My daughter has been playing a bare-bones version of Minecraft on her 7" tablet, and really wants to play the whole thing. Looks like buying a gaming console will be cheaper and provide better performance than getting her a laptop computer to play it on, so I’m researching gaming consoles … but it’s just too much. I don’t know what to do. I’ve never in my life had a gaming console, and if my kid didn’t want Minecraft, I wouldn’t be buying one. So please, tell me what to do.
Looks like the Nintendo Wii is no longer available? They’re only available from third-party sellers on Amazon.
-Looks like Xbox and Playstation both have annual memberships? Can you play your games without coughing up for the membership?
-If you do cough up for the memberships, you get “free access” to apps like Netflix and HBO. Does this mean you get Netflix and HBO without paying any more, or does it mean you have to pay for Netflix and HBO, and the console will then let you access your subscription?
-So Playstation is a little more expensive than Xbox. Which one would I want? My husband will absolutely not be playing video games and I will be playing them only with my daughter, when she requests. Mostly she’ll be playing alone, and she’s five years old right now, so it’ll be little-kid games. ???
You don’t need an annual membership to use your Playstation. You just buy the games. And while I can (and do, frequently) access Netflix (along with Hulu, Amazon Video and other services) through the Playstation, you still need to pay for separate accounts with those services. The Playstation is just a vehicle to run the apps.
For general games that are fun to play with multiple people and aimed for kids, I would recommend the Wii U. The Wii U is the successor to the Wii - that’s why the older Wii is only available from third party sellers. The Wii U can also play Wii games. There are a ton of cheap, fun used Wii games at most video game stores. Nintendo has already announced a new successor to the Wii U that is “supposed” to come out next year, but it shouldn’t affect your daughter for several years.
Like the Playstation, the Wii U allows you to have video streaming apps like Netflix. But you still have to pay the subscription fee to Netflix to watch anything. Netflix allows you to have one subscription on multiple devices so you only need to pay once to cover your tablet, gaming console, and more.
You probably couldn’t go wrong walking into GameStop and saying this speech to them. From all of my interactions with them, they are knowledgeable and NOT paid on commission. Which means you won’t walk in with questions and walk out with PS4 Pro.
I think if you say “hey my daughter wants to play minecraft and I don’t need the latest and greatest, what used system would be best for it?” They will probably point you in the right direction.
Get a new PlayStation 3. Walmart has them online for $150.00. With warranty! (Scammers sell faulty used gaming equipment - overheats, will not play disks, etc.)
Now the good thing about a PS3 is it is a mature product, everyone is going to PlayStation 4, so there is a LOT of used PlayStation 3 games out there at pawn shops for $5 or $10. And all sorts of accessories like a Blu-Ray remote (plays Blu-Rays) for $10 used. Or PlayStation Move accessories for almost give-away prices.
If you get the new PlayStation 4, you will pay through the teeth for anything.
I would normally advocate purchasing a PS4 or XBox1 (we have the former). However, if you are planning on using it first and foremost as a Minecraft box with only slight consideration of streaming services, you probably want to get a console from the previous generation (PS3 or XBox360), it will be cheaper overall.
Side question: Do you care about playing Blu-Ray discs?
I’d definitely also recommend a last gen console, especially for just running a single game. The PS3 wouldn’t be my first choice though unless you can find it cheaper than the 360.
My next suggestion would be something like an alienware alpha, they are on sale right now, smaller than any console, quieter than any console and start at $350 I think. They also run the best version of minecraft: the PC version.
If the question would have come up before purchasing your blue-ray player I would have recommend the Xbone S. Cheap on sale, and it’s the best blue-ray/4K media player out there right now.
Having done some googling, it seems that the Wii U version is limited even compared to the other consoles, which themselves are limited compared to the computer.
However, at her age I think you could do worse than the Wii U. It has plenty of games that she’ll be able to play either alone or with you (she won’t be into JUST minecraft forever), and plenty more games that you’ll be able to play with her. And more games still that you might be able to rope dad into playing with both of you.
One other question. Will your daughter be programming Minecraft? If so, then you might want to consider a PC. Minecraft as a tool to teach kids to program is a pretty big thing.
PC’s have the best version of minecraft as well. The recommended hardware specsare:
•CPU: Intel Core i3 or AMD Athlon II (K10) 2.8 GHz
•RAM: 4GB
•GPU: GeForce 2xx Series or AMD Radeon HD 5xxx Series (Excluding Integrated Chipsets) with OpenGL 3.3
•HDD: 1GB
•Latest release of Java 8 from java.com
Minecraft will run on even lower specs. The above is recommended. One of my kids is getting into Minecraft in a big way, and I’m encouraging her to learn the programming side. And, at least in my 12 year old’s humble opinion, the PC version is a “gazillion” times better than the Xbox version. YMMV
This is all good to know. I ordered a PS3 yesterday, so she’ll be playing it on that for now, but sometime in the next few years–when homework becomes a real thing–she’ll have a laptop of her own. Good to know that the PC version of Minecraft will open all that up for her.
For now, I think whatever lack of features the PS3 version has won’t affect her enjoyment … and now we’ll have a console in the house. I ordered a couple other games for it, too. Interested to see how the console will work itself into our family dynamic. I totally DON’T see my husband ever playing it, but who knows.
FYI - You mentioned the adults in the house would not be playing games…
But with a PS3, you can get a USB microphone (used at 2nd hand store - look for the PlayStation logo on these things) and a Karaoke PS3 game. Also you can get a PS3 camera to go with it (get used) and PlayStation “move” game which uses a camera and microphone. That is fun for the whole family!
And connect it to the internet via an Ethernet wire and watch YouTube and get free video/TV apps. Best for streaming internet video is a “cat 7” Ethernet cable (as opposed to the older “cat 5” Ethernet cable.)
And you can get games like Chess, checkers, PAC Man, etc. Just all sorts of games which are other than “killing and violence”.
There is even home workout/ fitness games which come with electronic heart and motion monitors.
Then “Guitar Hero” “play the guitar” games. Note with many of these games, you need the DVD game, a “USB Dongle”, and the controller (electronic gadget).
You can find bargains at Pawn Shops and Ebay for the above. Inspect game DVD’s to be sure there are no scratches. Just be sure to get the “USB Dongle” too for any electronic gadgets (controllers) or they will not work!