Casual/social gaming

[Khamsin]

I've read a bit about it in the Console Wars thread, and found some other threads that touch upon it, but no good one place to discuss it.

So here's my situation: My latest console is my PS2. I don't really play consoles too much anymore for regular gaming, but I was considering getting a new one for whenever I have friends over. I was thinking maybe a Wii, and grab Brawl, Mario Party, and Mario Kart or something. I'm too cheap for Rock Band, but might eventually get it if it's a good choice.

Personally, I've played Rock Band and Mario Party at other people's houses, but that's about it.

But before I go on a shopping spree, is that a good choice or are there better consoles/games for what I'm thinking?

[Cheerios]

Get a Wii if you have friends come over, because the online sucks and so do a lot of single player games. You can also put the homebrew channel in and put all the snes/genesis/nes games on an SD card. I got a Wii and then I moved out of town, so I don't really know a lot of people here and it kinda just collects dust. If you're gonna just get Rock Band for a system, then stay away from the Wii version and just get a 360

Basically, if you never have friends come over to your house, or you never go to theirs, don't get a Wii.

[Ramor]

Kart/Party/Brawl etc.. all make really good multiplayer games, but pretty mediocre single player (i.e. too easy/not as much fun) you pretty much hit the nail on the head in terms of what system to get for multiple people

I have a 360 and personally I don't know of many games that are multiplayer and relatively easy to learn, like soul calibur, love that game and it's really fun, but I can just up and rape anyone who's never played it. On the other hand, I had never played the wii Kart before (most recent was the 64 one) when my friend brought it over and we were still about on the same level after <hour.

[Khamsin]

Well, thing is, whatever I get is going to collect dust most of the time anyway. I just was thinking about something to get as a distraction when I have guests, and will likely only be played once in a while. I wouldn't get a system just for Rock Band (not even sure I want to spend the money on it), but I know enough people who are into it that it might not be a bad investment.

It's mostly just because whenever I have people over now, there's not much to do other than watch TV, movies, or have sex. This would at least add another option in there.

By the way, how well would it look on my LCD HDTV in the living room? I heard there's no HD output, so would it look crappy? What about the aspect ratio?

[TheShadyMan]

If having sex isn't your pick every time, then you need to get less ugly friends.

[Isiolia]

I would consider what games (if any) your friends play if that's your primary purpose for it. As you mentioned playing Mario Party n' Rock Band and all over other people's houses, then that would likely fit.

If your friends also have other consoles though, and play those as well, then you might consider getting what they have to play with them online. Or have 'em be able to bring games over to play, etc. Also, if there are games you might consider playing if you had the console to play 'em on.

As a further consideration, look at what else you might want from a system besides gaming. A 360 or PS3 can play files from network or USB sources, both play DVDs, PS3 can play Blu-Ray of course, or you can install Linux on it for even more possibilities (dual booting with the regular OS so you can still play games n' all). The 360 is getting Netflix streaming compatibility, and can act as a Media Center Extender if you have a media center OS on your home network.
Either will make better use of an HDTV than a Wii will, or at the very least won't look like the jaggedy crap that most PS2 games are reduced to on a 1080p TV.

If the goal is simply to have something you and your friends can sit down and button mash your way through, then any of the systems have -something- to play. The Wii certainly has more of the simple party game stuff, but that might depend on how often you have people over as to whether that makes it worth it. Guitar Hero is on all of 'em, there are fighters on all of 'em, you can get Goldeneye 360, I mean, Halo 3...or you have stuff like Eye of Judgement on PS3 that's a unique experience.

In short, I'd look at what -you- want in a console, because you can always make a point to buy some multiplayer games and an extra controller or three.

[Osede]

By the way, how well would it look on my LCD HDTV in the living room? I heard there's no HD output, so would it look crappy? What about the aspect ratio?

My friend has wii and play on LCD hdtv. Some games, like mario party you can notice how crappy is its graphic. However if you play mario soccer, the graphic is quite nice. So, it just depends on the game

[Khamsin]

Hm, one other thing, if I get a Wii, what extras would I need to buy with it?

An extra 3 controllers? 3 more nunchuks? Is an SD card necessary?

Not counting accessories specific to certain games, like wheels, etc.

[Epical]

Sports games are always a hit too.

[Khamsin]

Only problem with sports games is lack of attention span.

I want to limit it to games that you can play for a bit until you're bored and quit, whereas a sports game with innings or downs that you feel compelled to stay the entire game in order to find out who wins might not work out as well.

