The Wii60: a perfect family console

I've got an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii, and I like them both for different things. The Nintendo for the pretty colours and odd games that appeal to my inner child. The Xbox for it's online capabilities that allow me to download demos and kill pixelated versions of friends, which appeals to my inner sociopath.

The problem I have with the 360 is the limited style of games. It seem to me that there is a huge amount of first person shooters and car racing games and very little else that's any good. Running around armed to the teeth is great, but sometimes I want something else. It's aimed squarely at the adult male market, which is a shame as the graphics are great and the ability to chat online to the person you are playing against is also brilliant.

The Wii suffers from the opposite problem. Loads of games for kids and adults but nothing great for the large 'kill them all and let God sort out the rest' market. What's the best recommendation for a family? I think getting both consoles and calling it a Wii60 is the answer. If this seems an expensive option you could always just get the Xbox 360 and send the kids outside to play. After all, they need the fresh air and you've got some killing to do.

Comments

[Guy Clapperton]

Well, yes, but then there's the inability to play Blu-Ray CDs, Playstation's Sing-Star game as beloved by my daughter (7) and those other reasons for getting a PS3 instead. Could we compromise on a Wii Playbox?

[john cowle]

Too true, some new titles are leaking out though like devil may cry 4 and gta, alos the arcade games on xbox live (if you tap into them) is a great way to get odd games. My flat mates and i often play worms and bomberman on the 360. Personaly though ill take the new Fear, top notch AI, scary, shooter, gta4 and a bottle of rum and keep killing. now all i need is a space pirates blasting game and im set.

[james]

'Guy Clapperton' I put it to you that you work for Sony, or one of their games manufacturers. Your post is easily the worst subjective plug I have every seen in my life. Poor show sir! And until Metal Gear Solid actually turns up on the PS3 I challenge your 'other reasons'.

Spot on about more child aimed games for the 360. i grew up with a Megadrive, and i can't think of a good sonic alternative. Halo3 and Gears' are hardly suitable alternatives. You've got to get them hooked young after all.

[Grahame Fendle]

Or, James, perhaps Guy is the well-respected freelance journalist? Himself a writer on matters of technology.

[Darren Forster]

There are quite a few "child" suitable games available for the 360, there is a large amount of EA sport titles available on the 360 like Tiger Woods, NHL, NBA, etc. Also what about Viva Pinata, Harry Potter, and Pimp My Ride (and no that one is not all about racing). You've also got many RPG's out for the 360, some of which are family orientated, Oblivion might be a bit OT for younger members of the family, but Fable - The Lost Chapters (plays under the Xbox emulator) is a good family RPG.

Also I notice someone mentioned about Sonic from the Megadrive, well he's on the 360 too (and on the Wii he's even teamed up with Mario - OMG Sonic and Mario in one game - that's seriously wrong!)

[Crazy A 64]

@James

Or maybe 'Guy' was simply pointing out the PS3 is the only console to have built in high definition player and the suggestion of a WiiPlayBOX was simply a suggestion to merge all of the talents from across the board...

I put it to you 'James' that you're nothing more than a 'Sony Hater' having had nothing to play with since they destroyed your precious little Sega... OR maybe I'll just not make assumptions about you and simply state that every console has 'something' to offer to the consumer at present built no one console can truly fulfill or market driving desires just yet. A conspiracy perhaps?

[Chris Sherwood]

The thought that a PS3 is a good system is complete hogwash.

It has no market other than the tech geeks with 6 digit salaries. There are still a lot of brand loyal customers out there, but in the end any kid would probably drop a PS3 controller in a second for a Wii Remote while the 360 actually has something to currently offer adults.

Let me remind you guys that technological superiority has little to no effect in this market as Sega knows (saturn, master system) and as of right now I see the PS3 as little more than an overpriced and oversized paperweight.

Throw in the fact that a lot of the PS3 money is going towards pushing Blu-Ray and Sony's never ending battle cry that they've won the format war (which after 2 years of yelling may finally be true) and I just don't see the PS3 stacking up to it's own hype.

[SamsoaJoe]

How 'bout the PSWii 360? Same controller system as the Wii, with high def and a great online experience...fun for all the family!!

