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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to buy an outdated second hand wii console

66 replies

Imustbemad00 · 02/09/2018 12:38

So I know Iabu talking about Xmas, but it’s my child’s birthday first if that helps.
My almost 6 year old is asking for a Nintendo switch for birthday/Xmas. In he past (with older child) I wouldn’t of thought twice and would of got it even if it meant getting in debt or going without. My situation is now a bit different and I can probably just about afford it (not easily though) but I just feel the almost £300 price tag is ridiculous. My child would use and enjoy it but I worry about the addiction to gaming, I already have trouble getting them off the iPad.
It’s also just an obscene amount of money for one present for a young child, and I’d never only just get one present so it’s going to be expensive overall. As I said in the past I’d of bought it, I guess I’m jist getting more sensible with age!

So my Aibu is, would it be awful to buy a second hand wii from eBay, if I can get one in original box, my child probably wouldn’t care and would still enjoy it but I worry about embarrassment at school as several others have the latest Nintendo switch. Is it not a bit embarrassing to buy the discontinued wii console? Will I look like I’m struggling to get my kids what they would like so am resorting to the wii (nothing wrong with not being able to afford the latest tech, but I guess where I’ve struggled for so long I’m self conscious about this)

OP posts:
puffyisgood · 02/09/2018 13:58

if you're cash strapped then i'd say that games for the ipad are plenty good enough for a child of that age.

OfaFrenchmind2 · 02/09/2018 13:58

My Wii is old as fuck, maybe 10 years old, still working. There is a limited amount of games that can be played on it, but they are very cheap now and quite fun, like a whole serie of Resident Evil shoot em up games, the excellent RE4, some good Zeldas, a pleasant Final Fantasy, etc...
On the other hand, if he wants a console to play the same games as his friends, this will not be good.

JohnMcCainsDeathStare · 02/09/2018 13:59

I would since my Wii with the GameCube ports plays GameCube games - hooray for retro gaming!

(Though I refuse to believe that retro gaming is anything after 1992!)

Original poster
Imustbemad00 · 02/09/2018 14:00

Just to clarify, I thought as consoles, they are pretty similar, in terms of playing on the tv..?

And my child doesn’t know what a wii is (as it’s not on tv adverts) and probably wouldn’t care too much, as long as they can play games on a tv and that seems to be the answer when I say “ why do you want a switch”

He Wouldn’t even know what a damn switch was if they hadn’t started ramping up the tv adverts now it’s the run up to Xmas Hmm

OP posts:
hennaoj · 02/09/2018 14:01

We have a Wii for the family and the 9 year old has a Switch. The wii gets more use than the Switch! Get a wii but not for Christmas and get a Switch if the child still wants it when they are older. Wii is in fact better than the Wii U and can play Game Cube games. Mine are currently addicted to Kirby's Epic yarn. Just find a Wii package for sale that has lots of wii motes with it as they are expensive to buy seperately. (We bought a 2nd wii as a package just for the motes).

hennaoj · 02/09/2018 14:02

Wii can be played on TV only, Switch has a little screen and can be played as a handheld, standalone unit with its little screen and seperate controllers or on tv.

gamerchick · 02/09/2018 14:04

Then a wiiu would be a grand compromise and the added bonus of supporting Wii games as well as using a handheld pad to play.

It's a shame the wiiu wasn't properly marketed really, it's a brilliant piece of kit and terrifying playing zombiu.

ElfAndSafetyBored · 02/09/2018 14:06

We’ve got a switch but you can’t get many secondhand games at the moment so every game is expensive. As a result we only have 4 games. I wish I’d got an old wii instead, loads of cheap games and the wii is a great console.

Biker47 · 02/09/2018 14:08

never had a massive amount of choice when it came to games.

The Wii is literally the Nintendo console with the second most ammount of games ever produced for it. Sure, not all of them were good and there was alot of filler produced but there was still quite alot of selection.

In saying that, the switch is a great console and I play mine daily.

isabella2 · 02/09/2018 14:15

My children and nieces and nephews love the wii. It's the only console we have but my nephews have a ps4 and still like the wii too. Mario kart and wii fit plus are the favourites (worth getting a wii fit board I think).

I personally would never spend £300 on a console - especially for such a young child.

SLL · 02/09/2018 14:30

Reading this thread makes me really glad we don't live in the UK and aren't subjected to all the adverts and peer pressure! My 10 year old has a tablet. And that's it for entertainment and she doesn't even play on that every day (her choice)! We don't have any consoles of any kind at all... Because of where we live and shipping times, my DD has just written her list for Father Christmas. On it is the following:
New snorkel & fins (she is just learning to dive),
2 of the small (£12) Lego Friends kits,
The "Lily" set of books by Holly Webb,
A "surprise"

This is a big list for her, last year all she wanted was the "Rose" series of books by Holly Webb and some seeds to plant...

If she wanted a console of some description we would buy it for her, but with regards to OP's question, I don't think we would splash out £300 for a Switch thing, the Wii whatsit sounds a better option. A 6 year old surely is just interested in the fun they can have with the games and isn't really aware of what is new and trendy, surely?? Confused

HiHoToffee · 02/09/2018 14:36

I think a wii or wii U is perfect for that age group. Lots of games and many of them are multiplayer and it is easy to use. Favourites here were the lego games, mario karts, fifa and bowling. We ended up with 4 controllers and mario karts got quite competitive at some point.