But Brawl, Kart, and Mario Party you can just play for a little bit and still get some sense of accomplishment out of it.

I might throw in Wii Play, too.

[Elesirdur]

Just a bit of a comment about the Wii if you're not all that committed to spending money on it: while there good games for it, they are almost all Nintendo first-party games and therefore will command a higher price (they will also keep their price point for longer).

Honestly, I think the Wii is even worse than the GameCube was for the huge gulf between the quality of their games. Wii games are either A) fantastic titles made by Nintendo, or B) god-awful shovelware I would be reluctant to subject a 7 year-old to. And while there are multi-platform titles that make it to the Wii, they often suffer from poor controls from attempts to integrate the motion sensors and severely reduced graphics compared to the 360 and PS3. Bear in mind that I'm not ragging on the Wii here, but more on the software that's available for it.

My girlfriend is currently in this perdicement; she has a Wii but no games beyond WiiPlay and WiiFit. The games she would like to buy (Zelda, SSBB, Metroid, Mario Kart, Paper Mario, etc) are all in the $55-70 range and have remained at those price points for months after their release. Because the titles are priced at the top end, they are just outside of her budget (and mine).

However, WiiWare titles do help, but depending on your history of playing NES/SNES/GameBoy games in the past, you may be reluctant to pay money for games you have already purchased and played in the past, again.

Anyway, just a word of caution about the Wii (and I didn't even get started on controllers and accessories) for gamers who are looking for good games but aren't in it for a big investment.

A 360 Arcade version and a whole lot of Microsoft Points may be a good alternative.

[Correction]

You could always resort to games which don't involve a console. I still play shit like Pictionary and Taboo and it's fun as long as there's alcohol and cute girls around. Costs a hell of a lot less than a Wii and four controllers, to boot.

[Khamsin]

I agree with you on those points, but part of the problem is the audience. While *I* may be ok with a 360 or PS3 and playing something a little "arcadier", most of the games available on those platforms don't lend well to the casual let's-go-get-drunk-and-play-mario-kart-for-a-bit kind of situations. And it should cater to people who I might invite over that aren't into gaming at all, but might find this a fun timekiller anyway.

In fact, more than a few people I know play Rock Band and Mario Party but have never otherwise touched a console in their life. And personally, I don't play console games as much anymore. The only games I (seriously) play nowadays are the ones I anticipate and look forward to coming out (Oblivion when it came out, and now Fallout 3 and Starcraft 2). But even those collect dust after a while.

You could always resort to games which don't involve a console. I still play shit like Pictionary and Taboo and it's fun as long as there's alcohol and cute girls around. Costs a hell of a lot less than a Wii and four controllers, to boot.

Pictionary and taboo and such are fun for larger groups, but not really so much for 1-2 other people for a quick distraction to unwind after having been out all night.

[Zalius]

wii's really good for family bbq in that awkward "ok we ate already but cant go home" phase

360 will keep you the most entertained, and ps3 will have the hottest looking rpgs and a good portion of the 360 titles that come out.

[Khamsin]

For those that recommend other systems, give me some examples of games I would get that other not-necessarily-game-savvy guests might find entertaining for 30 mins.

[Deejay]

Castle Crashers would make a sick ass party game for 360, Halo isn't bad, and neither is GH/Rock Band.

Wii is ultimate in terms of (pre)party drinking though. Theres ALWAYS a random girl who bugs out when they hear you have Wii & beers.

[netz]

wii's really good for family bbq in that awkward "ok we ate already but cant go home" phase

360 will keep you the most entertained, and ps3 will have the hottest looking rpgs and a good portion of the 360 titles that come out.

I'd say the 360 is holding its own in the RPG department.

[Elesirdur]

Pictionary and taboo and such are fun for larger groups, but not really so much for 1-2 other people for a quick distraction to unwind after having been out all night.

Katamari Damacy, or on 360 Beautiful Katamari, are the definitive "I'm too drunk to go to sleep so I'll play some games and pass out" titles.

[Jefe]

Shovelware = wii; for those who think games are nothing but pacman and pong. Actual games = PS3 and 360, more complex, artistic, etc.

[MisterBob]

I'd say the 360 is holding its own in the RPG department.

Yeah, right now I'm surprised that the 360 has the best JRPG support. The only PS3 exclusive that's nice so far is Disgaea 3