Wii vs. XBOX

[excitedfamof4]

We have had the Wii for years now and my DD10 and DD7 have really enjoyed it. However, Nintendo isn't really coming out with anything new these days and we are just not feeling the WiiU.

I am thinking about getting my girls the XBOX 360 w/ Kinect for Xmas this year, but wanted to hear from those that have had both. Is the Xbox much different than the Wii? Did your kids (or you) enjoy it more?


Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[auralia]

Consider that the new xbox comes out on nov. 22 the 360 will then stop being supported soon after. Do you want to buy a system that is already out of date before you give it to them?

 

[WDGPCFR]

Though you can get some games for younger children for the X-box it is geared toward late teens and young adults. My young teen son wanted one so bad for Christmas two years ago my wife talked me into it. I hate that Box. Granted parents are supposed to control the kids but he spends way too much time on the game and talking to cyberfriends instead of out with real ones. The Wii tells you how much time they are on line so you can monitor it better.

 

[Lynne G]

Yep, the XBox 360 with Windows Live is a mainstay for my teen DS. He has a slew of cyber friends. My DD12 does play some games on it, but not many.

If your kids like handheld, my DD12 plays with her 3D DS. Many games on that system.

Also, at your kids ages, would they like a ipod touch or other media player? My DD plays alot of games and listens to the music on hers. That's her go to.

Nintendo has already said they are no longer producing Wii's, so I assume the new titles will be soon no longer for it.

If you do want an XBox 360, many are discounting them, as the new XBox One is coming out soon.

Also, have you looked at a PS3? My DD plays games on that system, and the online is free. Again, that is also discounted right now, as the new PS system is arriving soon too.

I'd be on the look out for Black Friday deals. The PS3 and XBox 360 should be on sale even better around that time.

I'd also go to Gamestop or other games dealer and see what games your kids would be interested in. Then, I'd get that system.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Consider that the new xbox comes out on nov. 22 the 360 will then stop being supported soon after. Do you want to buy a system that is already out of date before you give it to them?

This is absolutely untrue; why would you post this? Microsoft has announced they will provide support for the current Xbox until 2016:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57601337-75/microsoft-to-support-xbox-360-until-2016/

The current console will be good for years. If you want to save some money, there's nothing wrong with buying the current Xbox. Plus, it's usually pretty hard to buy a newly released gaming system this time of year unless you have already pre-ordered or are willing to wait in long lines at release time.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Though you can get some games for younger children for the X-box it is geared toward late teens and young adults. My young teen son wanted one so bad for Christmas two years ago my wife talked me into it. I hate that Box. Granted parents are supposed to control the kids but he spends way too much time on the game and talking to cyberfriends instead of out with real ones. The Wii tells you how much time they are on line so you can monitor it better.

There are many, many games appropriate for younger children for the Xbox.

 

[luvmy3]

There are many, many games appropriate for younger children for the Xbox.

Exactly, other than Nintendo specific games (Mario for example) most if not all games are released for all consoles.
We have a number of family friendly games for our Xbox.

I also think it monitors time played, but I don't pay too much attention to that as I just tell them when its time to get off.

 

[Southernmiss]

Our wii is only used by dh to stream Netflix. The kids outgrew it by age 11.

Our Dd11 plays minecraft and chats with her friend over the X box. Our sons play minecraft and Modern Warfare.

We all play Just Dance and some of the bowling white water rafting and other games.


.

 

[JB2K]

Wii - the console we've known since 2006 is officially on its' way out (as it was manufactured long before wide-screen HDTVs became the new "norm"). The good news is it's successor, the "Wii U", a console with a picture that fits the new HDTV screens, will support all old Wii games/accessores (unlike the classic Wii, the Wii U will NOT support anything made for the much older Nintendo Game Cube). However, in the near future at the big retail stores, you will see only those games made specifically for Wii U, which means anyone buying a "classic" Wii this holiday season may soon have to go to the secondary market for games, etc.

Plus, in my technologically-minded opinion, using a classic Wii to stream Netflix in what I like to call "stretch-o-vision" on that new wide-screen HDTV isn't a very smart move, especially when Neflix, and the rest of the apps people love most, are available in full HD on a $55 Blu-ray player.

Xbox 360 - it does appear this console will be supported by major game publishers until 2017 (with anything, it all depends on how well the newer "Xbox One" sells, as the "One" got some bad press, earlier, this year). Both the 360 and One are HDTV-capable, which doesn't make them seem "old"...

 

[wiigirl]

There are many, many games appropriate for younger children for the Xbox.

Agreed....my daughters love the xbox and rarely play our Wii now.

 

[LJSquishy]

They would most likely find much more joy in having an Xbox 360 (unless you wanted to splurge for the Xbox One). Either one would be great for them.

