NFT: X-Box or Playstation...

What system do their friends have? Go with the majority.

If they don't have any friends who have a system, I'd go with PS4.

The 5 year old wouldn't be able to play much of anything, and the selection would be pretty limited for the 8 year old as well.

Kids grow fast and what they like at 8 they don't like at 9. Nintendo just doesn't make enough stuff for you to get a full investment from.

finding age appropriate titles for the WiiU than for xbox and ps4. Plus, if YOUR kids had N64, that means that they will probably dig playing the Nintendo titles too.


But the issue is that the WiiU is a dead end console. After you get the Nintendo titles, it's not something you want to buy new titles for. So it will lack in the "gift that keeps on giving" department.

Also agree that PS4 is better than xbox (I have both).

Lastly, Commodore 64 was awesome.

If there's one thing Nintendo dominates, it's the younger gamer crowd. More titles, and titles that the kids will play over and over and over again.

It sucks to pay $300 for a Wii-U with Mario Kart when you know the platform is on borrowed time, but that Wii-U with a handful of titles will get more play over the next 18-24 months than anything else you could buy. By that time, whatever PS/Xbox platform you choose will also have been EOL'd.

I've got all 3 as well as an original Wii, and those Nintendo games still get plenty of play even though my kids are older (my youngest is 7). They're also good for family play with the adults, as opposed to a game of Madden that won't score up anyone beyond my sons or me.

WiiU deals.

get them a Wii U. Infinitely better for kids under 10 or so.

it will be a nice stop gap until they are a bit older and want the new PS/XBox, and you can buy a used current gen system as well if they grow out of Nintendo (which they won't for a long time).

considering that a PS4 is $300 and the PSVR goggles are $400. Plus they are a little young to be sucked into the matrix.

My son's Wii just went belly-up. He loved the Wii, but I'm not buying another one now when he'll turn 9 pretty soon. His friends have PS4s, so that's what we're going with.

My son's Wii just went belly-up. He loved the Wii, but I'm not buying another one now when he'll turn 9 pretty soon. His friends have PS4s, so that's what we're going with.

As they will want to combine and play together a lot. That having been said we got my son and daughter X-Box kinnect like 3 or 4 years ago when they were 5 and 8 and they love it. The Kinnect sensory is a little more than the regular x-box but its more than worth it for kids that little. easy to use, tons of games. My kids, especially my 8 year old son are hooked on the X-box

the PS4 is what all the cool kids have. Interesting about the Nintendo platform and the WiiU... I will consider that as an option.

I'm really hoping to have a system that entertains the little guys... I like the WiiU interactive gaming. I don't want to create video obsessed D&D'ers (although their day -- my Son deserves massive payback for his teen age assholiness).

^^^^^^^^^

is 10 and he is constantly playing PS4 with his friends..

so you can't really go wrong with that.

Wii U is good for their age group but the good Nintendo games on that system can be expensive since they don't go on sale often. That should change since Nintendo is releasing their new system, the Nintendo Switch, in March. But you never know. I'd say the fact that the Switch is coming out in March would be another factor since they won't be making as many games for the Wii U in the future but I guess that doesn't really matter when they're 5 and 8 years old.

I guess the big question is you know what your kid likes. Kids vary a lot. Someone mentioned their 9 or 10 year old planning exclusively PS4 (what are they playing is also a question). My oldest is 11 and he still prefers the Wii U over the XBox One or the PS3.

I'd love my son or grandson to experience Mario. With Wii U they can play the the new version (Super Mario U) or download Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 for $20 each and start there. Some of the best gameplay you'll ever find. Super Mario Brother Wii U is also 2 player I believe, so they can play at the same time.

good range of options!

seems really lacking to me. Nintendo does love their niche market hardware.

I'd go with a PS4. More game variety and will be supported much longer. Nintendo has already unveiled their new console.

The PS4 is a nice system....all my sons friends (15) have the PS4 as well.

Have a ps4, you know that is the console to get. What more do kids their age want than to be apart of the cool kids! If they didn't mention the WiiU to you during your conversation with them, I highly doubt they will be excited about getting one as a surprise.

get them the Nintendo Switch. check it out on YouTube. I've been waiting for something this mobile.
Nintendo Switch - ( New Window )

because
Playstation VR is so cool
future of gaming
PS4 VR - ( New Window )

Xbox games usually come on the PC also, but PS4 exclusives don't.

But I'd still sit down with his dad and have a look over the titles that are age appropriate for him.

My older son has been playing the PS4 since launch, so he was about the same age. He's had no interest outside the sports titles, though, which was a good thing. Some of those aren't something I'd unleash on a 10 year old (and definitely not online gaming with a headset, if you're unfamiliar with that concept, unless you need to expand their vocabulary of profanity).