Starting on Game Console - What to Buy?

BuddhaBoy on 09/07/2021 - 21:23
Last edited 09/07/2021 - 21:24

Hi Guys,

So my 8 year old and have been asking for a gaming console!

Being that age, I have seen him play really well on the iPad. Not sure if I should be proud about this or worried! O_O

Anyways, I have never owned a next gen console (with disc or digital). The one I had was back in the 1990s. I think it was a Nintendo where I played the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!! Those were the days!!!

I have no knowledge on the current gaming scene and need some advice.

Should I get a preowned PS4 or Xbox one or Xbox one X or Nintendo Switch?

Or look for newer consoles?

What will make good financial decision when it comes gaming as well?

My son loves Sonic, Roblox and Mario so will be playing that. I don’t mind tagging along and also play some first person shooting game (if that’s even a term!)

Thanks

Gaming Game Console

Comments

  • tabz on 09/07/2021 - 21:26
    +7

    My son loves Sonic and Mario so will be playing that.

    I think you answered your own question. Mario is only available on Nintendo, so Nintendo Switch might be your answer.

    • BuddhaBoy on 09/07/2021 - 21:28
      +1

      Oh… I had no idea that Mario was only on the Switch! Thanks.

  • Hybroid on 09/07/2021 - 21:27
    +2

    Definitely Switch for an 8 year old. New OLED version on the way so current ones will drop in price soon.

    • BuddhaBoy on 09/07/2021 - 21:29

      Thank! Great to know.

      What’s the difference between OLED and normal Switch?

      • Soluble on 09/07/2021 - 21:33
        +5

        Bugger all unfortunately -.-

      • tabz on 09/07/2021 - 21:37
        +1

        in handheld mode, screen is a little bit larger and might be a bit more vibrant due to the OLED screen. In docked mode, no difference.

        • BuddhaBoy on 09/07/2021 - 22:36

          Ok thanks.

        • Elegant Giant on 10/07/2021 - 00:05

          Dock on the OLED model will support ethernet (wired internet cable), which would be required if you have poor wifi near the TV

          • Faro on 12/07/2021 - 23:51
            +1

            @Elegant Giant: Or you can buy a $10 dongle…
            That's a poor justification for a ~$140 increase

  • nephilim on 09/07/2021 - 21:34
    +3

    Switch lites are like $180-200 on fb market place
    Perfect for children

    • bluebottles on 09/07/2021 - 22:03

      The switch lites are more difficult to fix if you get joycon drift issues
      I've had to fix my joycon twice now and they "conveniently" tend to fail after about a year, which means they're no good for in-warranty repair
      Kids tend to have more free time for playtime than adults too, so they will run into the problem more frequently
      I'd take the 100$ more expensive cost upfront for the regular switch to save the extra $ of repair down the track, especially since secondhand ones will be likelier to suffer from drift

      • snooksy on 10/07/2021 - 09:51

        One year on a game controller? These things are supposed to be unbreakable. What is Nintendo doing. FWIW I have a PS5 and I’m probably a similar age to you OP. PS5 is a fairly adult oriented system. Games are big hundred million dollar projects on the XBox and PS systems now with the odd Hollywood actors even playing parts. I think a Nintendo is better for an 8 year old. If he was 12 I would say consider at another system. Another option for your son might be getting an AppleTV and subscribe to Apple Arcade. There’s enough games there to play on a TV with a controller to keep someone entertained for hours. I was gaming on this platform recently for a couple of years before stepping up to a PS5 and making a more significant investment. You just use PS or Xbox controllers on the AppleTV and new games each month similar to PS+ and Xbox game pass.

        • bluebottles on 12/07/2021 - 20:20
          +1

          I feel like nintendo really dropped the ball on the joycon drift issue. The last console which had such significant issues was the wii, and they offered replacement wiimotes with stronger wrist straps to stop kids from whacking them hard enough to break off the straps. In this case, the design of the joystick affects everyone, not just energetic kids, though, and they haven't done anything aside from the times they were forced to offer replacements in the US and EU after they were slapped with some class action lawsuits…

    • BuddhaBoy on 09/07/2021 - 22:41

      Thanks will check market place.

      So you say 2nd hand switch console is worth it?

      • bluebottles on 12/07/2021 - 20:31
        +1

        I don't think the secondhand ones come with warranty and you'll at least want to keep the receipt lying around somewhere you can find it if you run into the drift issues which have become a known issue with switch joysticks

  • Puglife on 09/07/2021 - 21:35

    I find it funny that people recommend parents get a Switch for kids…Yes it's a handheld console. Yes it has many kid friendly games…However long term it is by far the most expensive console.
    You won't buy a single decent game for it for under $60

    • namanuu on 09/07/2021 - 21:40

      Nintendo has all the nostalgic kids games though ..

    • Soluble on 09/07/2021 - 22:04
      +2

      If there's not a budget I'd say switch is the best kid/family friendly console on the market currently. I have a switch and a series x and the switch gets 10 times more time spent on it between me, my wife and my 7YO.

      • BuddhaBoy on 09/07/2021 - 22:40

        Thanks for the real life example!

        Do you guys get all the games you want for Switch?

        • Soluble on 10/07/2021 - 07:15

          Yeah I do, but as others have said a lot of the good first party Nintendo games don't really drop much in value so it doesn't bother me.

    • Caped Baldy on 09/07/2021 - 22:04

      decent chance they'll drop it too

    • cheapjack on 09/07/2021 - 22:12
      +2

      Keep an eye out for secondhand Mario games on Facebook marketplace. Usually $35-45ish.
      Also some good indie games your kids will love on switch for cheap

    • BuddhaBoy on 09/07/2021 - 22:39

      Ah… I have seen the prices.

