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Good console for kids?

S

slackerinabox

Lifer
My kids desperately want a switch but I can’t see myself getting into the world of $70 per game they may get bored console gaming. What’s a good console if I just want the all you can eat subscription model with even just a handful of 10 year old friendly games? I though the Apple TV would work but the games are lacking and are mostly mobile ports
 
nakedfrog said:
You could buy used games.
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Hmm I saw the titles they’d like going for like 50 bucks used. The switch marketplace is weird, even b class party games seem expensive. They have simple needs, pick up and play sorts games not epics. The Apple TV would be perfect if their arcade subscription had console first b and c level titles with a titles for msrp. I have an nvidia shield and it’s too complicated. They had a beta of simple sonic cart type games via streaming but not it’s more keyboard and mouse oriented I think
 
my niece and nephew play a bunch of games on their ipads.
Seems like tablets have replaced consoles for most casual games.

That said, I think you should get them PCs and Steam accounts.
 
All consoles will have games this expensive, but that said, there are a ton of indie games on all these platforms that have games that are more like 15-30 bucks which are not going to be big first party titles, but still a ton of really great games.

Nintendo also has a whole suite of NES/SNES classics for "free" with a NIntendo Online membership.

Used games are also a thing, but generally a ripoff from a store like Gamestop, etc.
 
Are old games past their patent or whatever, or are Roms/Emulators still illegal?

But I mean... hell, I can remember when videogames were $60 for an N64 game if I recall correctly, so if anything with inflation $70 is still not bad.
 
ponyo said:
If your kids want the Switch, get them what they want. Don't be a cheap bastard and get them something else. Games are not $70. Most are $60 or less. Spend less on yourself if you have to.
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Yeah, and worst case, if they get bored of console gaming, turn around and sell the system/games.
 
Ultimately though... fuck hand-held and tablet based shit.

Get those fuckers a full on ATX-Extended tower that is water-cooled or something and tell them if they want to play games - it's gotta be on the PC 😛
 
s0me0nesmind1 said:
Are old games past their patent or whatever, or are Roms/Emulators still illegal?

But I mean... hell, I can remember when videogames were $60 for an N64 game if I recall correctly, so if anything with inflation $70 is still not bad.
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I had a pretty snazzy emulator rig going but it wasn't pick up and play - configurations would get lost, controllers wouldn't sync properly. the oldest is ready to troubleshoot but i'd really like it to be pick up and play.
nakedfrog said:
Yeah, and worst case, if they get bored of console gaming, turn around and sell the system/games.
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Valid point. Switch it is, they'll have to wait until their favorite games are on the used market.. ha..
 
Don't get caught up in cost of the console or the games. What's most important is buying a console they'll actually play with titles that are age appropriate.

Growing up, I went from Atari to NES to Genesis to Playstation to Dreamcast to Xbox 360 to Xbox Launch to Xbox One S...I still own the last 3 consoles. I got the kids a few titles like Minecraft and Rush (Pixar game) some cheap ones off the marketplace. They like playing Minecraft, but most other games just aren't age appropriate and my 6 year old has gotten more frustrated than anything trying to learn Minecraft.

On my Xbox One setup, I have 1 Xbox account and then 3 guests. I use that one Xbox account for Xbox Live and to buy all my digital content like games (not counting minecraft coins that follow the minecraft player). That allows my kids to sign in on one Xbox with my account and the other Xbox is my "Home Xbox", so it gets all the titles I own by default. That's how we can buy 1 digital title and have 1 Live account and play multiplayer between systems. I mention that because the Xbox One system is solid and pretty cheap compared to other options....it just lacks titles if the kids are under 10.

I'm going to break down and get them a Switch. There are often $15 digital titles. I still don't know what's best on Switch...Digital or Physical. (based on when they go mobile with it) I really don't want them on it all the time, so I'm just a little reluctant to get it. I just don't know what other big ticket items to get and I know it's one of those things that I need to order sooner rather than later knowing the way inventory has been lately.
 
If you are willing to do the daily Microsoft/Bing rewards points grind, you can earn enough points to maintain a free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription (which includes a nice list of free to download Xbox and PC games)
 
Scarpozzi said:
Don't get caught up in cost of the console or the games. What's most important is buying a console they'll actually play with titles that are age appropriate.

Growing up, I went from Atari to NES to Genesis to Playstation to Dreamcast to Xbox 360 to Xbox Launch to Xbox One S...I still own the last 3 consoles. I got the kids a few titles like Minecraft and Rush (Pixar game) some cheap ones off the marketplace. They like playing Minecraft, but most other games just aren't age appropriate and my 6 year old has gotten more frustrated than anything trying to learn Minecraft.

