Which Game System???????

[Minnie]

My DS (12) has a PS2 and a Nintendo DS at home but his grandmother would like to purchase a game system (something different) to have at her house for his and his cousins use (all around the same age).

The XBox 360 is not a possibilty due to cost (won't be used enough) so she is considering either the XBox or the GameCube. Any suggestions as to which would be the best one?

I've looked at the Black Friday ads and have noticed several deals for both systems but don't know which one to advise her on.

 

[crisi]

XBox has better "mature" games - for older teens and adults.

Gamecube has better games for the seven to ten year old set.

Your son is just in the middle, so I'd look at what he enjoys playing.

 

[Minnie]

I guess I am wondering which will likely have games to purchase as the new systems come out? Our local stores have a whole lot more XBox than GameCube but that may change as the 360 is out.

 

[koopa]

XBox has better "mature" games - for older teens and adults.

Gamecube has better games for the seven to ten year old set.

Your son is just in the middle, so I'd look at what he enjoys playing.

I agree. Does XBox make different games than DS and PS2? Maybe go with a plug and play type thing like the old Atari 2600s or the Intellivision. My 9 year old nephew still plays on his grandma's 2600 (Ms Pac Man and Millipede).

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

DS is 13 and prefers the XBox over his GameCube. As Crisi already said, the games for XBox are geared towards the older teens and adults while GameCube's games are marketed towards the younger kids. If she's looking for a syatem that the kids will not grow out of, then I would suggest choosing the XBox and purchasing age-appropriate games. Just be aware that after XBox 360 comes out, there will be fewer and fewer new games developed that fit the old XBox platform.

Nintendo's new system (which will replace the GameCube) will be launched for the holiday season of 2006. After that, you can expect that the GameCube will also be orphaned in favor if it's new brother.

 

[crisi]

DS is 13 and prefers the XBox over his GameCube. As Crisi already said, the games for XBox are geared towards the older teens and adults while GameCube's games are marketed towards the younger kids. If she's looking for a syatem that the kids will not grow out of, then I would suggest choosing the XBox and purchasing age-appropriate games. Just be aware that after XBox 360 comes out, there will be fewer and fewer new games developed that fit the old XBox platform.

Nintendo's new system (which will replace the GameCube) will be launched for the holiday season of 2006. After that, you can expect that the GameCube will also be orphaned in favor if it's new brother.

That's already the case, there are almost no new games for the XBox. And the XBox 360 is not fully backwards compatible with the XBox. If the XBox is what you are looking for, I'd wait six months and buy one. I wouldn't do it now, as you'll end up paying for a bundle and you'll be lucky to get your hands on one before Christmas.

 

[Minnie]

Hmmm, maybe I'll tell his GM not to do this. We have an old PS1 that is not used that we could take to her house. It only plays the PS1 games but it would be okay for the little bit it would be used.

I'd sure hate to see her waste money on a system only to find out that she can't buy new games for it next year

 

[Karel]

But there's plenty of xbox games out there to keep him busy.

My boys love their Halo 2. They have xbox live and play with their friends.

 

[Boo Mc]

There are a lot of those plug in and play video games at Target that are only about $20 (Pac-man, Centipede, Star Wars, Disney etc). Maybe she could get a couple of those just so they have something there and then decide next year which system to get.