video game

[carlaxx]

We have never owned a video game console and are looking for one that would be best for young kids and adults. I am very interested in active games like Dance Dance Revolution so I am hoping someone will know the best system for all of us. We are definitely not interested in shoot-em-up games. I have been told to look at GameCube, PS 2, and Nintendo Wii. What do you think?
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[esd]

Pros and cons as I see 'em:

PS2:
Pros: Proven, reasonably reliable. Cheap as chips. Has DDR.
Cons: Outdated, not a lot made for it anymore. No parental controls. Has DDR.

PS3:
Pros: Blueray, free multiplayer, next-gen graphics. Parental controls. Has DDR.
Cons: Comparatively limited library, very expensive. Has DDR.

Xbox360:
Pros: Next-gen graphics, parental controls, comparatively large games library. Cheap(ish). Has DDR.
Cons: Tend to break (though has extended warranty on the RROD and e73). Multiplayer is not free (subscription to Live). It's Microsoft. Has DDR.

Wii:
Pros: Innotive controls. Very kid-friendly. Lots of "kiddy" games (compared to the number of non-"kiddy" games). Has DDR.
Cons: No next-gen graphics. Limited games library. Has DDR.

I've got a 360 and we all use it. Got games for our 4yr old (Beautiful Katamari, Lego Indie, Lego Star Wars, Cars and a couple of smaller download games) and games for me & my better half (We're not fans of DDR).

[MGA]

Those three you listed already are fine, the DS handheld is a good one too, though multiplayer games require more units.

[Java Jawa]

In terms of being a general console? My advice is to stick with either the Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii in your front living room:

Xbox 360

• Has Xbox Live Arcade - got to pay for the games but they're very cheap and fun. A good family feature
• Largest games library - everyone in the family will definitely find a good game. You've got some fantastic outings on here like Mass Effect for a more mature audience or Beautiful Katamari and Viva Pinata for kids or lovers of more cartoony games. [Harking back to the original 360 lineup in 2005, Kameo is a great game for kids. Even I enjoyed it]
• Cheapish - even the elite model with a 120GB HDD can be had pretty cheaply now.
• Films - once you get the hang of the strange new Market interface, you can rent films on to your Hard Drive in either SD or HD [more expensive]. Handy feature if you don't feel like popping down to Blockbusters and surprisingly cheap.
• Parental Controls - if you do wind up branching into your own games, you can set up different gamer tags for the kids, lock access to Xbox Live with a 4-button combination and lock out games and films over a certain age limit.

Wii

• Controls are extremely innovative and are really well suited for family games
• EXTREMELY cheap - now that supply is no longer a problem a Wii can be picked up for bargain prices
• Raft of family-friendly games - virtually every game on the Wii is family friendly with only a few rubbish exceptions. You will be spoilt for choice for games to enjoy with the kids, but I can't say that you will find many, or any, particularly mature offerings on the console.
• Miis - unlike Avatars and the much-hyped Home on the 360 and PS3 respectively, Miis are quite a good avatar system for the Wii and I think the kids will enjoy seeing their avatar in many of the Mii-orientated games. Adds a personal touch.

[Red Spot]

best for young kids and adults
definitely not interested in shoot-em-up games
GameCube, PS 2, and Nintendo Wii

Based on the above I'd say the Wii.
I've had an X-box myself and see plenty of PS 2-3's by friends. But those mostly have fps games. What I've seen from the Wii doesnt make me want to buy it for myself but specially if you want a sort of 'family console' I do think it probably is the most fun.
There is little fun watching someone else ramming on a controller, seeing someone act 1/2-drunk on a board in the middle of your livingroom can be enjoyed from a distance
(besides that it may teach kids a bit of balance/bodycontrol, possibly ..)

[Lord Dakier]

For the kids it has to be a Wii, for parents I would suggest a PS3 or Xbox 360.

With the exception of Metal Gear Solid 4 I have yet to see a PS3 game match an Xbox 360 game.

