Community Newsletter: Q&A: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question.
- 12/14/07 4:30 PM
you are right
by hema6000 - 12/11/07 4:08 PM In reply to: Here's your answer by demonteddi am now convinced with your opinion..yeah that is the right thing..although i prefer p.s.2!
Gaming...
by Impreza WRX - 12/11/07 8:35 AM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
...seriously, outgrow a Wii? Hardly!
The Nintendo Wii, while not as powerful as its rivals, is a more "fun" oriented gaming system. The controls are not your normal button mashing pads - you actually have to move the controller(s) around to play! This makes for more "natural" controls when playing many games, and a unique experience. I know friends, old, young, and adolescent that have the Wii and do not regret it! In fact, one person that has it normally plays the serious rated M games you find in the other systems and enjoys it! It also has great party game quality to it.
Also, the Wii won't break your wallet, like the XBOX360 or the PS3 will, so in the future, if you do want to go that route, you can save up later.
Finally, every parent should be aware of the basics of the ESRB rating system that applies to games. This is similar to TV show and Movie ratings. They are:
E (Everyone) - Game does not have any objectionable content. Many games have this rating.
K-A (Kids to Adults) - Like E, no objectionable content, found often on older games
T (Teen, recommended 13+) - Content may be harsh for young kids, may contain mild language, violence, maybe blood & gore, drama, maybe adult situations, maybe drug references. Few games on the Wii have this rating.
M (Mature, recommended 17+) - Harsh content, not suited for kids or even young adolescents, extreme violence, gore, adult situations, language, drug references, drama, maybe sexual content. Nintendo rarely if ever releases a rated M game for their systems.
AO (Adults Only 17+) - This doesn't need explaining. A game with this kind of content is very hard to find. Many retail stores refuse to sell games with this rating.
Xbox 360, Wii or PS3?
by KypSan - 12/11/07 10:10 AM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello Rhonda,
My quick answer for you would be to purchase the Wii.
If you browse the internet you'll find all sorts of arguments for this question. Your Brother-in-law has a good and valid point however given that your son is 12 years old I believe he falls into the younger category that the Wii caters too.
I'm sure that there are plenty of people that will offer all of the positives and negatives to each system; I’ll just touch base with those.
The Xbox 360 while acting as a game console also acts as a DVD player and if upgraded, acts as a HD-DVD player.
The PlayStation 3 also acts as a game console and DVD player however allows playback of Bluray DVD (no upgrade needed)
The Wii offers neither of the above two options
One of the perks to the Wii that isn't usually referenced are the games themselves. There are some great games with virtually no issues to worry about; such as violence, nudity & bloodshed. By the time your son gets old enough where those types of games aren't going to be as influencing there may be a new console available or you can simply look at getting the PS3 or Xbox at that point.
If however you're in the market for a Hi Def DVD player i recommend the Xbox 360 with the HD-DVD add-on. This is really only necessary if you have a larger television that is 720p + capable. If that is available to you i would not hesitate to get the 360 over the PS3.
Deciding whether to get a Wii or xbox, PS 3
by ttiehen1990 - 12/11/07 11:11 AM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You would be better off getting a xbox or ps 3 due to the more choice of games. In the long run the Wii will eventually sit on your shelf and collect dust. Your son will lose interst fast with this product. But with either the xbox or ps 3 he wont... Trust me, my boys didnt. Also you can choose the games for them, due to the catagory choice and on each game there is a rating ex. teen, everybody, mature... This is how I choose the right ones for my sons. I know it is a hard choice at first but do your homework first, before buying. It was harding not listening to your sons, wanting this and that, but I had to search online and get info about these products first. So I hope this is helpful.
Buying Wii, Xbox, Ps 3
by ttiehen1990 - 12/11/07 11:14 AM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You would be better off getting a xbox or ps 3 due to the more choice of games. In the long run the Wii will eventually sit on your shelf and collect dust. Your son will lose interst fast with this product. But with either the xbox or ps 3 he wont... Trust me, my boys didnt. Also you can choose the games for them, due to the catagory choice and on each game there is a rating ex. teen, everybody, mature... This is how I choose the right ones for my sons. I know it is a hard choice at first but do your homework first, before buying. It was harding not listening to your sons, wanting this and that, but I had to search online and get info about these products first. So I hope this is helpful.
Advice
by adriangg - 12/11/07 5:34 PM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Buy him a PS3, great games out there like Call of Duty 4 and other great exclusives. Also you get a built in blue ray player in it which makes all the money worth it.
Wii is a great idea.
by jimswofford - 12/12/07 8:03 AM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My 14 year old son got a Wii for his birthday in September, and he loves it. With the motion-sensitive controller, the games are much more active. You actually swing tennis rackets, golf clubs, swords, etc. And from personal experience--once you have swung a golf club to play Tiger Woods Golf, you will never want to play it from a joystick again.