      But have also seen ps and Xbox games for $100+

      Also some say game pass is $15/month but when I look up Microsoft website it is $33/m.

    • FireRunner on 09/07/2021 - 22:39

      Switch has many more quality games that are age appropriate for kids.
      Some of the best local multiplayer games too.
      Nintendo first party games can be found second hand for under $50. Pretty much never loses value so you can always resell

    • Pimpiticians 4 Life on 10/07/2021 - 02:28

      You not on ozbargain enough? All the games I can think of have been $50 or less on special. Several of the Mario games from the ebay plus deals and Amazon have been $39.

      • snooksy on 10/07/2021 - 09:54

        PlayStation hits games are about $10 on sale. Most disc games on PS over one year old can be picked up on sale for ~$30. Digital games go on sale from $1 to $100. A large range.

    • dingle on 10/07/2021 - 09:48

      DekuDeals occasionally show some decent games for under $10.

    • snooksy on 10/07/2021 - 09:53

      Wow. Does Nintendo have a subscription gaming service like the other consoles? Can you resell and buy second hand games on Nintendo switch like you can with the disc based other systems?

      • Soluble on 10/07/2021 - 11:33

        Not really on the subscription, just nes/snes games. And yes you can buy and sell used games.

  • thriftysach on 09/07/2021 - 21:36

    Xbox + Game Pass.
    Can pick up a used xbox one for about $100-$200 depending on the condition/controllers/games.

    PS4 is not a bad option either, its about $150-$250 for those but beats going for the newer ps5s and xbox one x's until at least they are readily available in the market and not priced absurdly.

    • BuddhaBoy on 09/07/2021 - 22:41

      I’ll keep an eye out.

      The newer models are literally not available anywhere.

  • relentless on 10/07/2021 - 07:07
    +1

    A new game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is meant to be out this year.

  • Lurk Hartog on 10/07/2021 - 07:59
    +2

    Enjoy this trip down memory lane.

    https://youtu.be/XjUz8IT0CYg

    • bazingaa on 10/07/2021 - 09:07
      +1

      good old 240p

    • BuddhaBoy on 10/07/2021 - 16:38
      +1

      Holy Sh*t!!! Yesssss this was that game!!! Omg!! Thank you so much for sharing this link! I am going to show it to my kid!!

      As a kid, I remember playing this madly. My parents used to hate me, wack me! I used to miss school and play this secretly. Good lord! Thanks again!

  • MrRobot on 10/07/2021 - 08:12
    +1

    I'd go with a Nintendo Switch…your son doesn't have to hog the TV if he wants to play. Be aware that Switch games tend to hold their value for a while - you don't really see many decent discounts on Switch games. If you picked up a PS4 or an Xbox One, you can grab games super cheap. For example, a few weeks ago I bought 4 brand new Xbox One titles from JB HiFi for $20. However given his age and the fact that he likes Mario, as others have said the Nintendo Switch is your best bet.

  • DemocracyManifest on 10/07/2021 - 08:34
    +1

    Switch is good. The store has a lot of games that regularly go on sale. We’ve just had to send ours back under warranty because the game cart reader stopped reading. I modded my wii however and use that heaps for the old gamecube games. I’d get a switch and if you are technically minded get a wii u as a backup which can be modded easily, has HDMI, and can play backup gamecube, wii and wii u games. Nintendo has been a bit lazy and just releasing wii u games again on the switch

    • BuddhaBoy on 10/07/2021 - 16:34
      +2

      Great. Did you get yours from Amazon? They have it priced at $379 which is a great price I think!

  • bazingaa on 10/07/2021 - 09:01
    +1

    Nintendo Switch, When it is for fun gaming specially for kids, Nintendo is the way.
    I got a PC and Xbox but still miss the good old Mario (played on SNES era)

  • MontyMacaw on 10/07/2021 - 11:46
    +2

    My first instinct was to say buy a generation or two older than current and save some bucks as he may enjoy doing for the first time what others were doing when these were new. This would save a lot of money and if he gravitates to certain genres or games then later you could still sell these for a reasonable price to put towards the console that will be THE one he will want. But then I thought of my grandson who is a year older and a seasoned veteran. So I suggest you do some research with his circle of friends and see what they have and enjoy because gaming is often a social thing where kids get together and play games. So maybe that is a good place to start, I doubt any of his friends are on here giving you advice.

    • BuddhaBoy on 10/07/2021 - 16:35
      +2

      Very well said. Two of his friends have the Switch and he plays with them when he visits for a play date.

  • lew380 on 10/07/2021 - 14:12
    -5

    Get a pc, consoles are for losers.

  • Speckled Jim on 10/07/2021 - 15:03

    Nobody has mentioned the Nvidia shield.
    Aren't they supposed to be the best of Android APK games and emulation of classics?

    • DemocracyManifest on 10/07/2021 - 17:22

      With retroarch, yeah. Not powerful enough to run switch games however

  • bluebottles on 12/07/2021 - 20:39
    +1

    This is a bit of a left field recommendation, but would you consider getting a previous generation console such as the ps4? Everyone is going to start trading in their games at some point, and the library tends to have much more range and less cost than buying a console that's totally new. The switch is also starting to get older and therefore some of the older versions of the console will get traded in. My only caution with the switch is that you should definitely keep a receipt around in case you get the joycon drift issues which are especially prevalent

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