Playstation PS3 And XBox advice please

[Bullpup]

My children want to have either of the above Gadgets partially to play games but also to communicate with their various friends.

Now I freely admit that I know nothing about these devices, but while I get the game playing, I don't get the communications.

Are they restricted to their own manufacturers or can they communicate across different platforms.

Since the children already have a Wii, Apple Touchs and an Ipad can they get an App to do the job? Or some sort of social media?

Do they need the latest and best or do all PS3s and XBoxs interlink?

Many thanks

 

[T'boo Ted]

no sony and microspft don't talk to each other. I can only speak for sony, but when you sign into the play station network, thats what you get, its not liek the internet, its more like a private intranet. And you have to either know the name of the person or befriend them during game time (there is a "met players" for previous games).
I guess it is like here, you can only PM members on the forum, you can't PM members on a different forum.

Also PS3, online is free (for now) where as xbox you have to pay to be on it.
but also, depends on what you want to do, but PS3 is replaced by PS4 (which you have to pay to be on I think). Both playstation and xbox got new versions late last year so buying the old versions, may or may not be the best idea.

As to communication... not sure, I don't use that much, there is a mailing system in ps3 that is like PM on forums, very basic.
You can compare stats etc, but I'm guessing for communication, maybe they mean chatting while playing with headsets (which I can tell you if they are playing adult games [which they shouldn't be] liek Cod or BF, there is nothing worse than having 10yo blabbing away into their headset while you're trying to play...especially if they are kicking your butt)

 

[Alison]

XBox, Why? well my 21, 14, 12 and 9 year old's swear by it, true my 21 year old is the only one to have experienced Sony and that was the first but they would all die rather than play the others and having friends with the others, they all come round to have a go at the Xbox games, and maybe if your not thinking of the latest one there maybe some games they can pass on, just saying before I ask, but I am a liberal mother and there are no cutesy cutesy games :facepalm:

Alison

 

[KermitGKona88]

I have both systems, and despite Microsoft launching the Xbox one and Sony launching the PS4 (Neither of which are backward compatible :evil: ), I would still go for a PS3 you have a large catalogue of games to choose from and a Blu-ray player as well. As for communicating on them I have no idea as I still use a computer for such things

 

[Alison]

XBox one, beyond me and my price range, and true they don't play older games as far as I know, more fool them, for that reason is it worth it on any latest console? other than those that plays older games, on our XBox 360 we have about 46 games, only Halo 1 cannot be played as the monitor is too young and now so is the TV.

Unless you are starting from scratch is it not prudent, if not socially, to get an older model of what ever you want unless it means so much to you and your kids to have the latest, which we all have to battle at some point with social compliance, although like mother before me I try to resist :roll:

Alison

 

[KermitGKona88]

Absolutely Alison I would not rush out to buy the latest 'MUST HAVE' console most take at least a year to iron out all the bugs and build a sufficient catalogue of games to be worth having.

That is why they used to make the console compatible with older games but this is far less profitable now :roll: so they don't bother, so poor beleaguered parents have to fork out for the 'MUST HAVE' games too. If you look most of the latest games are still being launched on PS3 and 360 because the software companies need to make money too

 

[Alison]

Don't they say "why fix what is not broken"? my children are as much in love with the 360 as I'm with a bit of retro bikeage, Give me a Raleigh Activator and I'd say ride!! sometimes the only way to escape from the Jones's is to idealise and retrolise the past

Alison

 

[T'boo Ted]

I'd also say, although i'm sony biased, figure out what most of their friends use and get that as if you get the other, it wont go down well.
Also check your internet speed as lag and slow connections = unhappiness and anger.

 

[FluffyChicken]

I think it'll depend what they really want out of it. Given they have a Touch/Ipad then that real communication sorted.

I assume it's the cheaper XBOX360 you could probably pick up for not a lot.
All though if 400 squids is not too much then you can get the XBOX One now.
I have no idea what the latest updates have added as I honestly am happy with the Wii and my kids still love it.
But then they're probably younger than yours and they use the computer and Tablets for anything else.

Have a read what the XBOX's can do (SmartGlass may be of interest ?)
http://www.xbox.com/

 

[Bullpup]

Great replies thank you.

I will do some more investigating regarding what the children think / actually want which may hopefully clarify things.