Switch or something else? Can talk to me about what i need to buy please?

[coodawoodashooda]

It's for Christmas. We haven't got any kind of gaming equipment so far. 3 siblings aged between 6 and 10. I've been saving all year so i should (i hope) be able to affect all of what i need in order for them to enjoy it. What do i have tp buy? Where is the best place to buy it from? Are the games on the device or is that an extra expense? Do they need cases or protective covers? Im a single parent with absolutely no clue. Please help.

And if i saved up and bought the ring is that a decent weight loss tool? I have an old exercise bike that takes up too much space, id be keen to get rid of it.

Maybe buy one main switch, plus extra set of controllers and 2 switch lite. Then they all have a device that can be played as handheld but the switch can also be connected to the TV - extra switch controllers would mean they can all play multiplayer.

@TheatricalGiraffe

Bear in mind you can't use ringfit (the game with the ring) on the Switch lite and there is a couple of other games where you either can't play or gameplay is severely restricted on the lite.

I'd get at least one TV one.. but I guess that's not fair on the other two

Yeah. That's what it feels like. Especially from Santa.

But OP, with the full switch you won’t need three consoles. If you’re budgeting to buy three Lites you should more than have enough saved for the Full switch already in that case.

And with the switch lite they won’t be able to play each other on the TV either, only with the full (you just need one, not three).

To play together on the tv and able to be used handheld taking shots each:
One switch console
One extra set of joy cons (controllers)
One carry case (for when you do take it out of the house)
Selection of games - recommended ones include Mario Kart, Mario Party, Roblox, Smash Bros, Luigis Mansion, Zelda, Minecraft, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro

To play separately hand held (with some games able to link up) but not able to be played on TV
3 switch lite consoles
3 Carry cases
Selection of games - but to play the games together each console needs a copy of the game - e.g if you wanted them to be able to play Mario kart together you need 3 copies of the game.

Taking all of the above into consideration is strongly recommend the full switch console, as even though it’s more expensive it’s far cheaper than buying triple of everything to allow them to play together. What about buying a small tv to have at grandparents to let them play together without having to take over the tv? This will still no doubt be cheaper than 3 consoles!!

I would look at which shops you can use top cash back etc with as that's what I do with bigger purchases.
We asked in laws etc to put money towards games so that santa bought the switch and a game together and then they had extra games
Its worth checking out Facebook sale pages. The games often come up for sale when people have completed and got bored of them.
My eldest likes minecraft and to play with friends but that involves being online via the switch which (of course) you have to pay extra for. They can also play mario kart together with friends
Depends on their ages and interests. For us they woulsnt use ring fit but like mario of any kind, minecraft, pokemon shield, animal crossing Mario kart we all enjoy
I wouldnt buy the steering wheels we did and they were a waste of time. We did buy a thing to connect 2 joy cons together to make 1 controller. Not sure of the technical term but that was really helpful for the youngest

@babblingbumblingbandofbaboons

To play together on the tv and able to be used handheld taking shots each: One switch console One extra set of joy cons (controllers) One carry case (for when you do take it out of the house) Selection of games - recommended ones include Mario Kart, Mario Party, Roblox, Smash Bros, Luigis Mansion, Zelda, Minecraft, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro

To play separately hand held (with some games able to link up) but not able to be played on TV
3 switch lite consoles
3 Carry cases
Selection of games - but to play the games together each console needs a copy of the game - e.g if you wanted them to be able to play Mario kart together you need 3 copies of the game.

Taking all of the above into consideration is strongly recommend the full switch console, as even though it’s more expensive it’s far cheaper than buying triple of everything to allow them to play together. What about buying a small tv to have at grandparents to let them play together without having to take over the tv? This will still no doubt be cheaper than 3 consoles!!

The extra TV idea is very good. It might even be cheaper to buy 3 lite switches and the console?

Our youngest has had a version of most gaming systems and the Oculus VR has been without a shadow of a doubt the very best.

If it helps, I'm buying a switch, the full one, to use at home with the TV, and at their dads and nans without, I think they can still play each other without the TV...I got a deal from very, new credit account, £323 for the console and 3 games, I have an 11 year old and a 6 year old, I'm hoping they might actually spend some time together.
I got Minecraft, Mario kart and animal crossing. I'll be getting games second hand from CEX. I might get the ring fit thing too.

@SoniaFouler

Hi, I don’t have a switch but I definitely know that games are an additional expense. You can buy physical copies of them, like from a shop or Amazon, or you can use the switch to go onto the Nintendo store online and purchase games that way and save them directly to the device. I’m not sure whether the price is different whether you buy a physical or electronic copy. I would also buy a screen protector for it and a hard protective case.

Screen protector and hard case. Okay. Good point. Thanks.