The Xbox will grow with them for years and years (provided it doesn't die).

 

[ashley0139]

I'm a 25 year old female and I love the Wii still. I would never consider getting an Xbox. The games do not appeal to me. Then again, I love the Nintendo-specific games: Mario Kart, Super Mario Bros, etc. And I love watching Netflix on it. I love that my best friend and I can play Mario Kart against each other online, even though we live thousands of miles away from each other.

 

[auralia]

Support can be defined as Many things. I personally read it as we will continue to do updates and run xbox live for your console. I am guessing most games released will be downloadable smaller games by next year. Now I just base that on personal opinion and that the original xbox was very quickly neglected when the 360 came out.

 

[kellia]

I have 2 10 year olds and they haven't touched the wii in over a year. All they play is the Xbox. They mostly play Minecraft with their friends with Xbox live. However, Xbox 360 will no longer have the "family" accounts for Xbox live next year, it will be $60/year per person! Grrr... The Xbox One won't be able to play used games and you won't be able to sell them anymore. Dh is threatening to switch to PS.

 

[lucyem]

I have two boys each a year older then your girls so 11 & 8. We have had a wii for quite some time. Our wii is on its last legs and I have been seriously considering a wii u. Mostly since we have all these games we still use and enjoy and there are some new ones we are looking forward to. We still play our playstation 2 so I expect to be using the wii for some time.

Both boys have asked for the xbox 360 but I hesitate. First because they ask so they can play minecraft on the tv. Well they can and do play on the PC and iPad. Other then that my 11 yr old has yet to say he wants a particular xbox only game. Then he was talking to friends and said all the online stuff you have to pay for a subscription to. I get the feeling xbox is thrown around a lot at school so it sounds good more then my boys have much knowledge of it.

My other reason of hesitation is that the new xbox one is due out as is the new playstation. Both this month. I do not think you will find any deal on either one this holiday season. Doing some quick research online I am not seeing either one as being better. But they are both expensive. Also as for the xbox 360, yes they say it will be supported for years to come, but we all know companies will probably be looking at the xbox one to develop on. I want to see how that pans out in the next couple of months.

For us after all the above we decided to go with the wii U for this Christmas as a family gift. We will wait on the xbox one and new playstation and see what the reviews are like, the games etc. Then, when we make a decision, we will hopefully see a price drop or at least a sale.

 

[auralia]

I have 2 10 year olds and they haven't touched the wii in over a year. All they play is the Xbox. They mostly play Minecraft with their friends with Xbox live. However, Xbox 360 will no longer have the "family" accounts for Xbox live next year, it will be $60/year per person! Grrr... The Xbox One won't be able to play used games and you won't be able to sell them anymore. Dh is threatening to switch to PS.

Xbox has backed off on this choice and there will no longer be resale restrictions on used games. I don't know about the live stuff beyond that you can port it from your 360 to your one.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have both - boys play on the xbox, girls play on the Wii. ETA - the girls use their Ipod touches 1000 times more than the Wii (we use the Wii for netflix).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

......

My other reason of hesitation is that the new xbox one is due out as is the new playstation. Both this month. I do not think you will find any deal on either one this holiday season. Doing some quick research online I am not seeing either one as being better. But they are both expensive. Also as for the xbox 360, yes they say it will be supported for years to come, but we all know companies will probably be looking at the xbox one to develop on. I want to see how that pans out in the next couple of months.

For us after all the above we decided to go with the wii U for this Christmas as a family gift. We will wait on the xbox one and new playstation and see what the reviews are like, the games etc. Then, when we make a decision, we will hopefully see a price drop or at least a sale.

You are not going to see any sales on brand new gaming systems for quite a long time after release (typically several years). There is no need; they are in high demand.

I definitely would not be buying a Wii; it's old technology. The Xbox is a much better choice.

If you do want an Xbox One, hopefully you have preordered if you want it for Christmas, or are willing to wait in some long lines at release in hopes of getting one.

 

[kellia]

Xbox has backed off on this choice and there will no longer be resale restrictions on used games. I don't know about the live stuff beyond that you can port it from your 360 to your one.

That's good to know they didn't go through with restricting used games. Maybe we'll get a One some day. We just got a new Xbox 360 last Christmas, so won't be soon, though. They called dh last week and told him our family membership was going to be cut soon. We have 4 people who use the accounts, so $240/yr is ridiculous!

 

[excitedfamof4]

Thank you for all of your responses. I think we have decided to wait on the Xbox. They still play the Wii every now and then, so it still has some value to us.

They both have ipods and love them. We got an Ipad Mini last night and we all love it. There are so many fun games you can play together. Hubby has a work issued Ipad so having two is a lot of fun. I think instead of getting a gaming system for xmas we may just get another Ipad Mini. They are a great size and portable too. Thanks again to everyone that responded!