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diskoboy
11-03-2006, 11:01 PM
I wanna get my nephews their first real console for Xmas. The problem is I don't know which one I want to get them. I'm sticking with Nintendo because it's very kid-friendly and so are the games. Sony and MS are completely out of the question.

They are both still very young (5 and 7), and they don't really take good care of their DVD's. This is why I want to give them a Gamecube.

If they ruin it, then I'm not out $250.

But I want to get them a Wii, if I can get one, because the GC is basically on it's last legs and I don't want to get them what could basically be considered a dead console.

Any advice?
c0ldb33r
11-03-2006, 11:32 PM
But I want to get them a Wii, if I can get one, because the GC is basically on it's last legs and I don't want to get them what could basically be considered a dead console.
The cube's almost dead, but the good thing is that for a reasonable price you could get them extra controllers and a couple of great games to go with it.
jonnyutah
11-04-2006, 04:57 PM
yah, gc has tons of kids/party games available... ki9ds can really do a humber on those motor drives @_@ can't beat a top loader for the young ones.
XYXZYZ
11-04-2006, 09:43 PM
How "market savvy" are they? Do you think they'll be put off by a Game Cube because it's a "cheap stand-in" for the fabulous new Wii?

On the other hand if they're oblivious to the hot-item status of the Wii, a Game Cube will get them lots of great entertainment for a good price.

Oh, and you could always ask them, right?
boatofcar
11-04-2006, 10:10 PM
I'd get them a Gamecube. There are a TON of great kid-friendly games available, and while I'm not sure of the Wii's durability, the GC is pretty sturdy as far as disc-based consoles go.
joshnickerson
11-04-2006, 10:42 PM
Get 'em the Cube. Not only are there plenty of fun, family friendly titles on there, their parents will be able to pick up additional games dirt cheap.
diskoboy
11-04-2006, 10:54 PM
BTW - I forgot to ask...

Are all Gamecube games backwards compatible with the Wii? That may help my decision a little...


How "market savvy" are they? Do you think they'll be put off by a Game Cube because it's a "cheap stand-in" for the fabulous new Wii?

Oh - they know about it! Believe me... The oldest has been wanting it for a while now. I just don't know what titles will be avalible that my sister will let them play so soon after launch, and I know the Cubes titles fairly well to judge what would be okay for them.
SarKenobi
11-04-2006, 11:27 PM
I'd go with the cube cause it's much cheaper to get more accessories and games down the line. Plus they can beat it to crap and there's no big loss. The Wii would be cool but I wouldn't have known the difference at that age anyway.
Ikari Warrior
11-09-2006, 01:06 AM
I'd say cube too. The games are compatible on the Wii, and the controllers will work on the new console to play GC games. So that way you can upgrade the system as they get a little older and keep all you games and controllers.
Plus the Wii games are based on motion, and you don't want a 5 year old flinging a Wii-mote across the room by accident. I used to work with Kindergarteners, they're not the most coordinated folk LOL
c0ldb33r
11-09-2006, 09:04 AM
I'd get them a Gamecube. There are a TON of great kid-friendly games available, and while I'm not sure of the Wii's durability, the GC is pretty sturdy as far as disc-based consoles go.
I wouldn't worry about durability. Nintendo's consoles (outside the Virtual Boy) have always been rugged.
sickdrummer420
11-09-2006, 11:00 AM
For the price and age of your nephews, I would go with the Cube also. Just seems like the right move. Think about all the sutff you could get for the cube with 250 bucks. Games and accessories are cheap as hell right now so you could stock up and keep them busy for a long time.
jajaja
11-09-2006, 11:05 AM
I would get them a cube too, mostly because of the cheaper price. The controllers will also hit the floor sometimes and im guessing the GC controller will handle this better than a Wii controller.
youruglyclone
11-09-2006, 11:23 AM
I would've told you to be the "cool" uncle and get the wii for the tykes, but ikari warrior's got a good point. but still they have to learn hand eye coordination some way. final verdict....go with the wii. and get some bubble wrap for their parents.
cyberfluxor
11-10-2006, 09:45 AM
Go with the Gamecube. You can get one brand new with a handful of games and extra controllers. If you get a Wii they'll have the fewer games and extra stuff plus fewer titles to choose from. Also if you did go with a Wii I can see abusive distruction potentials with the controllers to younger kids and teenagers because you know their friends will want to play it.

On a side not, yesterday at Gamestop I was looking at their "new" section for DS games and 2 lites were on display. A girl about 7yrs old came walking up and began hitting the touch screen and when nothing happened she grabbed a stylist and began poking it to death. This isn't the first time I've seen this happen either. Kids will destroy stuff, we all know this. :) Go with the GC even if they may end up thinking in the back of their mind "Man, we got the old Nintendo system," at least it's the smarter choice.
geneshifter
11-10-2006, 10:06 AM
I say Wii simply because it is the newest thing this Christmas.

I'm buying 3 of these things myself: 1 for me and 2 for my nieces and nephews. I have games, controllers and Wii points cards on the way for them.

For me, this has been one of the best lead up times to a launch that I can remember. I'm just about as excited for the Wii as I was as a kid for the NES. Anyways, I say go with the Wii. This is one of the rarer opportunities for us gamers to surprise them with something so great and so hyped - it'll be their best Christmas ever :D

Don't miss out.
bangtango
12-06-2006, 07:20 PM
I wanna get my nephews their first real console for Xmas. The problem is I don't know which one I want to get them. I'm sticking with Nintendo because it's very kid-friendly and so are the games. Sony and MS are completely out of the question.

They are both still very young (5 and 7), and they don't really take good care of their DVD's. This is why I want to give them a Gamecube.

If they ruin it, then I'm not out $250.

But I want to get them a Wii, if I can get one, because the GC is basically on it's last legs and I don't want to get them what could basically be considered a dead console.

Any advice?

Made up your mind yet?
dbiersdorf
12-06-2006, 08:35 PM
Get them a Wii. If my parents bought me an NES instead of getting me an SNES (which was my first system) I would have been utterly disappointed. Start them off on the right foot, get a Wii.
Slate
12-06-2006, 10:04 PM
Gamecube. You can get them a wii when they learn how to take care of things, You don't want to see them playing Wii sports then accidentally throwing the controller at the TV, Breaking the controller and TV (Especially if the TV is an HDTV, Good greif)
Berserker
12-06-2006, 10:23 PM
Get them a Wii. If my parents bought me an NES instead of getting me an SNES (which was my first system) I would have been utterly disappointed. Start them off on the right foot, get a Wii.

Right, but the key word there is parents. He's talking about his nephews. Unless you're loaded, 250 bucks on your nephews is going overboard, IMO. A Gamecube would be a great relatively cheap way to introduce them to console gaming.