@babblingbumblingbandofbaboons

To play together on the tv and able to be used handheld taking shots each: One switch console One extra set of joy cons (controllers) One carry case (for when you do take it out of the house) Selection of games - recommended ones include Mario Kart, Mario Party, Roblox, Smash Bros, Luigis Mansion, Zelda, Minecraft, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro

To play separately hand held (with some games able to link up) but not able to be played on TV
3 switch lite consoles
3 Carry cases
Selection of games - but to play the games together each console needs a copy of the game - e.g if you wanted them to be able to play Mario kart together you need 3 copies of the game.

Taking all of the above into consideration is strongly recommend the full switch console, as even though it’s more expensive it’s far cheaper than buying triple of everything to allow them to play together. What about buying a small tv to have at grandparents to let them play together without having to take over the tv? This will still no doubt be cheaper than 3 consoles!!

That's very helpful. Thank you.

Hard case is good if you are going to be at grandparents. Plenty on amazon that arent branded.

Would you get a full switxh and then 2 tablets?

@Needcoffeecoffeecoffee

Hard case is good if you are going to be at grandparents. Plenty on amazon that arent branded.

Would you get a full switxh and then 2 tablets?

I just dont know. I can afford it. It is an absolutely massive Christmas present. Id never normally get anything as expensive as this. I need to get it right though. In my imagination i need to buy 3 things. That's what has completely thrown me.

Is Minecraft on a switch the same Minecraft thats on an xbox?

The Nintendo website has a comparison tool here www.nintendo.co.uk/Hardware/Nintendo-Switch-Family/Which-Nintendo-Switch-is-right-for-you-/Which-Nintendo-Switch-is-right-for-you--1596110.html

(Sorry can't seem to do a proper link on this app!)

Be aware that multiplayer usually involves high noise levels - excited whooping, laughter and arguing, so don't know if this is a consideration for when at grandparents!

@Atla

The Nintendo website has a comparison tool here www.nintendo.co.uk/Hardware/Nintendo-Switch-Family/Which-Nintendo-Switch-is-right-for-you-/Which-Nintendo-Switch-is-right-for-you--1596110.html

(Sorry can't seem to do a proper link on this app!)

Be aware that multiplayer usually involves high noise levels - excited whooping, laughter and arguing, so don't know if this is a consideration for when at grandparents!

That's really kind. Thank you. Ill go and check the link. I think the grandparents will be more okay with the whooping than me!

Minecraft is the same game just played on a different platform - they can still team up and play together with friends using a different device.

@Atla

Minecraft is the same game just played on a different platform - they can still team up and play together with friends using a different device.

Okay. Im not keen on that. Ill surely be able to lock it?

So, from another angle, if you woke up on Christmas Day what would you want to see that you and your 2 siblings got?

We just bought one as a birthday present for our newly-6-year-old.
We bought the new one that came out about 10 days ago. It was super new, so no bundled games. We bought Minecraft, as he has seen that on YouTube.
He is massively into Pokémon, so his aunt bought him two Pokémon games.
His granny bought him a Sonic game and Lego City Undercover (bonus for us that the physical game has Danish language)
We got a hard case and screen protector for £18 as well.
His soon-to-be 18-yr-old cousin is dead jealous 😁

His Daddy did all the research, but it totally made sense. The new one has longer battery life etc, hence we chose that one.

I just dont know. I can afford it. It is an absolutely massive Christmas present. Id never normally get anything as expensive as this. I need to get it right though. In my imagination i need to buy 3 things

Because you mention that you would like them to play on the TV, a switch lite can’t be an option because it doesn’t have that feature. So you can’t buy three lites anyway if playing on the TV is a must have so they’re out the question. if you’ve been budgeting for three you will probably find you can buy quite a few of the stuff on @babblingbumblingbandofbaboons list

@coodawoodashooda

So, from another angle, if you woke up on Christmas Day what would you want to see that you and your 2 siblings got?

100% the switch on its own not 3 consoles. But this is with an adult head and the knowledge that 3 consoles won’t actually give them the things that they’re likely to enjoy most (playing together, big screen, bigger choice of games). Given their ages too, I’d think your eldest might be a bit peeved at getting the same thing as their youngest sibling, where if you wrap it as a shared present it belongs to them all and they can have games they enjoy together and games they enjoy alone.

@SoniaFouler

I just dont know. I can afford it. It is an absolutely massive Christmas present. Id never normally get anything as expensive as this. I need to get it right though. In my imagination i need to buy 3 things

Because you mention that you would like them to play on the TV, a switch lite can’t be an option because it doesn’t have that feature. So you can’t buy three lites anyway if playing on the TV is a must have so they’re out the question. if you’ve been budgeting for three you will probably find you can buy quite a few of the stuff on @babblingbumblingbandofbaboons list

Thank you so much everyone. I guess ill have to endure the pain of going into the shop. I absolutely hate buying stuff like this. For me it's like going to Screwfix or something.

I bought a switch between my youngest two last year and they love it. They have 30 minutes a day on it each or an hour if they're playing together. They love it.
I'd definitely go for one console plus accessories and extras