As said earlier there is plenty of kid game on the 360. Hell, I even got into playing Viva Pinata myself.

Xbox live arcade also has classics such as Sonic which is what got me into gaming so much at the age of 4.

[fiksal]

agree with esd.

xbox
....
Largest games library - everyone in the family will definitely find a good game.

not when compared to PS2, I am thinking.
Or Wii, when it's supposedly can download and run ALL Nintendo games.

[xeon_1]

@esd what is that DDR you are talking about?

@op
The wii can play all gamecube games and connect all the controllers also of the gamecube.
Personly i own a wii since all other games have a tendancy of coming to pc also.
The only other console i am considering is the ps3 for 2 reasons
Final fantasy and blu ray drive from my tv

[madness 3D]

@esd what is that DDR you are talking about?

@op
The wii can play all gamecube games and connect all the controllers also of the gamecube.
Personly i own a wii since all other games have a tendancy of coming to pc also.
The only other console i am considering is the ps3 for 2 reasons
Final fantasy and blu ray drive from my tv

Dance Dance Revolution

[Java Jawa]

agree with esd.

xbox
....
Largest games library - everyone in the family will definitely find a good game.

not when compared to PS2, I am thinking.
Or Wii, when it's supposedly can download and run ALL Nintendo games.

I'm talking about commercial current-gen games. The 360 has the largest [certainly the most varied in terms of genre] library of any of the big 3 in terms of boxed games that you can walk into GAME, Gamestation or HMV and get. When you factor in arcade games and such it gets bumped down to second, and if you factor in previous generations of console games [bear in mind that this is the first console they've ever purchased so is pretty much irrelevant] then it's either the Wii or PS3 that has the largest library.

[Chealec]

It sort of depends on whether you want a gamers games console, a family games console or an awesome gadget.

The XBoX360 is the "gamers" console, it does games - it's basically what you expect from a next-gen games console with HD graphics and so on. Oki, the odd one has caught fire or been hit with the "red ring of death" - but it's otherwise a pretty solid games console with some decent games on it. It also works for streaming media from your PC to your TV.

The Wii is your everyone can play along family friendly unit; the graphics are a bit naff as it's basically a tweaked GameCube and for "gamers" the novelty of the controls wears of pretty quickly and the lack of grown-up games is somewhat irksome. It's cheap though.

The PS3 is the expensive console for gadget-freaks - it's a Blu-Ray player, it's a media player (streams from your PC like the XBoX), it's a decent games console with HD graphics, it's got a good mix of games for hardcore and casual gamers alike, the Sony download store is quite nice and has some decent games on it... it's got Wipeout HD... it's shiny AND black!

I'm a little biased I'll admit, I have a PS3 and as gadgets go, it's a pretty good one... although mine's probably used as a Blu-Ray player as much, if not more, than a games console

Next on my wishlist is a home theatre system - I wants my 7.1 surround sound damnit (oki, I can live with 5.1).

[nirwin]

I would suggest the Wii.

I have one, and although it doesn't take care of my standard gaming needs (huge block-busting FPS titles), it proves fantastic entertainment whenever we have any little'uns over. They can happily amuse themselves for hours with just a couple of Wii games.
It is not only good for kids though, we have put the Wii on a number of times when friends have been over and drinks have been flowing. Some simple, charming and quick games/mini-games can really make a party, moreso than an XBox360/PS3 ever could.

Since you haven't had a console before I'm guessing you can live without the over hyped mainstream and often violent games such as Halo and Gears of War etc. the Wii is a great (if technologically inferior) platform for having fun, it also has a large catalogue of games that encourage you to be active. If you are after a fun, accessable and family-oriented console, I think the Wii is it.

P.S. Hopefully I don't come across as a fanboy here, I realise the Wii has some problems, mainly games that require you to point with the Wiimore and it's inability to keep up with its peers in a number of arenas.

[thiosk]

Wii.

Thats the system for kids and adults. Hands down, no question.

Mom will love wii fit, and get animal crossing for hte little ones.

heck, even I enjoyed animal crossing