By far the most frequent question I get here at GamerDad is: “What console should I buy for my kids?” Should You Buy a PlayStation 3?

Sadly, there’s no easy answer and that’s why, one-by-one, I’m going to be laying out the pros/cons, value, future, advantages and drawbacks for each of the 10 platforms we cover. Yes, 10. There are 10 gaming platforms. Omitted (because we cover 10 platforms) are platforms like the Leapster, Leap Pad, V-Smile, Cel Phone games, and other similar platforms not covered by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB). Over the course of the next couple weeks we’ll cover the: Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Dual Screen, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation Portable, and the Computer (whew!).

Parental Controls? Yes

Overview & Features: The PlayStation 3 is a monster. “It looks like something from the 70’s” my wife said as I was hooking it up. “You mean from Close Encounters?” I replied. Large, black, rounded at the top and sleek as all get out, the PlayStation 3 pretty much lurks in your entertainment center. It’s basically a gaming computer pretending to be a game console. It offers High-Definition graphics, a hard drive for storage, and plays Sony’s High Definition movie discs called “Blu-Ray.” It plays DVDs, Blu-Ray HD-DVDs, CDs, MP3 CDs, and more. The hard-drive can store and play back movies, photos, music or you can stream them from your PC. Older models can play PlayStation 2 games (see below) and all can play PlayStation 1 games. There’s a shop that lets you download free game demos, buy independent games, older games, and eventually it’ll serve movies and TV shows On Demand. The new SixAxis controller is wireless and senses tilt (hold up the gamepad and you can use it like a steering wheel). It can go on the Internet, including a full web browser. You can even send some games and movies to a PSP, if you have one of those. Oh, it also plays PlayStation 3 games too.

Other Models?: There are a confusing amount of different models on store shelves at different prices, and not all of them have the same features. Most importantly for some people, Sony has removed the ability to play PlayStation 2 games from newer models:

The 40gb and 80gb models are the standards going forward, but you should still be able to find a 60gb in stores and this is the recommended choice.

Drawbacks: Price. Unless you have an HD capable TV and a burning need to watch Blu-Ray movies, this is a game machine that offers far fewer HD games than its rival (and Microsoft has a year head start), and you’ll be spending up to $200 more for the privilege. But if your needs include everything this machine does, it’s a wonderful piece of equipment. On paper, the PlayStation 3 is far more powerful than the Xbox360, but in practice it’s doubtful this is going to make a big difference before the next generation of machines roles out.

Kid Factor: No quality kids or social/family games are available yet. But there are plenty of shooters and violent games. Sports games are also gorgeous on this system. The Parental Controls are good and Sony has indicated they are interested in better serving the family audience… in time.

Value & Verdict: Even if you buy a model that plays all of the PlayStation 2 games, the system lacks PlayStation 2 controller ports, which means, a lot of the older games GamerDad recommends most won’t work properly (Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero, for example, though these series are getting PlayStation 3 updates). The price, the features, and the design are so hardcore… this is just too much machine for most families. And finally, at the time of this writing, the PlayStation 3 has yet to see a decent kid’s game.

Tags: Misc