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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask what gaming console to buy for ds?

88 replies

PicaK · 04/11/2018 10:34

I'm in the lucky position of being able to buy DS9 a gaming console for xmas. But am lost trying to work out which one is best as i've never really played games myself. Any advice welcome.
PS4 Pro ?
PS4 Slim?
Xbox 1x?
Xbox 1s?

OP posts:
BumDisease · 04/11/2018 12:16

I have a Switch but there are loads of suitable games on xbox/ps4 if that's what he wants. Also I assume op will be the one buying the games and will have the final say on them. Age ratings are on the box.

spacefighter · 04/11/2018 12:19

I'm getting mine a PS4 for Christmas.

TaxCredits · 04/11/2018 12:26

Can only echo everyone else - whatever his friends have. Buy second hand, and you'll often get a bunch of games too and potentially save a bunch of money. Xbox One S is best value if you don't have a 4k TV, although it does utilise those in an albeit limited manner. Definitely get an Xbox gold sub if you go with an Xbox, very good value and includes games every month.

On the other hand - if he doesn't mind then the PS3 and Xbox 360 are indeed outstanding value for money second hand. You'll get them for peanuts and games are dirt cheap. I always buy one generation behind and pick up the best exclusive to that console games of that generation.

PC gamer first and foremost though 😁

buckeejit · 04/11/2018 12:27

I'm leaning towards a switch as I like the portability aspect & know some of his friends have one, but have no idea about consoles & ds thinks Santa would never bring one.

We have an ancient wii. Also, ds, also coming 9 is getting dh's old iPhone 6 for his birthday this week. Dh wants a PlayStation 4 pro (for himself), but leaning towards the switch being useful over Christmas when we're away at in laws & for future trips. Willing to be swayed-there is another thread in the Christmas section dedicated to finding good deals on the switch.

MinecraftHolmes · 04/11/2018 12:28

HTH Hmm

Very good. If the parent is asking a broad forum about games consoles for a child in a household that sounds like it doesn’t have any games consoles, suggesting a switch isn’t that stupid a thing to do. PS4s are great. We have one, DS (5) has games for it. But we know about games consoles, use them ourselves and aren’t scared to tell him that games that aren’t suitable aren’t for him (unlike my SIL who lets her DS the same age play COD because “well he’s seen DH play it/it’s just a PlayStation game”). Better is perhaps the wrong word but the Switch is undoubtably placed as a more family/child friendly console because the adult rates games largely aren’t available for it - eliminating that problem if a parent doesn’t think they are able to police what their child has access to (but that’s a different thread).

BogstandardBelle · 04/11/2018 12:30

We went for a PS4 Pro (1tb) for 10 yr old DS this year. Our reasoning was that if we got something up to date and with a large memory it would last longer, and not end up being obsolete in a couple of years. TBH it's great, I don't play it myself but it looks like a lot of fun! We keep it in the living room so no issues with him trying to play games that are too old, and we have long established screentime rules that he doesn't have a problem sticking to. He quickly asked for a headset / mic. It's not essential but it has been a great way to firm up on new school friendships - and he can chat with / play Fortnite with his cousin who lives in the UK, who we usually only see once a year (we live in France).

BusyMum47 · 04/11/2018 12:31

Definitely find out what his friends have! Our son is 11yrs old & has an XBox1 with Xbox live subscription & a set of headphones so that he can play games with & talk to his friends. As long as you control what games he plays, what he downloads, who he's able to talk to & how long he's on it, it's absolutely fine! For our son, it's as much about being able to chat to his friends as it is the actual game playing. He has it set up so that he can chat to his selected group of buddies even if they're all playing different games. They love it - often chat about school, homework, etc. Personal opinion is to have the console where you can see/hear him playing - at least until he's older. Ours is in the dining room & we can monitor what he's playing & his conversations without him realising it. So many of his friends have them in their bedrooms & spend literally hours closeted in there, at all hours of the day & night - that doesn't sit well with us at all & we refuse to let him move it upstairs.

ProfessorMoody · 04/11/2018 12:33

The OP has asked specifically which choice would be the best out of four consoles. The Switch isn't mentioned.

Were you aware that you are able to turn off all graphic content on the latest Call of Duty game? It also doesn't have a story mode, so the gameplay is pretty much the same as Fortnite, only with more life-like graphics. I find Commonsense Media handy for these things (where it's rated as 11), as well as actually playing the game myself. The new Cod is no more than online laser tag with the graphic content mode off.

Adult rated games are absolutely available on the Switch, by the way.

