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Well I never thought I would be posting in this forum, but here I am. I am mom to a almost 6 and 9 yrs old boys. They desperately want a new game platform for Xmas. We have had Nintendo Gamecube for several years and they have thoroughly enjoyed it, never had a problem with it. But I sense from them that it is time to move on! They keep asking for PS2, Xbox, or Xbox 360...

I am completely confused and don't know what's best for them. What are the pros and cons? After reading some articles/still feeling confused I should say it seems most information seems to get caught up talking about online capability. I don't think my boys need that do they?? They've never even mentioned that nor have their friends.... is it something important?

robinseggs wrote: Well I never thought I would be posting in this forum, but here I am. I am mom to a almost 6 and 9 yrs old boys. They desperately want a new game platform for Xmas. We have had Nintendo Gamecube for several years and they have thoroughly enjoyed it, never had a problem with it. But I sense from them that it is time to move on! They keep asking for PS2, Xbox, or Xbox 360...

I am completely confused and don't know what's best for them. What are the pros and cons? After reading some articles/still feeling confused I should say it seems most information seems to get caught up talking about online capability. I don't think my boys need that do they?? They've never even mentioned that nor have their friends.... is it something important?


Are you talking about on-line games? Be careful - there are a lot of adults doing that and since you can't monitor it.........I would be careful of it and at their age......

Do you know any teenagers in the neighborhood? Ask them about what they have and want. Perhaps they will even show you how what they have works...... They might even be a good judge of what would be most fun for your boys to play at their ages.

My 7 year old has my PS2 in his room! He loves it and as an added bonus, he uses it to play DVD's. There are a ton of games out for it and it isn't so outdated, so new games come out all the time.

robinseggs wrote: Well I never thought I would be posting in this forum, but here I am. I am mom to a almost 6 and 9 yrs old boys. They desperately want a new game platform for Xmas...
nope. get them a Red Ryder BB Gun.

My daughter has the PS2 platform and loves it. Plays a large amount of games, of all rating levels. The new Xbox is pretty expensive and the games ain't cheap either. Best thing to do is go to a store like Electronics Boutique and get one of the game geeks there to explain it to ya..

PS2 definetley. I like the DVD capability as someone stated above. Cant you use it as a CD player too?

We bought it 2 christmases ago and its still a favorite in our house.

But as we all know, its my husbands, I have no kids.

Did you see that the old atari is back. Saw it at Walmart, I want it, because these new platforms have way too many controls on the controller. Its too complicated. Give me tha black stick and one button and Im great

DesignerGal wrote:

Did you see that the old atari is back. Saw it at Walmart, I want it, because these new platforms have way too many controls on the controller. Its too complicated. Give me tha black stick and one button and Im great


Sure now they come back. Just when we've pitched ours...........

nvalleyvee wrote: Are you talking about on-line games? Be careful - there are a lot of adults doing that and since you can't monitor it.........I would be careful of it and at their age......


That's exactly my point. We are NOT interested in getting online. But like I said, it seems all articles I have read seem to get caught up in discussing the online capabilities thus maybe leaving out answers to questions I really need to know!!!!

Wolverine wrote: nope. get them a Red Ryder BB Gun.


I think you are hinting around that too many kids spend too much time in front of the screen these days??!! Not my kids. Not this street. We live on a small private street with only about 20 houses and (brace yourself) 30 kids!!!! All stay home moms and most of the dads have wierd schedules, so many are home during the day too......EVERYONE is ALWAYS outside!!! Kids play in street til after dark...parents talking together watching them......this is not the norm....seems our battle is trying to get them to come IN (and play a video game!!) LOL

SOJOURNER wrote: Do you know any teenagers in the neighborhood? Ask them about what they have and want. Perhaps they will even show you how what they have works...... They might even be a good judge of what would be most fun for your boys to play at their ages.


Excellent idea! Thanks! The boys next door have each of the systems....why didn't I think of that?? LOL

i have a PS2 with the whole online thing and i'd think carefully about letting a 9 year old play.

as much as sony try to stop it there seems to be the bad language and occasional highly abusive person, often drunk, people online...at least here anyway.

Alfred....go back and read post #9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sheeeeeesh!!!!

maybe i ought too.

ohh i see now. :wah:

No problem, Alfred..... Well the PS2 has been bought and is sitting in Santa's sleigh! What if any accessories do I absolutely HAVE to have for them on Xmas morning? I did buy an extra controller and of course a game. Grandma is getting the memory card and the carrying case...

that sounds like the complete package.

my 15 yr old son has a ps2 ,my daughter who is 10

has a nintendo DS ,both great consoles,but just like everything

else kids have to be monitored with certain games,it also depends if your son wants a handheld or not ,i like them both tho.

The other grandma gave both boys each a DS......it's official--they're spoiled.

robinseggs wrote: The other grandma gave both boys each a DS......it's official--they're spoiled.


as they deserve to be.

My grandsons have a ps2 and xbox. They play xbox most of the time. I have one here at my house for them when they come to visit. I don't approve of some of the games they play, but thats up to you what they play. I have a hard time picking out games, because I don't know enough about them. They are also 6 and 9 years old.

Mookey1229 wrote: My grandsons have a ps2 and xbox. They play xbox most of the time. I have one here at my house for them when they come to visit. I don't approve of some of the games they play, but thats up to you what they play. I have a hard time picking out games, because I don't know enough about them. They are also 6 and 9 years old.


wait till they get to teenage years.

then see if you approve.

Yes, I do hear it gets worse.....

Oh I'm sure it does get worse. I don't understand parents letting them buy and play stuff like that. Not at my house!

As stated earlier..it denpends on what they're playing. There are actually some very good games out there. A lot of people around here went through a "turn off the tv" phase w/ their kids. I did not do that but simply chose what my then 1 yr old would watch. He was the first on the block to read, write and spell. To this day, I swear it was his Nintendo Game Gameboy that enhanced his ability to learn to read!!

check out esrb.org. they have a ratings guide that should help you out.