If you were a parent, which next gen console would you buy your kids for Christmas?

[Parm]

I think this is an interesting question as this Christmas will surely be a key time for Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony alike.

A lot of Sony enthusiasts are aware that the PS3 will fly off shops simply due to brand loyal buyers. That's certainly true.
However a lot of the same people also assume that the Playstation name is far more popular than the others, and this is where I have to disagree. I'm not old by any means (23), but I've been gaming since I was young and if I had to associate one name with gaming it wouldn't be Playstation or XBOX, it would certainly be Nintendo.
As a lot of older people tend to buy the christmas gifts, I personally think Nintendo will be the one most familiar to them.
With the PS3 price tag and the genre of games that tend to come with Playstations such as GTA, I certainly wouldn't buy it for my kids.

The XBOX360 is in a similar boat, some parents might see a Microsoft product as a good or bad thing.
The plus point here is that it's bang in the middle or the price range, it's not the most expensive and it's not the cheapest, that's usually a fair bet when buying a gift.
By christmas time though games such as Dead Rising and Saints Row should be on the shelves. As much as the kids might one, the parents certainly might not want them playing such violent games.

The Wii on the other hand looks a safe bet for Christmas gifts. It's cheap (well, it should be), it's small enough to put under the tree and the games and characters still look so cute and playful. Definately the kind of games I would want my children playing.


I'm 23 myself and although I already own a 360 (think it's bloody awesome too), I'll definately be asking Santa for a Wii this Christmas.

For the people here who actually have kids, do you think you'll be buying them a console this Christmas, and if so, have you thought about which one?

[kempez]

I'd definately get my kid a Wii console wise. The DS is also a great kids handheld

nintendo know how to make games for kids. Most of their games are great fun and safe. No stupid OTT violence: just FUN games.

I'm 24 and I'm asking my Fiancee to get me a Wii for my birthday

[autopilot]

Yeah, if i was a parrent i would be buying the Wii for my kids. But only if there were games i like too.

[DavidM]

Nintendo - as it's cheaper... although when I was younger I had to save up for my own.

(Grumbles about kids being spoilt these days... "When I was younger, had to work down t'pit.." etc etc etc)

[Ferral]

Its going to be the Wii for mine. Nintendo seem to be very child friendly with most of their releases.

Getting a 360 for my own use later this year, steering clear of the PS3 due to price. Also the fact that a lot of the PS3 games are actually just follow ons from previous gen games, getting a bit lacklustre.

[tehsucks]

Yeah I thought about this ages ago. I mean, Nintendo are probably gonna make more christmas sales than ps3. The xbox might make around the same as Nintendo. As for violent games, Nintendo is breaking out some violent games (not many) so I don't think parents can really avoid that, and I personally think that, that aspect of choosing a console is irrelevent.

The price tag for the Wii will deffinately draw attention though. But then again the people who haven't been following what Nintendo have been doing/understand the reasons behind the Wii may be a little apprehensive. On the other hand, they may find it really awesome. Who is to say. But yes I am with you on that.

I am only 17, but if I was older and had kids I would get the Wii for them. And I will suggest to other parents that if they are getting any console, to concider the Wii.

[DavidM]

... if the name doesn't put them off of course

[Carlh]

Suppose it would depend on the age of the child

My child is currently only 6 months so I wouldnt buy him a console just yet

Saying that tho if he was a little older I would probably get him the Nintendo as the games are a lot easier and more friendly to play - eg super monkey ball etc

Then again guess this would seem sensible as I already have the 360 and personally wouldnt pay over £400 for a console which rules out the PS3

[pr0p4g4nd4]

The Wii, it's gonna be cheap

[Parm]

Well, all signs point to a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Wii Year.

[depresion]

Probably the Wii despite the stupid name, the 360 is now getting well established but lacks much in the way of kid frendly games and the PS3 is just going to be stupidly expensive and that could put off 3rd party developers.

[Bluecube]

Definitely a Wii. Nothing much I can really add to what's already been said (kid friendly games, etc). Nintendo seems to be one of the few companies that realises games should be about having fun rather than murder and slogging through an umpteenth maze. I think I might get the wife one

[johnny02004976]

if i had a kid i'll tell them to stop being so greedy asking for a console for xmas and to think about all those children around the world with nothing

then sneak off and play with new sexy Wii

[Blademrk]

My 2 yr old nephew lives with me and is already game mad (just like me), I barely get home from work and he's trying to get me to put a game on for him. His favourite game at the moment is Donky Konga on the cube (although he calls it monkey).

I've already got a 360 (and addicted to it) but I can't see the PS3 being worth what they're going to charge for it, so Christmas time I'll proberbly get a Wii (my nephew will be just short of three then, so I can already sense I'm not going to get much of a look in with it...)

[Steven W]

Yeah, a Wii for the kids definately. It's the most affordable one for Xmas and should have the best kiddy games on it.

[ExceededGoku]

tbh a kid below the age of 5 will not be able to understand all the complicated menus and features of the X360 and the PS3, so if I was a parent I would definitely get my kid the Wii. Personally I'd like all 3 (being as I'm 17 I understand all the complicated menus and features )