[Tanzania]

I can't decide what to get my boyfriend for Christmas. He talks about the Wii but also the XBox too. I don't know what to get him. Can you guys help me? Which one should I buy? Which one is better? Which one will he have the most fun with?

[talaniman]

That's a pretty expensive gift to get. How old are you, and how long have you been together?

[jaime90]

Game systems these days are very expensive. On top of getting the Wii or the Xbox, you will have to buy additional controlers, battery packs, and games. The kind of system he will like will depend on what kind of gamer he is... I've owned both the Wii and the Xbox360...

The Wii is a Nintendo system. It's pros are, it's a lot of fun to play in groups, and it gets you up and active instead of down on the couch. Since it is from Nintendo, it is more family-friendly, and most of the games are aimed toward children. The Wii is generally most enjoyed by kids, pre-teens, or older adults who want to be cool. The Teen or Mature rated games don't pose much of a challenge, as they have been adapted from their original versions to better fit the younger audience the system is aimed for. Mature games on the Wii can take merely hours to complete. Playing Wii takes coordination and I've met many a people who don't enjoy it because the controller is way more confusing than the actual games. Also, different games for the Wii require different controllers and attatchments, etc. So if you buy a Wii you can expect to buy additional things like controllers shaped like guns, the nunchuk, and more, which can get expensive.

The Xbox360 is basically the sequal to the Xbox. It tends to have overheating problems, which can lead to the purchase of an intercooling system, or the replacement of the system itself. (Xbox has had to recall many 360's for over-heating problems) However, the Xbox has one of the largest library of games for any game system, and you can get many of them for fairly cheap. Xbox games are more difficult for gamers who like to sit down for hours, or days on end trying to beat a game. The graphics are visually better than the Wii. For groups who want to play a game there is the XboxLive feature that allows you to play online, there are ways to system link Xbox's together so up to 8 or more people can play, and of course, there are multiplayer games.

I had the Wii for 3 months before trading it in for the Xbox360. It fits my gaming style more, as I like a challenge. My parents and my little brothers enjoyed the Wii, and so did my friends at a couple parties I hosted, but overall, I wanted something that was for the more mature gaming crowd. Since I got the Xbox, I have had to buy an intercooler for it, and have replaced it 2 different times for overheating problems. So there you go, they both have pros and cons, but it really depends on the games your boyfriend likes to play.

[ohsohappy]

I wouldn't buy him either, he's got family, let them give him gift cards and money and he can buy it himself. Instead, get him something small at first, and once he gets his system, maybe get him a game for it (used) Don't buy a brand new one, chances are that depending on what the game is, he will sell it for another one later on down the road anyway, that's what my brother does. Heck, he's even sold his previous game systems (except for that time my mom threw his PS2 off the balcony; long story)

Anyway, if you DO end up getting a game system for him, I'd go for the Wii. My brother loves his.

[spitvenom]

If he is a serious gamer get him the Xbox360. If he is like me someone who really doesn't play video games all that much then get him the Wii. Big difference between the xbox and Wii (besides the motion control) is the Xbox has better graphics. Games like Halo aren't on the Wii because it can't handle the graphics.

[amicon]

Tanzania is the guy from your previous threads or a new boyfriend?