Xbox, PS3, Kinect or whatever

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minimoke

750 posts

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#104649 19-Jun-2012 15:16

I'm sure this has been asked before and I'll be trawling these threads for enlightenment. As a parent from hell my kids (aged 9 – 14) haven’t been allowed a game console. Its been suggested if I want to clear a path through to the pearly gates I ought to review that position so I’m now looking at making the plunge.

I suspect this is likely to stir up an apple vs android type debate, but I’d appreciate views on which console I ought to be looking at buying. I also suspect a shop assistant will just flog me any old thing depending on what they have to move that month.

I’ve no idea what my needs are other than games, preferably ones that aren’t sitting like some uncommunicative moron, preferably no blood and guts everywhere. I have a wireless network and plasma TV's (one 1080 the other 720p). Internet allowance is 120gb a month. Games will be out off the kids pocket money so need to be affordable.

Do I even get a console or do I just buy some games and play them through the laptop to the TV? Or maybe I compromise and let them loose on the TIVO games – but I suspect this won’t get me too many brownie points.

I'm not a gamer and have no idea whats available in terms of hardware or games. I've a bit to learn!

vinnieg

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#643244 19-Jun-2012 15:21

I have both, Xbox 360, and a PS3.

In terms of affordability, and better gaming experience the Xbox 360 wins hands down. It does however cost to play online, which is slightly off putting.

However, there are a lot of second hand, or older new games to be found very cheap on MightyApe, or Trademe.

The Kinect is a great add-on, a lot better than the Move.

I paid $450 for my PS3(1.5 years ago in a sale)
and $174 for the Xbox360 in the Boxing day sales, + $99 for the Kinect.

Prices these days seem to be about:
$450 for the cheapest PS3 with no games
$295 for the Xbox360 Slim with no games
$450 for the cheapest Xbox360 slim with HDD
$550 for the Xbox with Kinect, wiith Kinect Adventures

If you wanted a Blu-ray player at the same time, get the PS3. It's also very good for 3D gaming, on a 3D compatible TV.

If it was just for gaming, I'd suggest the Xbox360 Slim 4GB though!

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

minimoke

750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#643265 19-Jun-2012 15:56

Thnask very much for that.
Should also point out that I have a Blu ray connected to the 1080 TV which is a 2012 panasonic 3D active model. No bluray on the other TV.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#643281 19-Jun-2012 16:36

Im a PS3 owner and love it, kids love the Move games on it and being able to watch their movies etc via DVD, Bluray or streaming across the network.

I have found tho that the games tend to be a bit more on the mature side, so for pure kids fun, Id probably say the Nintendo Wii with a couple of extra controllers. Can pick up some good deals on the 2nd-hand market for a Wii. Downside to the Wii is that it has no support for anything but games.

Each device has their ups and downs (as per Apple vs Android etc)

Ask the kids what theyd prefer as theyve probably played on friends systems and know what they enjoyed.

Other option is too, hire out each unit from local video store for a weekend.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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NonprayingMantis

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#643292 19-Jun-2012 16:55

Your other option is, of cours,e the Wii. Significantly cheaper than either PS3 or Xbox and lots more ?childish? games (but they are still fun)

Serious

23 posts

Geek

#643315 19-Jun-2012 17:44

vinnieg: I have both, Xbox 360, and a PS3.

In terms of affordability, and better gaming experience the Xbox 360 wins hands down. It does however cost to play online, which is slightly off putting.

However, there are a lot of second hand, or older new games to be found very cheap on MightyApe, or Trademe.

The Kinect is a great add-on, a lot better than the Move.

I paid $450 for my PS3(1.5 years ago in a sale)
and $174 for the Xbox360 in the Boxing day sales, + $99 for the Kinect.

Prices these days seem to be about:
$450 for the cheapest PS3 with no games
$295 for the Xbox360 Slim with no games
$450 for the cheapest Xbox360 slim with HDD
$550 for the Xbox with Kinect, wiith Kinect Adventures

If you wanted a Blu-ray player at the same time, get the PS3. It's also very good for 3D gaming, on a 3D compatible TV.

If it was just for gaming, I'd suggest the Xbox360 Slim 4GB though!

This is a good summary.

As a parent, and someone who does play video game,s the Xbox 360 works for me. It has the widest range of games - good games for the kids (with the Kinnect) and good FPS games for me.

The Xbox 360 has at least 2 more years in it before it is replaced too. (The Wil is great for kids - but is due to be replaced soon).

grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644036 20-Jun-2012 21:46

One thing to keep in mind is that both the XBox and PS3 are nearing the end of their product life i.e. newer generation models might be around the corner in the next 2 years???

Almost a year ago we were deciding between the Xbox and PS3. The PS3 always had the edge for me because of the Blu-Ray. However, we bought a Blu-Ray player prior to buying the console, and ended up buying an Xbox 360 Slim 250GB + Kinect. I really really like it. I am glad we choose the Xbox.

The Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) has some great games. Trials Evolution is excellent.

The Kinect sensor is quite good, but not essential. It's best to have a decent amount of room space to use it.

If you go for an Xbox 360, here are some things to be mindful of:
* To play online, access YouTube, etc, you need an Xbox Live Gold account. A 12 month card card be purchased for about $70ish from a local retail store. Gold Family (4 memberships for a family) can be purchased online for $129.95 per year.
* Be prepared to eat through lots of internet data. There are plenty of game demos to download. Some retail games have large patches to download.
* I would recommend getting an Xbox with a large HDD, rather than the 4GB version.

