PS3 for the Family - Is it Worthwhile?

[Dragonistic]

I know there's a fair amount of members here on GTP who have children or families and gaming consoles, my girlfriend is trying to persuade her parents (mother in particular) in to having one in the house and in particular a PS3. They have a 10 year old daughter, obsessed with LittleBigPlanet for one but what other games are worth getting for a child of that age? Is Move actually any good over the Wii they have? The father would be interested in the blu-ray capabilities primarily but then the obvious question is why not just buy a blu-ray player?

A list of family friendly and child friendly games would be useful the soon to come LBP Racing game is an obvious one along with LBP2 which I will donate. Flower perhaps? Include Move games in particular. My girlfriend will be happy with a copy of Battlefield 3 . Disregard 3D, they're not interested at all.

 

[DannyBarisGT]

You also have those Lego games. Maybe Ratched & Clank or The Sims. I have no experience whatsoever with PS Move. There are also quite a few movie games like Puss in Boots, TinTin, Pirates of the Carribean etc.

The PS3 as BluRay player is just as good as any other BluRay player. Only it also supports 3D wich not every BluRay player does.

 

[sesselpupser]

I think Modnation Racers is supposed to be quite good, but there is the LBP one coming soon as you said. There's that Playstation All Stars fighting game that's like Super Smash Bros. Brawl or whatever it is, Flower and Journey might be good choices... Maybe Noby Noby Boy? I have no idea about Move at all, though.

Also the reason you'd have a PS3 over a Blu Ray player is because of Netflix, iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD, LoveFilm, Play TV (that Freeview tuner that can record to the PS3's hard drive) and the ability to stream media from PCs in the house, if anyone can be bothered to set that up. I use it a lot though and I'm thinking of getting a second PS3 just to use as a multimedia hub type thing elsewhere in the house. Oh and you can use it to display photos on a big screen, some people might like that but I think I've done it maybe once. I don't know how much Blu Ray players cost now but it can't be that much less than a PS3, if at all, right?

 

[DannyBarisGT]

Pegi 3+ Rated Games

Pegi 7+ Rated Games

Pegi 12+ Rated Games

 

[Dragonistic]

It turns out blu-ray players are much cheaper now compared to £180 minimum for a new PS3 which is why other motives are necessary. The TV streaming is sort of pointless when they have PCs set up to do the same and Sky+ already in the home, so the main focus here will be games. Flower is a great shout, super rub-a-dub will go down well also I imagine, journey I don't know how difficulty is but seems like a good shout as well. I have no idea what Noby Noby Boy is but noted to look at later.

It's mainly the gaming benefits which will be the determining factor, because they have access to everything else but blu-ray already (and a blu-ray player is cheaper). If we can create a list of games suitable for family or child or both then we're on the right track.

So far:
LBP 2
LBP Karting
Flower
Journey(?)
Noby Noby Boy(?)
Super Rub-A-Dub
Buzz
Toy Story 3
Phineas & Ferb(?)
Lego games
Singstar
Katamari

? For one's I have some worry of difficulty or if they're good games for them full stop for my own reference so I know what to research or pass on to be researched.

 

[SirDrexl]

Another thing to consider is that if you subscribe to PS Plus now, you can get some "free" games such as LittleBigPlanet 2. It will cost $50 a year (don't know the EU price) to maintain the subscription (and thus the access to the free games), but anything bought with a discount will be yours to keep.

 

[ch3ng]

In my opinion the Wii or Xbox are better for children. It is a 10 Year Old Girl and they like to Dance for example. Well Most of them. Dance Central is a Great Dance Game and much better than the Wii Mote/Move Dance Games.

I think you should let the child/children try different Games on each console. if possible. Maybe in a store or at Friends.

My experience is that Young children like Kinect or Nintendo Games.

Move is the better Hardware, but children dont care about those things. Children look at the Games and Nintendo has better Motion Controller support.

 

[sesselpupser]

Yeah, the Wii is better for children but for a family the PS3 is better because it can do more than just play games, that's how I see it anyway.

 

[Sureboss]

I don't know how much Blu Ray players cost now but it can't be that much less than a PS3, if at all, right?

3D capable Blu-Ray can be had for £100.