On my Xbox One setup, I have 1 Xbox account and then 3 guests. I use that one Xbox account for Xbox Live and to buy all my digital content like games (not counting minecraft coins that follow the minecraft player). That allows my kids to sign in on one Xbox with my account and the other Xbox is my "Home Xbox", so it gets all the titles I own by default. That's how we can buy 1 digital title and have 1 Live account and play multiplayer between systems. I mention that because the Xbox One system is solid and pretty cheap compared to other options....it just lacks titles if the kids are under 10.

I'm going to break down and get them a Switch. There are often $15 digital titles. I still don't know what's best on Switch...Digital or Physical. (based on when they go mobile with it) I really don't want them on it all the time, so I'm just a little reluctant to get it. I just don't know what other big ticket items to get and I know it's one of those things that I need to order sooner rather than later knowing the way inventory has been lately.
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Yep, I'm being cheap for sure but the thing is my youngest in particular is notorious for really being into something for a week then never touching it again, the thought of that extending to the $60 animal crossing game etc bothered me so I wanted to lean heavily on online/subscription gaming. BUT I totally forgot about gamefly. $10 bucks a month for the kids to trial the game first makes the decision easier
 
1. used games
or
2. a PC with controllers

both will save you a ton of money. And, frankly, i like PC games better, not *because they are on PC* but because the type of gameplay you get tends to be better. Most controller games are mindless action games, although the quality has improved substantially in these last 20 years.
 
ponyo said:
If your kids want the Switch, get them what they want. Don't be a cheap bastard and get them something else. Games are not $70. Most are $60 or less. Spend less on yourself if you have to.
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I am going to politely disagree. It isn't about cheaping out, but what your suggesting is a pricey reward and for what? You may be setting up the kid for high reward expectations later without them actually doing any hard work.

A friend setup a chore list and what money he got for doing them. While his sister barely partook of the offering his ~10 year old son did everything. In the end he bought himself an Xbox 360. Both his parents were shocked at how willing he was to do chores and for so long and disappointed their daughter chose to lead a cheap life. LOL Both are good kids--adults now.
 
slackerinabox said:
Yep, I'm being cheap for sure but the thing is my youngest in particular is notorious for really being into something for a week then never touching it again, the thought of that extending to the $60 animal crossing game etc bothered me so I wanted to lean heavily on online/subscription gaming. BUT I totally forgot about gamefly. $10 bucks a month for the kids to trial the game first makes the decision easier
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I generally hate subscription services, but you're right. For kids, that may be cheaper in the long run.

Once again, the real issue with other console is the lack of kid-specific titles. Most consoles are aimed at 20-40 year old males with a disposable income large enough to spend $70-90 for premium content because they DON'T have a wife and kids or shower regularly.
 
Svnla said:
How about the compact/revised "classic" version of Playstation, Sega, Nintendo ect, with multiple games (about 40) build in? I think each costs about $50 USD or so.

Like this one.

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My kids absolutely love rom (i have an nvidia shield and a pc hooked up to a tv). wanted something a touch more modern, i think even ps2 level would be fine if the titles were there. switch won, i though they were massively back ordered and they're not
 
slackerinabox said:
My kids absolutely love rom (i have an nvidia shield and a pc hooked up to a tv). wanted something a touch more modern, i think even ps2 level would be fine if the titles were there. switch won, i though they were massively back ordered and they're not
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Well, then you will have to buy used (pre-owned) games if you want to go with PS2/3 consoles. How about buy a used console and ask your kids what kind of game (adventure, action, sports, sim, etc.) and then ask the Console Game subforum for which games are good/popular for the types of games that the kids like.

Edit: how about a pre-owned Wii and a handful of pre-owned Wii games? The kids would love the handheld controls I think and the Wii has a bunch of kid friendly games.
 
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What games do they want to play? If they are asking for a switch then I am guessing they are games that are only on the switch so you can either get them a switch or just hear endless complaints that whatever you do get them doesn't have what they want to play.

If they want something portable then an iPad + Arcade MIGHT be OK. There are some decent games on there, but maybe not what they want.

All you can eat console the only real choice right now is an Xbox + Gamepass or Playstation + PSNow. If the games they want to play are not on those services though it doesn't really solve your issue.
 
arstechnica.com

Xbox All Access seems like one of the best deals in gaming

Subscribers pay nothing upfront for hardware and can save money over two years.
arstechnica.com arstechnica.com

Decent deal on the Xbox Series S w/ subscription. Although I find it awfully strange that MS is releasing a next gen console with last-gen specs. I know they want to offer multiple price points, but it's just weird.

The last console I bought was a PlayStation Classic for $20. :tearsofjoy:
 
I know this is a necro, but I would say it's definitely worth mentioning...

For the holidays I decided to get the kiddo a Nintendo Switch. Overall was a bit expensive for the switch, 2 Pro controllers and the actual games.

Regardless, my 3.5 year old daughter loves it and wants to play Mario Odyssey all the time. For someone that can barely fit her hands around the pro controller, it's definitely taught her a lot of eye-hand coordination.

At this point the kid doesn't even know it's portable since I immediately docked it.
 
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