[Clive]

Would it not make a lot of sense for the manufacturers to come up with an open source games console?. If that happed and it might drive the costs down of games and hardware devlopment

[Martin]

I love my PSWii60

[Martin]

We bought the ps3 because it had more features than a stand alone blu-ray player. The PS3 has some nice things to have, dvd upscaling, online updates, very easy upgrade of the hard drive, divX film codecs, blu-ray, video messaging (with the eye camera). Soon there will be a TV signal decoder so you can use it as a hard drive recorder for your TV. It has become more of an all round entertainment system than just a games console, we have loaded our mp3's and got rid of the cd/dvd player, we watch downloaded tv shows and movies and play the occasional game. But a broader spectrum of games is needed to sell as a pure gaming machine, the choice is a little thin at the moment.

[Joe]

Isn't the PS3 the solution here with the same games as the 360 (the ps3 does a better job at this). games like buzz, singstar and eyetoy to rival the wii(sony were the creators of intuative game play).

[Zoe]

Since when was Sony the creator of "intuitive game play"? I seem to recall Atari managing "intuitive" game play back in 1982.

The simple fact is that regardless of anyone's opinion of whether the PS3 is any good, it will never have mass market appeal when it costs as much as both of its rivals put together.

[Mark Walker]

I myself own a Wii360 and believe the only con in owning either one of these great consoles is the blue ray player, which is the only thing the PS3 has going for it. Why do i say this? well that is because the ps3 while it is vastly superior to the wii360 in the technology department it simply does not deliver. You pay all that money for the 'best console' only to discover whilst at a mates house, that alot of the games out look and play better on the 360, and the wii well the wii is all the fun you can ask for in gameing. Last but not least the reason i feel PS3 slipps up is because the companies that produce the games we love, have not had the time or the chance to get to know the PS3, so given some time the ps3 may one day deliver value for money but not at the moment.

[Ben]

"sony were the creators of intuative game play"

Have you not heard of the power glove?

Although, the PS3 is by far the best all round console. All xbox games tend to be, my gun is bigger than yours.

I was watching my Girlfriends brother play halo 3 last night, and I thought to my self, "this game is aimed at children" compared to the PS3's warhawk or the multi console CoD4.

Also, why buy an xbox for online play, when you ahve to pay for xbox live, while PSN is completely free.

[Ed]

Wouldnt PSWii be a better name anyway?

[Crazy A 64]

@ Ben

Did you play Halo or just watch? Halo has stood the test of time... Let's see how long the WH multiplayer lasts.

[Gman]

Have owned a 360 for a while. Absolutely love it, x-box live is a great community to be a part of (Halo 3 and COD4 are simply brilliant online) and while you may have to pay for it, its worth every penny (can the same be said for the pricetag on a PS3?).

Will be getting a Wii next month, bring on the Wii60!

[Ben]

"Did you play Halo or just watch?"

I've never done single player on Halo three, but have on the first and second one. I'm not sure what it is about it, it just feels uninspired, and I don't get attached to "master chief" unlike with most game characters.

Although, one bit that REALLY annoyed on CoD4 was when Gaz, a SAS solider said the word "Cellphone"...

...If they had done any research they would understand how supposedly British people using Americanisms annoys 99% of the British Public.

[Egg Chaser]

I own all 3 consoles and have to say the best all round machine has to be the 360. The novelty of the wii soon wares thin and the PS3, although very nice just doesn't quite live up to the Microsoft machine. Xbox live is probably the thing that swings it.

Paul

[Gary Tahmasbi]

I also own all three. The Wii is aimed at kids, has a few nice new things and Wii fit is interesting and Nintendo has cornered a market, well done. 360 served a purpose but it was and still is dogged with faults and bugs. I've had 6 replacements. Good console, nice games, but who wants that if you are always unsure if its going to work again. PS3, very reliable, is in a league of its own for connectivity and has awesome games. Don't know how some of you moan about the lack of games, I'm struggling to find time to complete them all before others come out. Maybe a job might cure that boredom? PS3 all the way. Oh and Blu Ray rocks.

[play sonic gams]

All the big consoles games like xbox, wii, ps3 are in sonic history now. the small ball runining with great dignity. from 1991 to now the evolution of sonic is growing more then ever. to play sonic games is one of the best feeling a good game can give.

[Steve]

There are lots of family oriented games coming out on the 360 and live arcade. Just watch Pick up & Play from the Gamerscore Blog ppl!

[Shari]

I am personally in love with the Wii and think it is a better option for a family because it allows you to interact with eachother while playing it more so than the xbox. Wario Smooth Moves is a great example of this.

[Josh]

Totally, Shari. I love when the whole family (me, my wife, and my 3 boys) gets together and plays Mario Party 8...Wii really has some great games that we can all have fun with. Plus, we get to hang out together!