Topic: Help this mom decide Wii U vs Wii for kids.

Hello. I was hoping some of you could help me make a decision (as I have never played video games) regarding which gaming system to choose for my kids for the holidays (or shortly thereafter if Wii U ends up with limited availablity). At first I was thinking I should go with the newest model since that would be the one that would last the longest, but after reading a blog regarding sibling rivalry, I am questioning whether the original Wii would be best for our household. My kids are 7,5,3 and I was debating on whether at this age (with the games available), do you think the tablet controller (being only 1) will be unnecessary for the younger crowd? They have mainly shown an interest in Skylanders at this point, and the dancing games. Any experienced insite is greatly appreciated, as I have no personal experience to go on here. Thanks.

Even if you get a Wii first, you can upgrade to a Wii U later on, as you'd be able to transfer all save data and purchases.

If they know how to share, go WiiU. Wii is on it's way out, while WiiU is coming in.

with kids that young i`d go with a wii. There`s more games for that age group on the Wii anyways. you can always upgrade to the wii u at a later date. I have a wii and my son (5) loves it. The only reason i`m getting it is that I already have a Wii.

What @Happy_Mask said, as there'll be one cool GamePad and 2 not-cool Wii Remotes. Also, maybe (as their younger) the GamePad is expensive and they could break it.

I'd recommend Wii U because with its ability to also play Wii games, you get yourself a wider variety of games to play.

I would say the Wii would be a better decision. Reasons:
1) The Wii is cheaper and so are the games. You can buy used games, controllers, etc. If something gets broken, the cost to repair or replace will be less too.
2) There are plenty of Wii games and Gamecube games to choose from to play on the Wii already. The Wii has a larger selection of games currently.
3) The main features of the WiiU that distinguish it from the Wii are graphical power and the tablet controller. I don't imagine graphical power is important for kids at that age (especially if it is their first console). And because you have 3 kids, there may be fights about who gets to use the tablet controller.
4) The Wii hopefully encourages activity and fitness.

I think the Wii is the better choice in this case. Same reasons as everyone else, really. The games the kids seem to be interested in aren't hampered by being on the Wii, and even though they are on the Wii U it seems unnecessary to spend the extra money on it in your position. If you feel the need to upgrade later on you always can. You won't really lose anything.

WiiU Deluxe.

The system is backwards compatible with all Wii software, and includes a sensor bar. Which means you'll have a much bigger and a more up-to-date library to choose from.

That's pretty much all you need to know to make this decision unless your economy is really tight. The WiiU will be out and supported for the upcoming 6 years (while the Wii will be phased out and not get more games), it's definitely a worthwhile investment if your kids like the games it offers as well as Wii games.

I would go with the Wii. It has more kid friendly games and is cheaper. The Wii U is a very (expensive) new system with sophisticated technology (in just the controller alone) and is trying to appeal to more mature gamers with its lineup of major third party releases. Then there is the issue of whether or not this expensive piece of hardware will break due to roughhousing, arguing, etc. Getting the Wii for them first would be sort of like a test to see if they can be trusted with it and appreciate the fact that it is expensive. Like others have said, you can always upgrade to the Wii U at a later time, which is compatible with all Wii games, and can use system transfer to recieve all downloads from Wii. There is also the issue of whether you will be able to find a Wii U to buy in the first place. Pre-orders are sold out all over the place, and you likely won't be able to find one on store shelves until a year after launch. This was the same with Wii.

I'm not really sure. Growing up we were more careful with games than our parents and we always knew what we wanted at Christmas time, so this seems like a strange question to me. But if you can see them breaking it and you replacing it, I'd pick the cheaper Wii option (make sure they have wrist straps on).

The Wii

• It has more games
• It's cheaper

I was thinking of the Wii U as stated above, that it also plays Wii games. However, it really depends on your kids. I myself am afraid about letting one of my young nephews touch the Wii U I will get because he's a wild kid, but I also have nieces/nephews that have a calm demeanor that I would have no problem with them playing my Wii U. It's up to you and how you feel your kids will handle it.

nice to meet you, MBrown! what kind of budget do you have? at launch, the Wii U will cost $300 US Dollars, while the new wii model(this article was written in 2011, but it st... will cost $130 US Dollars. i'll be waiting for a price drop when i buy a wii U for my great-great-great grandkids. in terms of backwards compatibility, the Wii U will be backwards compatible with the wii (in other words, it plays wii games as well as wii U games). however, the new wii model will not be backwards compatible with the Gamecube, the console released before the wii. however, you can find an old (and used) wii model on amazon for much cheaper than a new wii, and it's backwards compatible too. so, if you get a wii, don't waste your money on a new one, get one from the link provided.
wii U will NOT be backwards compatible with gamecube games, but there are rumors saying it will have gamecube games on Virtual Console. if it doesn't, you can find a Gamecube somewhere online, maybe on craigslist.
so, ultimately, i would prefer a Wii U, mainly because it already plays wii games, so the wii is just left to sit with other old consoles. not to mention, nintendo will no longer be working with the wii, so if you want new games, you'll need a Wii U. i hope i was of some use.

I have to say both views have a good argument on this. If finances isn't a strong point at the moment, I would say just the Wii. Could spend a lot less and get alot to go with it for pretty cheap. That being said, you could play the same stuff plus more with the Wii U...but it will be more money.

I'd say the biggest factor is money. The Wii U makes the most sense besides that since it can do all the Wii can and more.

If money isn't an issue for you at the moment, I'd say go for the Wii U (Basic Bundle, in your case). It's backwards-compatible with essentially all Wii games, accessories and peripherals, which you can all find for incredibly cheap right now. Buy a couple of Wiimotes, two or three games, and you'll be set for a reasonable cost. My recommendations would be Wii Sports/Wii Sports Resort, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Mario Kart Wii. Conveniently, in a few years when your kids are older, you'll be open to the grown selection of Wii U games they'll be able to appreciate at that age. You won't need to undergo the cost of another console or the whole hassle of upgrading. It's a console that'll adequately stretch over a good portion of your children's growing-up, if you take advantage of it.

If you're prone to gaming with your children too, it's another big plus for getting a Wii U. With great family games like Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U, you could take charge of the GamePad while having your children play alongside you with their Wiimotes (they're compatible with multiplayer Wii U games). So, many options are still available to you with the Wii U - it all comes down to whether or not you'll be able to afford it.

Definitely go for a Wii U. Yes it's more expensive, but come on, if you don't buy it now you'll have to buy it in a few years anyway, since the kids will probably want the latest Nintendo games eventually (and because the next Skylanders and dance games will probably be Wii U exclusive soon).

Besides, the Wii U can play all Wii games and use all Wii controllers alongside Wii U games and accessories, which means you get the best of both worlds.

I'm gonna second this. Unless the $300 or $350 price tag for the Basic or Deluxe set, respectively, is too much for you, a Wii U would be the better option, in my opinion.

People have already made some good arguments on both sides.
The Wii U supports playing of Wii games and uses/supports most of the
Wii accessories already so technically you could buy a Wii U
to play older Wii titles while having the ability to play Wii U
games at a later date or newer Wii U titles down the road.

If you are a parent that wants to get a good value for your kids for a long time, get the wii U. You can play both kinds of games on it.