Just my $0.02.

crackrdbycracku

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#644313 21-Jun-2012 15:29

I would go xbox basically because Kinect is better then Move for playing games and it seems that games are where it is at for you and your family.

PS3 is probably by far the better 'home entertainment hub' but that doesn't seem to be the focus.

As always there are good games on either platform which are not on the other, that might actually be a path to take. Ask the kids what games they want to play and see which is the better fit for you and them, best actually look up the game as titles can be a bit uninformative.

The cheap option would be a Nintendo Wii, the sports based games are not too bad.

In a year or two PS4 and xbox 720 (or whatever they call them will be out) meaning what you buy this year will be yesterday's news. But consoles last longer than most things in the tech market.

Anyway, I've got an xbox and use it often. That's my bit.

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minimoke

750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644343 21-Jun-2012 16:06

Thanks folks for yoru toughts so far.

Any thoughts on Xbox + Kinect vs PS3 + 3d Games

jfanning

438 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644366 21-Jun-2012 16:54

minimoke: Thanks folks for yoru toughts so far.

Any thoughts on Xbox + Kinect vs PS3 + 3d Games

Some of the PS3 3D games are better than others, also they drop the resolution on some of them. I usually play them with 3D turned off

BuzzLightyear

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644401 21-Jun-2012 18:21

I've got all three consoles and while there is not alot between the PS3 and Xbox I'm probably leaning towards the Xbox nowadays. Mainly because Kinect is very good and I'm starting to use it more as a media hub. My PS3 has been relegated to the bedroom.

The quality build and feel of the PS3 IMHO is better than the plasticky finish of the Xbox, but I think the PS3 browser is a joke and when IE comes out on Xbox soon it will make it even more compelling.

As a side note streaming Hulu, Netflix etc. on Xbox is a nicer experience although as mentioned earlier you will need to pay for Xbox Live Gold to enable online services.

zaptor

745 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644449 21-Jun-2012 20:35

Another vote for Xbox. Xbox Live has a selection of family friendly titles.
I'm not sure if you need to be a Gold member to actually purchase and use Microsoft Points though. I _think_ Gold is more if you want the online multi-player experience (anyone feel free to correct me on that one).

I don't like the relatively high cost of disc-based console titles, but, that's what you pay if you want to play.
Yes, there's the after-sales market, but even those prices are regulated to some degree by what you can purchase brand new. I don't mind paying the extra for an unscratched, spanking new game (well, tbh I only buy titles when they're on sale - usually Mighty Ape, so the actual difference compared to 2nd hand for me is marginal if at all).

Have the Kinect, but rarely use it. Although, Dance Central is cool. I don't think the current iteration of Kinect just isn't sensitive or accurate enough to be an immersive control mechanism (although it's better than the PS2 EyeToy, that's for sure).

It's strange. There seem to be a lot less family friendly titles in this current gen (Wii excluded). We've still got a PS2, and to be honest, there's probably more "fun" games in that library than the Xbox one.

jfanning

438 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644478 21-Jun-2012 21:49

zaptor: I don't like the relatively high cost of disc-based console titles, but, that's what you pay if you want to play.

That's the handy thing about the PS3, region free games

Hobchild

623 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644491 21-Jun-2012 22:32

zaptor: I'm not sure if you need to be a Gold member to actually purchase and use Microsoft Points though.

You don't.

jtbthatsme

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#644511 21-Jun-2012 23:41

A couple of things not mentioned here is that although the PS3 is free to play online there is also a subscription based model there too. I do not have any PS3 owning friends online or real friends that will tell you that the Playstation Network is better than Xbox Live.

Xbox Live Gold is as others have pointed out not free but you can still access Xbox Live without a Gold subscription and be able to add friends to chat with, browse the marketplace (for games and or game addons as well as music and movies).

Also again I do not know of anyone stating the Playstation Move is better than the Xbox Kinect. I myself when Kinect was announced and initially released thought I'd never be seen using or even owning it. I now own a Kinect sensor and have a growing collection of Kinect games. I have young kids though which the Kinect is perfect for. There has been a lot of older age group games recently starting to implement the Kinect in some pretty good ways also eg Car racing games tracking head movements, First Person Shooters using voice commands to change weapons etc.

One other thing Kinect is also about to be released to be used with your PC. I don't know if that means a different sensor for those who've already got one or not but this in itself has some pretty good potential for a lot of varied uses (You can already look at some of the non standard things Kinect has been used for on Youtube and other places).

The downside though of Kinect is that you need like the PS Move or the Nintendo Wii a lot of space and awareness of your surroundings as like the amazing clips for what these can do you will find a lot more of people accidently having controllers fly, hitting other players etc

If you've not noticed my vote would firmly lean towards a Xbox and I would be a little surprised to see if either PS4 or Xbox 720 were out within 2 years although I would think most likely they'll be announced (especially PS4) in that timeframe.

Of course if it's about the gaming then let your kids choose as gaming is not just about playing a game it's also a lot about the social aspect I would say they would probably have a better idea which they would prefer which would be heavily based on what their friends have.

Hobchild

623 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644866 22-Jun-2012 17:53

jtbthatsme:Of course if it's about the gaming then let your kids choose as gaming is not just about playing a game it's also a lot about the social aspect I would say they would probably have a better idea which they would prefer which would be heavily based on what their friends have.

That's been the best advice given there in that one paragraph. But just to cancel out JB's vote for Xbox, I vote PS3.

But yeah ask your kids they will most likely want what their friends have and if it's supposed to be a surprise ask their parents what they have.