The PS3 has many advantages, however as eluded to by Drag, most of these are irrelevant as they already have them. So essentially he's looking at £80-100 worth of reasons for it to be a gaming machine that isn't already covered by the Wii.

And that's where my input ends, though I work with some devs who do kids games, they don't do anything on PS3.

 

[SirDrexl]

I wouldn't bother with the Wii at this point, unless you're content with what's currently available. The N64 and Gamecube were practically dead before their successors launched, and with the Wii U waiting in the wings, the Wii may not much left.

Things may be a bit different this time since the Wii was more successful, but remember that this system has poor third-party support. Well, there are a lot of games, but many of them are pretty bad compared to what gets released on the 360 and PS3.

On the other hand, kids aren't as particular as adults; my niece plays some Wii games I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. And, there is still plenty out there to purchase. However, I would still look at a 360 or PS3. The good thing is that the games library for any system is pretty large at this point. The PS3 may not have a lot of kids' games, but by now there are a lot available.

 

[Dragonistic]

My logic was perhaps the PS3 could replace their Wii, they already own one which they could sel and get PS3 games given they should be relatively cheap by now for alot of them. Likely what will happen is my girlfriend will pay some of the difference from a normal blu-ray so she can play BF3 before expanding her horizons a little in to other games.

 

[SirDrexl]

The PS3 is a pretty good BD player. One problem you can run into with standalones is that they only get supported for so long, then they have trouble with newer discs. The PS3 is updated often and rarely, if ever, has problems with discs. I believe Criterion even uses it as their test player.

 

[ch3ng]

My logic was perhaps the PS3 could replace their Wii

This is a Huge mistake. Move is the better Hardware, but the Wii has much more and better Games for children. My idea is if they have a Wii and buy a Xbox 360 they children can play Wii and Kinect Dance and other children Games.
And you have all the third Party Games.

PS3 is the best Console in my opinion, but Not for children. The Family played Wii Mote Games and will be bored with Move, because it dont deliver a New experience. The Wii is the best Motion Controller Console and children console. They shouldn't sell it.

 

[Dragonistic]

The Wii has absolutely zero use though, so they should sell it. They don't need almost all the games they have, I think they've played more Buzz on PS2 then Wii total in the past few months by virtue of playing Buzz once . In other words the PS3 in terms of motion controls and such need only really match the Wii whilst it can also provide other games like LBP which are just better then Wii offerings.

 

[Lion-Face]

Eyepet is a good one for the kids. But considering the family, there is an entire range of genres that PS covers, Everybody's Golf is a great title. For Move you have Sports, Wonderbook is coming, Sorcery which is out. Not only that but Move is integrated into many titles, Killzone3, Socom etc, so if the family pick up gaming through the move, they can move into a variety of different games and genres not limited to simple motion games.

You also have the older games, all the PSone titles work on PS3, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon etc.

As for other features, are the PC's connected to the TV where the PS3 will be? DLNA streaming for videos from the PC, or Photo's. The PS3 has some cool slideshow options for showing Photos on a TV to friends/family.

 

[ch3ng]

The Wii has absolutely zero use though, so they should sell it. They don't need almost all the games they have, I think they've played more Buzz on PS2 then Wii total in the past few months by virtue of playing Buzz once . In other words the PS3 in terms of motion controls and such need only really match the Wii whilst it can also provide other games like LBP which are just better then Wii offerings.

They have no Mario, SSB, Mario Kart for example?

Well that's interessting. Maybe you should let the Family Play Kinect , Some ps3 Games, Some 360 Games and Wii games. If possible

What Console do you use? You could Rent Games or Download Demos and let them Play.

 

[Dragonistic]

I own a PS3 and I know how that makes this sound but I'm open to all the systems. The blu-ray capability is a big push for the father of the family, they decided against an Xbox largely because it gained nothing other then the gimicky kinect for them and that's only for the child. The PS3 holds benefits for all to a larger degree over the Xbox as frankly LBP alone will be enough for the child for a long time. My experience with the system will be useful as I can sort out alot of their problems and any sort of set up issues they may have. I think I have enough information now to pass on for their consideration, ultimately it is not my decision and doesn't affect me largely.

There's enough to keep child occupied, blu-ray for the father, general familiarity with the system to get more in to gaming for my gf and the mother won't be interested either way, how much money they are prepared to pay is their decision.