MinecraftHolmes · 04/11/2018 12:38

The latest one - ok, I didn’t know that because we haven’t got that one, and neither does BIL (£60 PlayStation games are Christmas things here Grin) - but the previous versions don’t, and that’s what they allow access to.

And yes I did - hence “largely”. RDR2, GTAV and COD all not available, and they’re the biggies that cause controversy with children being allowed access to them.

ProfessorMoody · 04/11/2018 12:42

You can do it on Black Ops 3 too.

No, those three can't, but there is actually talk of GTA being ported which is interesting. According to Mumsnet, Fortnite is the work of the devil and that's available on Switch Grin

IntenseInterest · 04/11/2018 12:43

I would ask just in case I got it wrong.

DS10 has a PS4 pro which he has never played. He recently asked for the Nintendo Switch as he played his friends one and thought it was “really cool” so I bought him one, which now stays in the car.

ThanksItHasPockets · 04/11/2018 12:48

PS4 Pro and Xbox One X would both be a huge waste of money for a 9YO. As PP have said, they are powerful machines aimed at serious gamers.

Original poster
PicaK · 04/11/2018 12:57

Thank you all so much. Lots to think about.
To answer questions.
He is very fortunate and was gifted an old xbox 360 by a lovely friend 2 years ago but as people point out he's run out of games.
Hedoesn't know what he wants - half his friends have ps and half xbox.
I hadn't even heard of a switch - so i don't mind it being mentionned but as none of his mates have it i guess it's not a contender.
We do have a hd 4k tv. Although i only just found that out from dh.
I will check with his friends' mum.

I think i need to be more aware of new technology.
And it is thedreaded fortnite he wants to play.

OP posts:
BadLad · 04/11/2018 13:01

An X-box is better for driving games. It is also backwards-compatible with many 360 games.

For most other genres of games, the PS4 is the better option.

Duchessgummybuns · 04/11/2018 13:01

Getting DD8 and DSS7 a Switch this year, very family friendly but we already have a gaming pc and ps4 (family gamers). Check amongst his friends’ parents and see what they have

MrsStrowman · 04/11/2018 13:33

I think it depends on what suits your family DH built his own gaming PC and I have a PS4, so if buying for family play I'd go for a switch but only because it adds something different to the things we already have and the portability. If he wants Fortnite one of your first suggestions will be needed, but no really need for one of the pro versions

BumDisease · 04/11/2018 14:06

^Fortnite is available on Switch and has cross platform play. But this is irrelevant if OP is deciding between a PS4/Xbox anyway.

Tiscold · 04/11/2018 14:15

Ps4 personally.

I prefer the control as i find it more comfortable but that's a minor thing.

You get better performance on ps4 i believe.
I dont think the exclusives for xbox are worth the drop in performance.

But this is all probally necause i grew up with playstations and have had all of them, so I'm more familair eoth them.

PinkPupZ · 04/11/2018 14:18

Switch

Jezzifishie · 04/11/2018 14:44

Another vote for the switch - you can play Fortnite on it, if that's what he wants to play.

I might go and play mine now! Grin

Sethis · 04/11/2018 14:54

Next time you're in the car together say "I read online that an Xbox is way better than a Playstation, and I thought they were basically the same thing. Is there any difference between them?"

After he's done eye rolling he should give you a response that gives you a bit of information about which way he's leaning. Go with that. Shop around on Ebay, Amazon, and local high street shops for deals, and look for bundled in peripheral accessories like a headset and additional controllers rather than additional games, because the games he can choose himself over time, while the headset and extra controllers have immediate value in the here and now, and lets him be more social with his friends instantly.

Tiscold · 04/11/2018 14:57

Tbh, i dont think switches are all that, and it isn't what he is after.

I agree with above poster, ask him which ate better and that will be your answer.

Also agree, dont do the extra game bundles, get a headset and controllers as extras.

agirlhasnonameX · 04/11/2018 14:59

Personally I think switch is overrated. It doesn't feel natural, it's pretty laggy and doesn't have a lot of memory or hold a good battery.
I think to play fortnite your definitely better to go with Xbox or PS esp if that's what his friends are on.

Tigger85 · 04/11/2018 15:01

Personally I would go for the nintendo switch, it is imo much more child friendly, promotes playing together and can be used as a handheld. Also the ps5 and Xbox equivalents are rumoured to launch either at the end of next year or in 2020(more likely) so I wouldn't want to spend £300+ on a ps4 or xbox1 now only to have the kids begging for another £300+ consol in possibly a years time.

BumDisease · 04/11/2018 15:02

I've never noticed any lag when playing my Switch and managed to spend a train journey from Glasgow to London playing Mario Odyssey without running out of battery...

...and the memory issue can be solved with an SD card!