Can someone assist me (a Mum who has no idea about gaming) - which platform would be better for my son (8years old) to play Minecraft on and other age appropriate games. He plays Minecraft on his ipad but has said he wants a gaming console which will be his Xmas Present. But I am unsure of which one and why.
Minecraft on Xbox or PlayStation ?
ELH05 on 17/10/2018 - 16:28
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Aww thanks, trying to get this purchase right haha :)
I like the sound of that Nintendo switch especially having access to playing Xbox one players. Hopefully his mates are on Xbox then. I assume they cant be using any other form of Xbox then (only One) to be compatible with the Switch?
The Xbox One family of consoles are all cross play enabled with Nintendo Switch and PC. That does exclude the 360 as it hasnt been properly supported since around 2013.
Seeing as he's young I believe Switch is the way to go. Most of the games are family friendly and he'll be able to play games like Minecraft, Rocket League, Fortnite (if he's allowed of course) and others with his friends even if they're on Xbox, PC and hopefully PS4 soon as they are starting to allow cross platform play.
If he plans on playing online it's also worth noting that you'll have to pay for a subscription service regardless of what console you end up choosing. Switch online goes for $30 a year whereas Xbox and PlayStation online services cost around $80 per year. This is of course before factoring in sales and everything else.
Regarding the comments below it is also important to remember not to confuse too much fact with opinion. Opinions are often more abundant in this topic than just about anything else due to brand loyalty. For example, someone below said to get the Xbox because it has the best controller, but it is almost Identical to the Switch Pro controller.
I personally own all major systems this generation and can say that all have their benefits, but given the original post stating he's used to playing Minecraft on his iPad, I think the Switch's versatility in terms of being able to take it anywhere or play it on the tv seemlessly will fit the best.
EDIT: It's also good to remember that, like people mentioned below, all games on Xbox and PlayStation require installations from the disc and online updates before you can play. While Switch games also require updates most of the time, they usually don't require an initial installation (unless mentioned on the box) if you buy games in their physical format. They simply work as games used to - pop it in the system and start playing.
The only thing worrying me about the Switch is that I hope it’s not one of those consoles that phase out popularity quickly I.e the Wii
@ELH05: The Wii phased out mostly due to the enforced motion controls on almost everything which took it out of being considered a "hardcore" gaming platform.
The Switch, while still underpowered compared to its contemporaries, has the benefit of being portable which means people are playing them more and more comfortably however they want which is creating higher game sales and more "full" online games. It's popular enough with the more "core" gaming group to maintain momentum imo. It isn't resting upon gimmick titles like Wii Sports and Wii Fit to bolster its sales.
Also if we're looking at longevity, the Switch has more length left in its lifespan than the other consoles.
Switch was released last year whereas the Xbox and PlayStation were released in 2013 and most analysts are expecting replacement systems for the latter two by the end of 2020.
But to address your main concern, no. The Switch is not going to die out as suddenly as the Wii did. Cross platform play means there will always be people to play Minecraft, Fortnite and Rocket League with as long as those games remain popular even if the Switch itself slows down.
whatever console you get, don't buy lee carvallo's putting challenge
You have selected 'Driver'..
Now enter the force of your swing. I suggest feather touch.
Ball is in the parking lot. Would you like to play again?
I find Xbox really good for child accounts. I have an Xbox Live subscription and child accounts can be linked to mine as the parent so they can play multiplayer games without paying for Xbox Live. By default, the privacy restrictions are good, eg no chat allowed to players who aren't on their friends list and their online status is hidden. We also get weekly emails on their screen time and you can set screen time restrictions via the Microsoft Account page
Also, whichever way you go, make sure to fire up the console BEFORE Christmas to download and apply all the game and system updates. Otherwise, you may be waiting a while (depending on the speed of your internet connection) on Christmas Day for the updates to finish!
Stix is right - no matter which you get very carefully unpack it update the system and create an account(s). Then install the games and update them too. Carefully put it back in it's packaging so it looks like new and wrap it.
We did this last year and it was so worth it. Kids literally unwrapped it and were playing games within 15 minutes.
Good luck with whatever you choose and have a great Christmas.
Definitely Xbox. It has backwards compatibility with games from the previous consoles, which means hundreds of child-friendly cheap games. Plus the controllers are the best on the market and very comfortable to use at any age.
Great advice guys - at least I’ve ruled out the PlayStation , just need to choose between the Switch and Xbox one now.
Both are great choices and I'm sure he will love either option. My 2c is that I am struggling to find decent child friendly games on the Xbox One. I know there is a larger back catalog of xbox360 games for my 8 year old, but nothing jumps out as being both age appropriate and engaging.
Whereas while the switch is fairly new, I am finding a plethora of games to hold attention. With lots of Mario / Sonic games, and the upcoming pokemon game as well it definitely seems gear more towards the family friendly age range.
Although the parental settings are much better on the xbox one, they are still present on the switch as well.
Even though I love the Switch and agree with what you're saying, some child friendly Xbox games off the top of my head on Xbox One:
Majority of Rare Replay (Viva pinata, Banjo Kazooie, etc)
Starlink: Battle For Atlas
Skylanders
All the Lego games (I strongly recommend Lego City: Undercover)
Sonic Mania
Sonic Forces
Minecraft
Mega Man
Forza Horizon series
NBA/FIFAThing is though that most of those games are also on Switch
I am really torn - The switch is just that little on the expensive side still though… that's whats stopping me taking the plunge.
@ELH05: If you can, you could always wait it out for the next couple of weeks for the Black Friday sales. Amazon will probably have some decent prices.
You sound like an awesome mum!
I recommend finding out what consoles his friends have, as chances are he will want to play with his friends at some point.
Also look into the Nintendo Switch, as it is very versatile and great for Minecraft, and also can play Minecraft online with Xbox One and PC players.
It's both a home console, that you can play on your TV, and a portable console that he can use without needing the TV, on car trips, etc.