[Teensy]

<p>My kids have a Wii.  We got it as a Christmas gift a few years ago.  This year my sons (ages 11 and 9) are asking for an Xbox 360.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My initial impression was: Are you nuts?  You already have a Wii.  Why would you need a second gaming system?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But then I thought about all the people into video gaming that have several different systems.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Money is not really a huge issue. It would be a shared gift and is within our budget. In fact, in one way the gift would make Christmas shopping easier and give us something to tell the grandparents that the boys would like as gifts (games to go with the new system).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, gamers, what do you think?  Should we not get the extra system because it is wasteful, duplicative, and just gives them another media to spend time on?  Or should we get them the second system because there are differing games or other reasons why two systems would be fun for the kids?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also, can you hook both the Wii and Xbox up to the same TV?  Or would this require a second TV?</p>
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<p>Let me know your thoughts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>

 

[andreac]

<p>We have both.  DS likes the x-box better for games that require a lot of "joystick" type movements, the Wii controllers are more frustrating for things like that.  Sports games and stuff he loves the Wii.  Those "Lego" brand games, like Harry Potter and Starwars, he likes much better on the X-Box.  We currrently have them hooked up to 2 diffferent TVs since my DH also uses the x-box, it's in our room, but we have had them both hooked to one tv with no problems.</p>

 

[Arduinna]

<p>It's not really a duplicate because not all games are available on all systems. We have Wii, Xbox 360 and a PS3 ( plus a variety of older game systems) although the PS3  is used almost exclusively for watching blu-ray movies.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As for hooking it up to the same tv, you can. We actually have all our stuff running through the AV reciever. If you don't have enough video inputs you might have to switch off what gets plugged in but that is all.</p>

 

[cristeen]

It really boils down to the games, IMO. At that age, there are probably some games on Xbox that arent available on Wii that they would like. If they were younger, I wouldnt be confortable with it just because most of the Xbox content seems to be older, whereas my 1 yo was playing w the Wii (music) this morning. But he wont be allowed near the xbox for many years.<br><br>
As for hooking them up, it depends on the tv. We have the xbox, wii and DVR all hooked up to one tv, w the xbox acting as dvd player. I think we have enough plugs that we could plug in one more if necessary. But some tvs couldnt even handle that.<br><br>
I would ask the boys for a list of appropriate games before deciding though, and then research and decide whether you agree that theyre appropriate/fit w your morals/not too old/etc. I dont think we have a single xbox game id let DS play before puberty, but maybe your boys want different games or you have different standards. I would be sure to provide a mom approved list of games to any relatives though, rather than just turning them loose in the game store.

 

[Storm Bride]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Teensy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1279742/dc-want-an-xbox-we-already-have-a-wii-any-reason-to-buy-them-one-or-not#post_16049719"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br>
Also, can you hook both the Wii and Xbox up to the same TV?  Or would this require a second TV?
<p> </p>
<p>Let me know your thoughts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br><p>I'm not a gamer, but having two systems isn't really duplicative. Different games are available for different systems. Sometimes, there are even different bonus features available for the same game in different systems.</p>
<p><br>
Hooking two systems up to the tv is no problem. We have a weird setup, where our sound is run through our VHS player, for VHS, DVD and regular television. But, altogether, we have the VHS, the DVD, the Wii, and two or three other game systems all plugged into our one tv. I can't remember what they all are, but I think it's a PS2, a GameCube and...something else. Oh - and a simulator that allows us to play old Atari games, but we haven't used that for a while. We've got a TON Of stuff plugged into this. I don't pretend to understand all the cabling, but I'm okay with that.</p>

 

[Teensy]

<p>Thanks for you input!  Good point about asking about what games the boys want - I am fine with Lego men getting blown into pieces on the Lego Star Wars and Harry Potter Wii games we have, but not quite ready to permit them to play Halo or Call of Duty type games.</p>
<p> </p>

 

[TiredX2]

<p><br>
We also have a Wii & an X-Box 360 (plus a couple older systems).  I think there are definately places for both.<br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>andreac</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1279742/dc-want-an-xbox-we-already-have-a-wii-any-reason-to-buy-them-one-or-not#post_16049978"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>We have both.  DS likes the x-box better for games that require a lot of "joystick" type movements, the Wii controllers are more frustrating for things like that.  Sports games and stuff he loves the Wii.  Those "Lego" brand games, like Harry Potter and Starwars, he likes much better on the X-Box.  We currrently have them hooked up to 2 diffferent TVs since my DH also uses the x-box, it's in our room, but we have had them both hooked to one tv with no problems.</p>
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<p><br>
My DS likes the Wii better for the Lego games and I just don't get it.  Drives me crazy because it's cheaper for us to get the X-Box games. <br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>cristeen</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1279742/dc-want-an-xbox-we-already-have-a-wii-any-reason-to-buy-them-one-or-not#post_16050072"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br>
It really boils down to the games, IMO. At that age, there are probably some games on Xbox that arent available on Wii that they would like. If they were younger, I wouldnt be confortable with it just because most of the Xbox content seems to be older, whereas my 1 yo was playing w the Wii (music) this morning. But he wont be allowed near the xbox for many years.<br>
 </div>
</div>
<p><br><br>
I have been making the recommendation for years that if your kids are younger to go with a Wii over an X-Box.  With the Kinect coming out, though, I am revising that recommendation.  If people want specifically Nintendo titles (Mario, etc...) then go with the Wii.  If you're open, I'd go with the X-Box 360 & the Kinect.  It is *much* more active than the Wii (which is important to me) and much easier to use for small children (since you don't actually use a controller at all).  The biggest problem we have run into with the Kinect and small kids is their tendancy to run out of the room/ out of the area the Kinect is sensing, lol.  I have never been this impressed by a video game system.  Additionallly, there are "arcade classics" on the XBox (as well as the Wii) which I have been okay with my kids playing for years.  The X-Box works as a DVD player while the Wii doesn't, but both can play Netflix, so that is cool.</p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Teensy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1279742/dc-want-an-xbox-we-already-have-a-wii-any-reason-to-buy-them-one-or-not#post_16050780"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Thanks for you input!  Good point about asking about what games the boys want - I am fine with Lego men getting blown into pieces on the Lego Star Wars and Harry Potter Wii games we have, but not quite ready to permit them to play Halo or Call of Duty type games.</p>
<p> </p>
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<p>Totally!  That is where we are as well.  We've been able to get plenty of X-Box games that are appropriate, but DS has generally preferred the Wii Controller.  Now that the Kinect is out, both kids (9 & 11, boy & girl) are really liking that. <br><br>
 </p>