Playstation 2 or Xbox ?

[AlwayzMarel]

I have a 6 y.o. boy(turning 7 in August), who wants a video game "really bad". He has played the Playstation 2, and seemed to enjoy it. Are there game systems that are easier for younger children to play with? I am not familiar with games, and I want something that he would be able to use himself. What game system do you all suggest? :)

[RoniMan]

easier? as in manual dexterity? in that case the rolling game "katamari damashi" would probably be your best bet. it's for ps2.

however, for a 6 yr old kid, nintendo games are a bit more "family oriented", in terms of graphics and themes.

[MikeD]

however, for a 6 yr old kid, nintendo games are a bit more "family oriented", in terms of graphics and themes.

:agree:

Get the kid a GameCube...

[gear02]

Or a Nintendo Game Boy Advance.

[RoniMan]

Or a book on video games....seriously, kids don't read anymore!

[DarkFury]

My 6 year old got a Nintendo GameCube for his birthday...

Yes, he wants a PS2... but for now, most of the games on the GameCube are designed for his age group ("E" for Everyone). Most of the PS2 and XBox games are geared more to the "teen" and up crowd.

But pretty much it just depends on what you want to allow him to play. :D

[AlwayzMarel]

i had bought him a psp portable, but i thought it was too expensive of a game for a 6 y.o. and too high tech for him. Is the gameboy or gamecube similar? Shucks, I might as well go to Best Buy and ask a salesperson! lol But i do want some opinions from you all before I buy something again.

[DarkFury]

GameCube is definitely cheaper than PS2 or XBox... but those are home platforms.

Are you trying to buy a portable versus a home system?

If you want him to go portable, then a Nintendo DS might be the obvious choice here. (A GameBoy is the older portable from Nintendo... but the DS has pretty much replaced it.)

[Airencracken]

Or wait for the Wii.

[RoniMan]

a couple of things:

1. psp = play station PORTABLE. just trying to help maintain your cool mom image. :P

2. playstation is the console that sony puts out for video games. xbox is the console microsoft puts out. gamecube is the one for nintendo. the psp is the portable version of the playstation, whereas gameboy is the portable version of the gamecube. (kinda, but you get the idea)

i'd agree that psp is a little too much for the kid, but heh, i don't have my own kid (that i'm aware of). is this for a present or something?

[MikeD]

:agree:

Get the kid a GameCube...

:stupid:

Get the GameCube.

My daughter had one, and we'll pass it down to our son. If you're looking for the home (non-portable) system (which I assume you are, since you're talking XBox/PS2), then it's the way to go.

[AlwayzMarel]

GameCube is definitely cheaper than PS2 or XBox... but those are home platforms.

Are you trying to buy a portable versus a home system?

If you want him to go portable, then a Nintendo DS might be the obvious choice here. (A GameBoy is the older portable from Nintendo... but the DS has pretty much replaced it.)

I was actually looking for something homebased. But after reading some comments I think a portable would be good, especially for long trips. Thanks for the info. :)

[AlwayzMarel]

a couple of things:

i'd agree that psp is a little too much for the kid, but heh, i don't have my own kid (that i'm aware of). is this for a present or something?

Well i thought it was cool that with the psp you can download music and watch movies, but when i went to buy the psp games/movies there is not much for the younger kids. So i did get rid of the psp. It's not a gift, my kids are just spoiled!:bow:

[ray]

Get an original Nintendo. Maybe an Atari.

All joking aside, I would say the Gamecube would be the best fit for a child that young...but as Roni said, kids don't read books anymore. Ain't that weird! (I have a low IQ now!)

[gear02]

The reason why I suggested the GBA (game boy advance) is that there are much more kid friendly games for GBA than the DS, PSP, or Gamecube (although the cube comes in second). For the DS, I'm be worried about the touch screen. Yes it's newer, but the GBA is more rugged. I've seen 4-5 year olds beat the living crap out of it and it still works. Plus all the Pokemon games are on GBA (not that I encourage such bad things).

[mcs328]

Get the nintendo DS Lite and a Gamecube. If you can wait then go for the Nintendo Wii. Lots of fun games for a kid that age.

[AlwayzMarel]

thank you all for the suggestions! :) I'll let u all know what I decided to buy, when I buy it. lol :wavey2:

[zero2dash]

Keep in mind with a portable, it has a chance of being busted/nonworking in one day in the hands of a child. :) You'd better teach him to take care of it if you get him one; it can easily be dropped and the screen could easily be scratched. You can get screen protectors (cheap and recommended) as well as a wrist strap (I think). I know the DS comes with a wrist strap; I don't remember if the GBA, GBASP or GBA Micro can use one or not though.

If you get him a GBA, at least get an SP because the regular GBA does not have a light and is a pain in the butt to try to play. Also with the GBASP, it has a built in rechargeable battery, so you save in the end from trying to have to buy batteries constantly (even though the system is very good at running for a long time on one set of batteries).

I'd recommend a Gamecube personally...and I agree about the system having lots of kid oriented games. You can't go wrong with Mario, whether its Mario Sunshine, a Mario Party game, or a sports Mario game (Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Strikers (the soccer game) are both excellent).

[Freelance Superhero]

i'll put in another vote for gamecube. definitely more child-friendly content, and at the same time, their mario lineup of games (mario tennis, mario party, mario sunshine, etc) tend to be fun for adults too.

[kimchicowboy]

i was never a fan of the xbox's controller. it felt really big in my hands, so i imagine it'd be big in a 6 yo's hand too.

[thresher]

OK. Maybe you guys will all jump me, but here me out. Nintendo 64. Bulletproof console. Cheap, proven, family games AND easy to handle. You have Mario Kart, mario tennis, (any Mario games actually) and all the great multiplayer games. It's an easy to learn, easy to play system that doesn't require a $300 investment. Plus, it teaches him responsibility without high risk to you.

[DarkFury]

OK. Maybe you guys will all jump me, but here me out. Nintendo 64. Bulletproof console. Cheap, proven, family games AND easy to handle. You have Mario Kart, mario tennis, (any Mario games actually) and all the great multiplayer games. It's an easy to learn, easy to play system that doesn't require a $300 investment. Plus, it teaches him responsibility without high risk to you.
Can you still buy those new?

And do they still make any games for it?

[zero2dash]

No, I think he's saying buy a used one and a couple used games and it'll give her boy something to play but it won't cost a lot of money either. :) He's got a good idea...another reason I'd say it may be the best is because he'd have cartridge games which are practically impossible to break, versus cd based games which (we all know) you can step on and break.

[DarkFury]

Honestly, even at 6 years old... they know the difference now (it doesn't help that the some of the kids at school have parents that either have or have given them the more advanced game systems).

Hell, even DFJ is saying he wants a PS2 or Xbox... and I have to continually say "NO... not now, but you'll get something like that when you're older".

Peer Pressure is a mofo... even for a 6 year old. :heh:

[thresher]

DF, this is when we go with "the classic" line. :) You're friends are going to be so jealous - you own "a classic". Best part about 6 year olds is that they weren't even born when the system came out.

[DarkFury]

DF, this is when we go with "the classic" line. :) You're friends are going to be so jealous - you own "a classic". Best part about 6 year olds is that they weren't even born when the system came out.
U really underestimate the intelligence of these kids...

They ain't gonna fall for that... :2far:

I got away with that when DFJ was playing my old Sega Genesis when he was 4.... with NBA Jam, Street Fighter, and Sonic the Hedgehog. But now, he knows the difference.