]

Just an FYI, I've read rumors in my Playstation magazines about a potential price cut around the time of E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo - the major video game convention) which is held mid-May. Usually once one announces a price cut, the others do too.

We have a PS2, but we're also both adults so we weren't focused on the kid-friendly selections. But, we did enjoy Kingdom Hearts and Ratchet & Clank.

BTW, all games have a rating similar to movies. You definitely don't want anything rated M (Mature) for a 9 year old and most T (Teen) games are probably out too. Here's the rating board's website .

 

[LarryE]

Definitely gamecube


My cuz just bought one and we have a blast on it.

I have a ps2 (waiting for the ps3)


But zelda: the wind waker is the best thing to ever come out


I'm on the next to last level after just 1 week

 

[Lanshark]

We have all three systems and by far the PS2 gets played the most by DS whose 12. DH plays the xbox more and both like the gamecube, expecially metroid, but the PS2 definitely wins out.

As someone mentioned the PS2 is also a DVD as is the XBOX.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Speaking of good games, we bought Disney Golf for DS7 for his birthday (PS2). They love it! I love it because no violence or obnoxious music.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As a gamer (I am 38) I would say bring you/ds to wal mart etc. and look over the selection of games to buy with him...maybe you can get some vibes from it. Has he made a preference to you?
We have gamecube and ps2 and I will say they get equal play in my house...BUT I have 2 dds and we do not play any sports games.
Oh and yes I just finished Kingdom Hearts today (PS2) and then I will plan on finishing StarFox (excellent cube game, btw) before I move on to Windwalker (cube). I also have Final Fantasy X (PS2) I haven't played yet. (do not know if this is suitable for kids yet)
I am glad Lent is over because I gave up gaming.
Good Luck!