MAJOR DECISION! Which game machine to buy?

At first I thought it was for you which I would have voted for X Box. However since its for your kids I would go PS2.  Alot of games for the kids. Now if you ever want one for yourself, go X Box.  Halo and Halo 2 are so good its worth just buying a Xbox for them.  Myself, I have both but I have been a game nerd for years.  Yes, I did have a Commedore 64 for the games.

C 64, oh yeah, he threw out the old skool!! XBox360 is gonna be off the hizzy... I just know it's gonna cost me a few extra minutes in the tris next season.

bts

Well, as it's for your kids, PS2 is probably best. Cheap, TONS of kids games.

I have XBox and LOVE playing online. As said before, Halo and Halo2 are worth the price of admission. I bought the XBox after playing Halo - it's one of the most amazing games I've ever played. That being said, I'm not really a gaming nerd.

XBox live is the best online console. The games are slowly catching up in quality to PS2. EIther one can be used as a DVD player, although the XBox requires you to buy the DVD adapter which is an infrared thing that fits into one of the controller ports. THen you need the HDTV adaptor, and then you need the optical cable for digital surround sound... It all adds up. Avoid it if you can.

However, if you can put off buying a system, do it. Once you get one, you'll always be chasing after the Jones'. They are needful things - one of hte new top games costs $50.

Before you do anything read this:
http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-x-1985-x-x-x?tag=boxcar_all_f...

Playstation is going to continue to rule the console world. Microsoft has a good product but I wonder how many XBox owners bother to read their EULA that comes with the XBox which points out to them that they don't actually own the product they just bought.
By all reports the XBox 360 falls short on a number of fronts not the least of which is graphics when compared to the new PS 3. Load times on the XBox continue to be hideously long - this is where Nintendo has everyone beat.

For the record I have a PS1, XBox, Nintendo GameCube, N64, NES, Sega GameGear, GameBoy Advance and 2 GBA SP's - I like gaming. I am going to wait for the SP 3 before my next major purchase and letting PSP mature a little bit before taking the plunge.

If your goal is to buy a video game system for your kids, you should probably go with the Game Cube. A lot of people will recommend a PS2, but I think that's a little too old for your kids. The Game Cube has some of the best multiplayer games - Super Monkey Ball, Super Smash Brothers, Mario Kart, etc. - that are all really easy to learn. Most of them really only use one or two buttons and the directional pads. Plus, the controllers are a lot smaller than the PS2's. I have fairly small hands and the PS2 controllers have always been an issue for me. Another advantage for the Game Cube is that you can have 4 people playing at the same time. This is great if they have friends over! You can also get wireless controllers, so there aren't cables all over your living room. The battery life on these are great.

Don't do it. Buy something that :
A: Won't promote obesity
B: Won't start fights about who's turn/games/bedtime
C: Won't be an ongoing expense ie games
D: Won't promote the fact that the nieghbours kids will always be hanging out at your house, thus eating you out of house and home
E: Won't suck you into using it too and distract you from training or doing worthwhile things (you know it will happen)


Just a few extra considerations. My 2c.

Oh, I can see it now! I get wireless controllers... and instead of being safely tethered to the machine, I find them in the garage, the bathroom, the bedrooms, the yard...

Yah, I'm struggling with those issues, too...

But they already have, and LOVE, the soccer balls, baseballs, bicycles, scooters, etc... and are BEGGING for skateboards. Oh, and they love the pool too. So far, we have had NO problem getting them outside.

I thought the game machine would be good for rainy days, keep-em-busy-while-I-cook times, and as a reward for doing things well ("Great job cleaning up the yard! 30 minutes on the GameBoy...")

One reason I'm thinking about the portables is we periodically make long trips (~3 hours) to Grandma's house... and they could stand to be entertained...

Tri Take Me Away is right about the Gamecube - it has the market for children's games.

We just had this discussion at school last week and based on the games made for each console, Gamecube is kid-focused, X-Box is more towards teens and older, and the PS line is a good mix (I'm working on a degree in modeling and simulation and believe it or not, this was part of a class).

The PS2 could work for you, but it's going to be replaced next year, so in another year or so, there likely won't be any new titles available for it. Gamecube will also be replaced in time, but I think it's cheaper now than the other two and it's games are oriented more toward your family.

Glad to hear your kids prefer playing outside - the trick is to keep it that way after they get a game system.

Jason

ok... so i voted for 360... then i read your post... being a father of 5 year old twins, the gamecube is the way to go... or get them each a gameboy... the games are more geared towards kids (the marios) and the controlers fit their hands better... they also, love their gameboys(yes my kids are spoiled, but i play them too)

we have all 3 systems (PS2, Xbox, Gamecube) and most handhelds from old school gameboy to PSP... and my kids do best with the nintendo stuff...

Games can be expensive, and this is where the PS2 can be a great deal because of all the used titles available. My girls are young, so their requirements aren't exactly sophisticated.  I can spend $20 at GameStop for 2-3 used kids games and they're thrilled. It plays older Playstation I titles too and those can be had for as little as $5.