The Wii doesn't have the top-end graphics abilities of the PS3 or latest Xbox, but don't be fooled by the basic games that come with the system. While these games are fun, the graphics are very basic and don't show off all the capabilities of the machine that higher level games exploit. There is a wide array of games available that look very slick with high-end 3D graphics, and the Wii can display them on HDTV in the new 16:9 format.
Other than slightly better graphics, I'm not sure you miss much with the Wii. All the Mario games are here for the younger set, but choices for older kids range from Madden Football to Medal of Honor. Check out Gamespot.com for a full list. You can also buy a standard controller and play the old Gamecube offerings for even more selection.
The Wii is all about the controller, and actively playing games, not just exercising your thumbs. You have to give up a little graphics capability, but no one else offers the active controller of the Wii. As a parent, I like to see my boy out of breath from playing tennis or boxing. Even though its not outdoor exercise, its better than any gaming alternative.
Nintendo Wii is for ALL ages
by charlotteg01 - 12/12/07 1:03 PM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Rhonda,
My son is graduating college this month (22 yrs old)! Last Christmas he and some friends camped out at BestBuy to get the Wii.
We have had every game system made since Atari and I can say you will not be disapointed. There are not many games out so far, but the best ones are the ones that YOU will want to play. These 22-24yr olds break a sweat boxing! It gets kids & anyone that plays interacting!
It's eveb better if you have a big screen TV & room to play! The entire family can and will want to play with this. New games are comming out, but there are plenty to start with.
Good luck in finding the Wii this late, I am looking for my nephew & they stay sold out!
Recommendation for the Wii Nintendo!
by archerysolutions - 12/13/07 9:05 AM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Well Rhonda,
In my opinion you should get the Nintendo Wii for 3 reasons.
Firstly, your son specifically asked for it. Though your Brother in law is right that the titles are limited, the game titles available are unique and your son could be eyeing on one or 2 of those titles. (they may not be available on the other 2 consoles). I am a personally very keen on Zelda and Wii sports.
Secondly, the Wii will provide a good platform for you to join in with him without being too much of a "dummy" if u are a novice. Games like the Wii sports can help him get some confidence in sporting activities like a simulation centre and can lead to opportunities for him to take on a new sport instead of the goggle box everyday.
lastly, the Wii is a cheaper console than the other 2, and if you dont really make use of the blu ray dvd or the HD dvd, it will be a great waste Money spent on Technology.
Good luck.
Jay
hooboy..... here goes nothing....
by ackmondual - 12/13/07 1:55 PM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Curious, have you asked him, or will consider asking him if what he really wants is a Wii and not the other 2 systems? If you get a reply, don't settle for just "yes" or "no". Get some reasons and arguments on why he'd want a Wii and not the other 2 consoles. Just "yes" or "no" sounds like he didn't really look into it or is just going by peer pressure. Ask him if he also looked into the other 2 console systems as well. If it sounds like he knows what he really wants, then go with it. After all, whether if it’s movies, hobbies, or food, no one will know his video game interests better than himself. However, in the end, there's always the chance he'll get bored with a Wii or realize he’s made the wrong choice. AFAIK, it's something children go through. They don't ALWAYS know what they want, and frankly, even adults go through this as well, although I'd imagine it's less so for them. At least this'll be a good lesson for him in high-end consumerism. He's learning more what to expect in terms of the odds-and-ends of a product, what he should look out for next time he researches a video game console, as well as what to look out for before making decisions about relatively expensive purchases. Even though you're buying it for him, he’s still getting a lesson there in budgets, as it still counts against his budget of personal items you're willing to buy him in a given time. When he gets older, he can get anything he wants, but now he'll have to spend his own $$, and will be better about that since he'll have first hand experience in prioritizing his wants.
.
As for the 3 consoles, I don't own any of them, but I have played all 3 of them. There's no clear winner here. Just 3 groups polarized in 3 different directions, like with many types of products like cell phone service providers and mp3 players. Some go in either or multiple directions, while others refuse to go certain ways. Of the latter, some may find their "blacklisted consoles" are not so bad afterall, but yet others are confirmed that it's just not for them. I grew up on Nintendo from 1986 up to 2001. Later on, I added PC games to the mix. From 2001 to present, I still play vid games from various systems and sources. It do have a thing for Nin, but I will make my in depth coverage to be unbiased. In the end, if you have the $$, you get more than one or all 3 of the. If not, you need to make a choice of which one you want (which is your son’s case)
Wii
Good thing with the Wii is you could probably get in on the action as well. The motion sensing is a blast to play. Playing sports games (like Wii Sports and Wii Play) on the wiimote is truly fun. I've also played a game called Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz. It's a collection of mini-games, from the typical real life activities like throwing darts, archery, to the not so familiar like a game where you direct a falling ball to collect as many items as possible by tilting the remote to control platforms. Like a custom, very souped up Plinko game from The Price Is Right if you will. These games that lend themselves to this sort of real life realism work out wonderfully when using the motion controlled wiimote as an interface.
