Please recommend best video game system for 6 year old boy. Xbox, PS2, etc

[Czolgosz]

I'm looking for a system with the best games for younger kids and a good price to value ration for young kids.

PS He already has a computer and some learning-oriented video games and this is a birthday present.

[shugah]

1. PS2 has the most variety of available games

i believe.

[CanuckAmok]

10. wha wha wha wha wha... wha wha wha wha wha Pingu, Pingu!

You know what's great about Pingu? There's only one business in their Antarctic community, and it's a french-horn dealership.

That is brilliant on so many levels.

[shugah]

29. hey, wait a minute

there's a magic store and a dentist too (yes, i watch far too much pingu... NOOP NOOP! ;-) )

[trof]

2. OK, somebody's gotta say it.

none
;-)

[Czolgosz]

3. You may assume I have already raised (and lost) this argument with my wife

Actually, we compromised -- she acceded to my wish that we not get a Gameboy and I acceded to her wish that we get him a game system beyond the computer and the learning-oriented video game system he already has.

[tigereye]

20. we only let our youngster play PC games until last year when

he turned nine and we got him a Gamecube. There seem to be a lot of kids games for that platform...also those vid games are expensive! Oh, he did have a Gameboy, too, but not til he was 7 or 8.


Make sure he reads and plays too, a lot of kids get totally addicted to the games and don't want to do much else.

;)

[ghostsofgiants]

8. Video games can actually help a kid's cognitive and coordination skills.

Problem solving, etc.

Video games are far more complex than they used to be.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. Yes, but unlike traditional children's activities

they involve neither physical activity nor practicing human relationship skills (negotiating, bargaining, taking turns, fair play, etc.)

[ghostsofgiants]

18. A lot of video games force you to take turns, play fair, etc.

I agree about the physical activity though. But just be a fucking parent: if you think they need to get outside and play, tell them to get outside. It's what my parents did when they got sick of me playing video games in the house.

[tigereye]

21. I used to joke that both husband and kid

need to be surgically removed from the computers....


now my son is obsessed with football games, vids and movies. That might be worse.

[LeftyMom]

4. Gamecube

Nintendo systems always have the most games for younger kids and they're also the sturdiest systems.

[eeyore]

5. Gamecube seconded...

Nintendo has more fantastical kid-friendly games - very Japanese in style. PS2 and XBox get more of the super-violent war simulation games that are really better suited for adults. Also, the GameCube is pretty cheap these days at $99 for the system. The only downside is that there are less games made for the system to be sure.

There will be new Nintendo and Playstation systems within the next year, so be aware of that as well.

[ghostsofgiants]

6. I'll third that.

[gollygee]

7. I agree too

also as he gets older some of those violent games won't even be available for the game cube. It has more kid-friendly games and it doesn't have all the non-kid-friendly ones.

[djeseru]

9. Another Gamecube vote.

Mine has lasted and lasted, and taken a lot of abuse in the interim. Also a very wide range of games, especially ones for a younger age group. There is a new Nintendo platform coming out later in the year but the Gamecube has some good package deals right now as well.

[mduffy31]

25. Gamecube

How can you go wrong with Mario?

[KeepItReal]

11. Why not get the PC versions of hot games for him?

...And a nice game controller(s).

That way he won't go the 100% gaming route with and XBOX/PS2 and he'll be less likely to disregard the PC.

There are PC Gaming magazines that have tons of titles and reviews out there.

[Czolgosz]

12. He's wanting something with a joy stick and we have so many educational

games on the computer that he is looking for something game-dedicated. Also, he generally needs help getting the computer booted up and we're thinking he'd be able to start a video game system by himself.

[tigereye]

22. another nice thing about the Gamecube games

is that you don't have the occasional "too much memory required/ loading problem" with them that you can with PC games, which seem to require more and more hard drive or other space, and there are also no video card problems.

[Czolgosz]

27. cool wiki chart on game system obsolescence:

[tigereye]

28. huh

that's very interesting. At some point, won't the kids be walking around with either the system attached to their glasses(a la the Yale Media Lab guys) or an actual brain implant a ala William Gibson? :)

it's kind of cool ( and scary) to think of what will come next.

[WildEyedLiberal]

30. Very interesting!

I have had: NES, Genesis, Playstation, and Playstation 2. That's probably the last one, though - I just don't have time for games anymore.

I have one huge beef with that chart, though - there is no WAY the SNES was relevant until 1999. Once Playstation and N64 came along, both Genesis and SNES were obsolete.

[liontamer]

13. nintendo game cube

nintendo has the best games for kids. XBox and play station really aim at overly testosteroned adolescents

[sakabatou]

14. GBA

[Deep13]

15. I wouldn't let a little kid get near one of those things.

It's bad enough that so many children have their brains turned to mush by television. Free access to video games during the formative years will just turn him into a zombie.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. Yes, I disabled the games that came with my computer

because they were too addictive, and I KNOW I shouldn't be spending hours playing solitaire.

A six-year-old doesn't even have that knowledge.

I have many dissatisfactions with the way my parents raised me, but one thing I'm grateful for is that they made it clear that I didn't have to have some toy just because my friends had it.

[JohnKleeb]

19. I have a PS2 but I'd agree with the others and say gamecube

It has the most "kid friendly" games of the three main next generation consoles. I think it's also the most affordable console of the main three too. Hope he has fun. My little brother who is five loves playing his Shrek game and has really enjoyed it.

[democracyindanger]

23. Gamecube, definitely for someone his age.

Consider a Nintendo handheld as well.

[WeRQ4U]

24. Although obviously outdated...you can't beat a good old NES.

There are TONS of games for kids for that system. They are super cheap. And if you can convince them that retro gaming is "cool", they'll be excited.

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. PS2...but my son really used to love ( I mean LOVE) playing our old Atari

system. It has since broken. :(