PlayStation 4

(joins Dave in a Zimmer race....)

I just don't "get" why kids these days - and by the looks of it, the not-so kids in their 20's and 30's - are so into console games.  there's so much more to life than staring at a PC screen all day - I do that at work, so why would I want to do that at home??

hey ho - modern life

In my day I used to walk 6 miles to school in snow, 365 days of the year and it was uphill both ways.

Eggyh73 wrote (see)

I see the Troglodytes have gained internet access. I guess their lives are now so meaningful they can waste time posting on running forums now! 

do you actually try and find a thread just to post a response like that?? 

fat buddha wrote (see)

(joins Dave in a Zimmer race....)

I just don't "get" why kids these days - and by the looks of it, the not-so kids in their 20's and 30's - are so into console games.  there's so much more to life than staring at a PC screen all day - I do that at work, so why would I want to do that at home??

hey ho - modern life

Well very few will spend all day gaming. Just like any hobby some folk will take it to those extremes.

Gaming is no different in terms of free time spend than reading, watching television or catching a movie etc. Add to that with the modern day ability to compete online against your friends or anyone in the world then it can really bring out the competitive nature in many.

As a kid I went outside and did stuff and played computer games. I'm 39 and still do both. Plus kids being stuck inside always seemed to me to be more about parental fear of letting them go outside these days than having access to games. I feel sorry for the youth of today as they seem to be given very little freedom as children compared to older generations.

Jason Wintin wrote (see)

Eggyh73 wrote (see)

I see the Troglodytes have gained internet access. I guess their lives are now so meaningful they can waste time posting on running forums now! 

do you actually try and find a thread just to post a response like that?? 

I was enjoying the irony or people slamming gaming as a some shameful hobby, while posting on an internet forum. I'm certain ten years or so ago these same folk would have said the same about people accessing the internet.

errm - have I "slammed" gaming??  I don't think so.   as I said, I don't "get" what it's about maybe because I am of a different generation, or maybe becuase I never have been a fan of PC games (even those simple ones that come on a PC/phone etc).

just not my thing

i am in the age bracket that should 'get' computer games but have no understanding of why people choose to do such an antisocial thing as play computer games.

i do think the violent and gory games fuells antisocial and criminal behaviour

i do think the violent and gory games fuells antisocial and criminal behaviour

Not sure about that ?   Our youngest, Sprog 4 who is a very polite and well mannered young lady, Plays some of the most blood thirsty games I have ever seen !  She says it's an hours release after a hard days study

There's no scientific evidence to link games to violence. Nor is there any for Marilyn Manson, horror films, rock music, music played backwards or anything else the NRA or media try to scare up a story with every so often.

Eggyh73 wrote (see)

There's no scientific evidence to link games to violence. Nor is there any for Marilyn Manson, horror films, rock music, music played backwards or anything else the NRA or media try to scare up a story with every so often.

im with eggy on this one.

In other news, there is trouble brewing ......

TMW, there is a very social aspect to most games now.  Its just like t'internet, you communciate with people in different locations, so you may be physically alone - but you're still communicating and being sociable.

TD, it depends what age your children are whether the Wii is the best bet.  We've had Wii, XBox and PS3 in our house and the Wii is the one that quickly gathered dust as the majority of games available are rubbish and the good ones get a bit repetitive after a while - but our 6 year old still sometimes wants to play it, however our 11 year old has "outgrown" it.  I haven't seen anything about the Wii U that is going to change that.

Xbox 360 and PS3 are much the same (new versions will probably be 12 months time for us after initial Xmas offering in USA & Japan).  The PS3 is a more complete package - it includes a Blu-Ray player and also the online stuff is free (whereas Xbox requires XBox Live Gold membership @ circa £35 pa for full online feature).  Other than that there's very little to differentiate them for the casual gamer, as the major games are released on both platforms.  

Taxi Driver wrote (see)

stutyr -- Thanks for that... It sounds like more thought and research than I'd imagined will be required before coming to a definitive decision. Every thing is way more complicated these days.

Easy way to look at it. Not what console do you want to buy, but what games do you want to play? The PS3/360 game lists are pretty much the same bar the odd exclusive title. Also worth considering if you view things like a Blu-ray playback or online capabilities as selling points or not.

online socialising is not the same as actually interacting with someone in person.

or so my online girlfriend tells me