 

[ch3ng]

I own a PS3 and I know how that makes this sound but I'm open to all the systems. The blu-ray capability is a big push for the father of the family, they decided against an Xbox largely because it gained nothing other then the gimicky kinect for them and that's only for the child. The PS3 holds benefits for all to a larger degree over the Xbox as frankly LBP alone will be enough for the child for a long time. My experience with the system will be useful as I can sort out alot of their problems and any sort of set up issues they may have. I think I have enough information now to pass on for their consideration, ultimately it is not my decision and doesn't affect me largely.

There's enough to keep child occupied, blu-ray for the father, general familiarity with the system to get more in to gaming for my gf and the mother won't be interested either way, how much money they are prepared to pay is their decision.

Ok

Here are some exclusiv PS3 Games for children and Family. I dont List Games from Third Party or Games only the father, Teenager can use. Would be to much Games

Sorcery for Move
LBP 1+2
LBP Kart
The move Sports and other stuff
Mod Nation Racer
SingStar
All-Star Battle Royal - i think its the Name. Its like SSB and will come Out in 2012.

Wonderbook - for 2-7 Old children

Some Indie PSN stuff . Maybe flowers, journey for the parents?

Sly cooper games

I didn't List all the Games. Only examples.

The best: Most have a Demo to help the Family with their decicion.
The father could Play Games like GT5, AC and so on.

2 third Party examples:
Rayman Origins
Lego games

Here is a Little List with 40 Games. Its not my list

 

[Hollidog]

Someone mentioned PSone Classics. Great recommendation, I loved playing Spyro and Crash Bandicoot when I was a kid, so I dont see why the kids of today wouldnt. Plus, they are all less than $10

 

[marchi]

Wii games generally don't budge a whole lot in price. Especially the good ones.

 

[Sanji Himura]

I don't know about your part of the world, however, I wouldn't recommend having a 360 in the house at all seeing as the console is targeting adults who play shooters and other violent games. Sorry for the late response, but I felt that it was a critical point that I must point out.

But I wouldn't just outright sell their Wii. The WiiU will be backwards compatible with Wii games, and those children would need the Wiimotes to play the games.

 

[Patrick]

I don't know about your part of the world, however, I wouldn't recommend having a 360 in the house at all seeing as the console is targeting adults who play shooters and other violent games.

I disagree. If now more then ever they're audience is now children with the Kinect and what not. The Kinect isn't only for kids. It's a blast playing with it at parties. Lots of adults I know use the Kinect.

 

[Sanji Himura]

I disagree. If now more then ever they're audience is now children with the Kinect and what not. The Kinect isn't only for kids. It's a blast playing with it at parties. Lots of adults I know use the Kinect.

Going strictly on sales numbers, 19 million units sold is not a very good indication on its staying power. A proper accessory to console ratio to me is 7 consoles to 1 accessory in use. Maybe I am proven wrong, and ultimately I will because they are starting to package a unit with every new 360 that is hitting the market.

However, I wouldn't say that solely children are playing Kinect games, but what I did say, that you took out of context, is that with their recent showing at E3, and the renewal of the Activision contract that brings COD DLC to 360 users first, they are gearing an older audience, perhaps 18-30 years old who has nothing to do in their lives but to troll around on the internet.

 

[SirDrexl]

I don't see how MS is targeting adults any more than Sony is with the PS3.

 

[Mad Matt]

My kids love the PS3. They've tried a Wii which was OK but didn't seem to have lasting value.

Dance Dance and Lego seem to be the most popular, as well as some of the PS minis and PS2 games.

That's my kids, others may have different tastes.....

 

[Sanji Himura]

I don't see how MS is targeting adults any more than Sony is with the PS3.

You have to look at software support by third parties and what they are offering. Is the big press covering shooters for the 360 or family centered games? While I will admit that there are some instances where press has covered games focused on the family, most of the media's coverage on the 360 has been on shooters as their recent E3 press conference has pointed out.

The Wii, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of the 360. They targeted the family from day 1, and has become the best selling console of all time in the process.

The PS3's coverage is the perfect balance between family and shooters because they had no real identity. The no limit on console games like the 360 and Wii has positioned the console in a identity crisis where every game can succeed with little to no difficulty. That is why sales of their PSOne Classics are always good, and if a title hits in the right time of year, instant success.