Mine have outgrown the wii now but still,use it from time to time just for fun.

Wii fit is good for grown ups

Original poster
Imustbemad00 · 02/09/2018 14:48

We had a wii before, when my oldest was little we got one when they were first out. Sold it l, wish I hadn’t now.
Don’t really know a lot about the wii u, but just looked on eBay and they are quite a lot dearer than the wii. Don’t think I want to spend that much on a second hand console.
The bonus of the wii is that you can get really good bundles with loads included for under £100.
I’m thinking I should do that, and maybe if it’s appreciated and looked after, could go for a switch next year.

OP posts:
Creasey31 · 02/09/2018 14:50

We had the wii for awhile when he started to get into consoles to see if it would last. For Christmas last year we got him a switch (Black Friday came with 2 games). The switch is a great console and we all play it not just my 6 yr old. A lot of his friends have the wii still and if he goes round there he plays that fine as the games are really good. I don’t think kids really care that much what their friends have. The wii u isn’t as good which is why Nintendo had problems supplying switch initially as wii u didn’t sell as well.

80sMum · 02/09/2018 14:53

I'm sure any six-year-old would love playing games on a Wii.

Hufflefloof · 02/09/2018 15:16

A Wii is really really outdated, and all the new games he sees advertised won’t be available. I would at least get a Wii U as that will play Wii and Wii U games. Have you thought about a 2ds though? Can get lots of second hand games for those, but they are also still releasing new games

mummyhaschangedhername · 02/09/2018 15:34

Switch is good that it's mobile so it doesn't have to take up the tv although it can be played through the tv too. Thinking of getting mine a second one for Christmas as they love it. Although I'm less bothered by it the kids love it. We are quite a technology household tonight and have two PlayStations 4s too 🙈 switch also has the ability to play as a handheld. Mine still use the wii u a lot.

I probably should clarify I have 4 children, well 5 if you include my husband 😂 so they do share them. Plus they are getting less into toys, my parents owned computer businesses, particularly games counsels so they have always been a big part of my life. We are quite a techy family but I totally understand not encouraging it.

Has your son got a Nintendo ds? I now they are gone now but a used one might be a good way to go.

Original poster
Imustbemad00 · 02/09/2018 15:35

I HAve thought about the ds, which he would be happy with, but he already has a handheld device, and at least with a tv console I could play with him too sometimes. I find the iPad makes him withdrawn as he’s in his own little world.

Does anyone think there will be any major deals on the switch for Black Friday..?

I do think he will be perfectly happy with a wii though. I think this is my issue more than my child’s Hmm

OP posts:
rosy71 · 02/09/2018 15:49

My boys (13 & 10) played on the wii until they got a switch last Christmas. Ours is 10 years old and still works perfectly. I don't see why a 6 year old wouldn't be happy with one. Maybe take him to Cex to have a look at all the consoles they sell and point out the wii & all the games. You can buy wii games very cheaply now whereas the switch games are about £40-50 each.

The wii u might also be an option as I think that can be on the TV or handheld but I'm not 100% on that. You can play wii or wii u games on it.

If you do decide to buy the Nintendo switch, I think you can get pay monthly options in Game, but again, I'm not sure.

Hufflefloof · 02/09/2018 15:49

There will probably be a Black Friday deal on amazon but it’s hard to catch them at the right time and they go quick. We’ve found Smyths toys is usually the best place for new console deals if you do go down the Switch route

Lethaldrizzle · 02/09/2018 15:53

6 is a bit young

NapQueen · 02/09/2018 15:57

We are planning on getting a second hand wii for christmas. The kids will be 4 and 7. They havent asked for any sort of console so Im confident that they will be happy with it.

However if they were specifically requesting a certain console id either plan on buying it, or explain it was over budget and see if they fancied an alternative. Id not just ignore the request and offer something different without an explaination.

zeebeedee · 02/09/2018 16:15

we have a switch, and 7yr old DS3 and his friends like to play it as a tv console, BUT when he goes to their houses, they mostly have Wiis, and they are all happy to play that too.

DS1 (19) has a Wii, and when his mates come round they have a great time playing mario cart etc - he's taking it to Uni with him.....

Bumble1830 · 02/09/2018 16:19

I think 6 is a little young for a switch, however, saying that, if that is all he wants maybe see what birthday and Christmas money he gets and he could contribute towards it? Also, it's worth thinking about the games, there isn't a lot of choice, and the ones that are out (and suitable for a 6 yera old) are around £50, is that something you could keep up with? My Ds9 plays with a wii my eldest DS got for Christmas about 10 years ago, he loves it and its good for family fun.

minisoksmakehardwork · 02/09/2018 16:21

Our children (10, 8, 6 and 6) still use our wii. We've had it about 10 years. We have some awesome games and they love wii sports. We also have a second hand x box 360 bought for £50 with games and we pick up 'new' ones from selling pages. Not had any problems so far.

Some of their classmates have wiiU's or switches but at their age they don't care as long as they can play games and watch Netflix (x box app)