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Recommend A Cheap Gaming Console

mcarnes

mcarnes

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 14, 2004
1,928
0
USA! USA!
I want to put a gaming console in the waiting room of one of my clinics. Just something to keep little kids occupied. I have never owned a gaming console and know nothing about them. Please recommend something inexpensive that kids can bang on, but also not too dated. Something I could get on ebay without too much fuss.

Thanks!
 
You could pick up an old PS2 or GameCube and a bunch of 'party' style games, like sports or racing games.
 
My orthodontist has a Gamecube, 4 controllers and a sonic game (the one with grind races) set up in the waiting room
 
The GameCube is probably the most durable of all game consoles (I've seen videos of them being dragged behind a truck), and has the most family-friendly games.

If the kids will be playing together, get Super Smash Bros and four controllers, otherwise get Super Mario Sunshine or Mario Kart.
 
twombles62 said:
I was going to recommend a N64, which would be more durable. Especially for the games. Gamecube's are apparently very cheap now, so yeah. Get games like Mario Kart.
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Mario Kart, although very old, is rather popular on ebay these days. I should know, I recently just sold my N64, I put Mario Kart of a separate listing and it went for, no joke, £20. (~$40 if you're yank)
 
Give MS a chance

Eventhough the old XBOX is MS crap, it is still quite cheap and there are quite some games available as torrents. In addition you can hack the system and install Xbox Media Center which gives you some nice features besides gaming such as on demand video, weather forecast, console emulators(!) and playback of nearly any (video)codec out there.
 
I'd say gamecube because it has lots of games for little kids and is durable like previous posters said. Kids won't have trouble using it like they might with a hacked Xbox, and you'll have the least amount of trouble finding games for kids.
 
tsincaat said:
I'd say gamecube because it has lots of games for little kids and is durable like previous posters said. Kids won't have trouble using it like they might with a hacked Xbox, and you'll have the least amount of trouble finding games for kids.
Click to expand...

I agree, I didn't notice its was meant mainly for kids. In that case, I agree with a gamcube. Although, there is an wireless controller available for the PS2- might be useful to prevent kiddies dragging down the console when being in a battle. Does anyone know if you can get wireless controllers for the gamecube?
 
fireghost said:
I agree, I didn't notice its was meant mainly for kids. In that case, I agree with a gamcube. Although, there is an wireless controller available for the PS2- might be useful to prevent kiddies dragging down the console when being in a battle. Does anyone know if you can get wireless controllers for the gamecube?
Click to expand...

Dude, the nintendo wavebird (wireless gamecube controller) set the STANDARD... or so i've been told.

but yeah, you absolutely do NOT want wireless controllers for a public console.

Also, i agree with getting some party games, like super smash bros. and mario kart.

I don't think there's a good reason to get something like Mario Sunshine... games like that are designed for one player and even more importantly, are not designed for a quick 10 minute game while you're in a waiting room... they're designed for you to go through the entire game, not just play one random level...
 
Do remember that kids will be more used to the PS2 controller than the Gamecube one, on the whole. They'll likely see it as easier to just pick up and play.
 
Much Ado said:
Do remember that kids will be more used to the PS2 controller than the Gamecube one, on the whole. They'll likely see it as easier to just pick up and play.
Click to expand...

i'm not so sure that's true... although the PS 2 might've sold better, the gamecube appealed to a younger crowd moreso than the PS 2

Also, it's not like the controller's going to be that foreign to somebody who's ever played a console before. I don't think familiarity with the controller's gonna be an issue.
 
I don't think kids would find a PS2 controller any more intuitive than a Gamecube one. I agree that the best thing to do with would probably be a Gamecube + either Mario Kart or Smash Bros, as both are good for quick 5-10 min games of either single or multiplayer. If you don't mind a fighting game (a very cartoony one that doesn't have ANY blood or gore, just old-fashioned looney-toons-style hammers, mallets, etc.) then get Super Smash Bros. Melee for it. If you'd prefer they play a kinder-hearted racing game, then get Mario Kart Double Dash for the Gamecube. You can probably find all of these fairly cheap used. If you're very pressed for money, you can get an N64 and the N64 versions of these games, but they may feel very dated to kids these days (even though that old console is very close to many of our hearts...).
 
redsteven said:
i'm not so sure that's true... although the PS 2 might've sold better, the gamecube appealed to a younger crowd moreso than the PS 2
Click to expand...

Kids must be more adaptable outside of the UK then ;)

Add my recommendation for Mario Kart, then. Simple, easy, kid friendly.
 
fireghost said:
Eventhough the old XBOX is MS crap, it is still quite cheap and there are quite some games available as torrents. In addition you can hack the system and install Xbox Media Center which gives you some nice features besides gaming such as on demand video, weather forecast, console emulators(!) and playback of nearly any (video)codec out there.
Click to expand...

Xbox are LOUD...

Ok if you are used to loudness of PCs, but this is a mac site..
 
I will also recommend the GameCube.
You could even get a Game Boy Player as well, opening up the GameCube to thousands more games, which may be better for playing for only 5 minutes at a time, and are a lot cheaper to buy.
Gameboyplayer.jpg
 
I work at a Gamestop in my area, and you can get a used GameCube for $30, an extra controller for under $10, and a handful of used games varying in price.

Gamecube is definitely the way to go, it has a lot of native child geared games and is very inexpensive.
 
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