to X box or not ? Advice please !

[wrongsideof40]

My DS (just turned 8) has requested an X box with halo 2 on it for Xmas . I made some we'll see noises and was first shocked at the price of the X box and second shocked that the game is a 16+ ! I haven't seen the game but he has played it at friends houses apparently. Does anyone have any experience of this game ? and its suitability for younger children ? Also X box vs PS2 - any thoughts ?

The Orgional Xbox was really bad imo, it was really faulty - PS2's are much better with a wider selection of games for ALL ages.

halo is very violent- not suitable for younger children at all. I have all 3 of the Halo games and would not say any of them are suitable. Especially in multi player mode.

Thanks different ID - I will steer clear of Halo - I can't understand why 2 of his friends have these - I had their parents down as sensible types - and its not that they have older siblings !

Charlee - A friend has also recommended the PS2 - I think I will steer him in that direction !

I had both when they first came out, i was really dissapointed with the XBOX and yes Halo is deffinatley to violent for an 8year old thb.

Thanks

xbox 360 has more scope as a family media centre with downloads and so on.

We got the xbox360 around 2 years ago, has plenty of games suitable for all age ranges.Can't imagine shelling out £300 or whatever for a ps3, has no unique features or games that I would want. Not sure about Halo, only played it briefly, but seemed lots of fantasy violence. I may be wrong, but i see this as less bad as realistic violence as in GTA, shooting some random or alien is not the same as running over some bystander on the pavement.

360 all the way, but agree, no Halo - some lego star wars/batman etc much better

if he has other friends with xboxes do they play online?
i admit i don't know much about this, so maybe someone with more knowledge can help, but i do know adult friends with them play each other from all over the country.....so i'm assuming it can log on somehow?
just thought i ought to mention it in case you didn't realise and your son springs it on you.

you can only "chat" to people if you have a Gold membership, otherwise you are on your lonesome.
Comet have a good deal at the moment- £166 for xbox360 with 60gb hard drive, extra controller and 4/5 games. DH told me tonight when he picked me up

Hi,

The vast majority of games for the X Box are aimed at teens over 16 and adults. There are not many games for the lower age groups; you'd be better off with a PS3 or some such system like a Wii which is more family friendly in terms of game content.

PS3 can play "Little big Planet", good game this and this is not available on any other games system.

Halo is certainly NOT for 8 year olds. It is very violent in content.

We seem to be able to download plenty of demos suitable for our 5 y/o

What about the Star Wars games - the non lego ones I mean - are they as violent ?

wrongside,

are you new or a name changer?