Then there are other games like Zelda Twilight Princess (played through a dungeon at a friend's house) and Super Mario Galaxy (of which I beat several levels at an EB Games). Those games are definately fun and well done, but personally, I would've preferred if they toned down the wiimote interaction. However, I could live with having to shake or swing the wiimote even tho it feels "less necessary" in this case. Using the wiimote to point at the screen to shoot at things does fell natural at least. These kinds of games on the Wii may not have as much appeal to you as above, but I believe you may also get into these as well
It has the reputation of being a "kiddie system". That's part true. All the Nintendo franchises like Mario, Legend Of Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Star Fox, etc. may attract kids, but the fact that adults are really into them doesn’t make the Wii exclusively a kiddie system. Just think of all the adults who enjoy watching movies like Finding Nemo or Harry Potter and enjoy them despite being targeted towards an children audience. On the other hand, Nintendo does have more than a few games of mini-games in its collections, some even like party games. However, I hear Nin's doing a much better job of getting some games that are also better geared towards adults. For example, in this list...
http://www.destructoid.com/top-10-most-promising-wii-games-of-2007-28493.phtml
about half of them are more adult oriented.
Online experience here has some games with multiplayer, but less so than the other 3 systems. There’s also social interaction, checking stuff like news and weather, and the Virtual Console. The VC has a wide library of previous Nintendo games like form n64, Super Nintendo, and NES to download and play. Also have some non Nintendo consoles available like Turbo Graphics 16 and the Sega Genesis. All available at moderate prices. Good alternative to scouring pawn shops and ebay for older games, and having to connect multiple consoles to the TV when one console does most of it.
PlayStation 3
prices have gone down, but it's still the most expensive of the 3. On the plus side, it comes with bluray player, so you're into HD movies, that'll be a plus. As far as game selection goes, PS3 games are more similar to 360 games than Wii games. More games available for online multiplayer gaming. No fee required for that either. While these games are more oriented for adults it’s certainly possible some of it won’t appeal to adults. The games tend to be more graphically realistic, and contain more adult material like sexual content, blood, gore, and adult themes like betrayal, murder, and blackmail. IMHO, it really isn’t that much worse than many of today’s movies that he’s allowed to see at his age.
Xbox 360
cheaper system overall, but if you add the HD-DVD add-on, it comes about even with a PS3. Games like Gears Of War are truly unique with it’s own atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. Online play is better organized, but there’s a $50/yr fee for that. Games here are roughly on par with a PS3. In graphical quality as well as all the adult oriented stuff.
PS3 and 360 notes
-If you don't have a HDTV or won't have one by the time you make a PS3 purchase, it's OK. Just realize while the picture quality for games and HDTV will still be good, it won't be the best.
-While the game types for these 2 systems are similar what sets them a part are the titles and franchises available. That would be left to your son to decide what appeals to him.
-these also have some games for younger audiences as well
OTHER NOTES
-One thing to keep in mind is Wiis are rather difficult to find this holiday season, so you'll want to plan ahead and/or pay something reasonable above the $250 MSRP.
That’s about it. I promised myself I would keep this as concise as possible so I’ll stop it at here. I would stick with the Wii unless you’re convinced he’s QUITE sure he would want something else in the near future. Barring any personal preferences, any of the 3 consoles would really work out fine. If he makes the wrong choice, that’s something he needs to deal with, as do we all.
Good luck and happy holidays!
3 systems
by joexps - 12/14/07 10:02 AM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Rhonda I have 3 boys ages 13,11,8. We have an xbox,ps2,xbox360,ps3 and the wii. These were all given to my sons from a wealthy family member, who has no children of his own and is a big nut ( he acts as old as they are) case like my children. Anyway we have a farm after the boys are done with their chores they have 40 min. to play the game systems. 90% of the time they pick the wii. Even my wife and I play it. merry Christmas and God Bless
Give him the Wii
by jgriff13 - 12/14/07 6:59 PM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It is the best game system and it gets the children off the couch. It is the most active game system, can you tell we have one. Even my 82yr old mom plays. It really is a lot of fun and we use it a lot.
Wii System
by w1kate - 12/14/07 7:09 PM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Rhonda, It's a good system an my kids would love it but I have to wait till the price goes down. I always look at their face when they see it big difference if it's what he really wants. The kids play them games all the time but everything needs a little dust but it won't stay too dusty. If that's really what he wants and you do then do. Certain things they really want we shouldn't make them settle. Don't let your brother-in-law play it. lol Happy Holidays
Give him what he wants!
by mark_n_spencer - 12/14/07 7:15 PM In reply to: To Wii or not to Wii? That is the question. by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm a father my self and it's very important to keep the deal you made with your son. First of all it helps you keep your promise. Second, your son made the choice (which helps him choose the things he wants!)
Lastly, as a gamer myself, I like the Wii, you can actually get involved with the games your kids play. Your in-law is probably right in a way, but then again that's an older person talking, not a 12 year old.
Another thing to consider, did you know the Wii is only $250? Given that a PS3 is $500, if he does out grow his Wii, I'm sure you could buy a PS3 in the future for $250 when it gets a price cut.
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