I am considering getting a wiiU for my family. I have an 8 year old and a 5 year old and I parent alone most of the time.
I work full-time, I'm in school full-time, and I am receiving some extra training on the side (of basically being a stay at home parent with one high needs child).
Anyway, most of the time I just feel too exhausted to do things with my kids...but I know that they need me to engage more with them. I typically don't allow screentime except for a short bit on the weekends and we don't own any gaming systems currently. I'm hoping this will be something that can help me engage with them when I am just beat.
Is this the family game system I am looking for? Are there games that you would recommend for us? (I will not get any "fighting" games at all.)
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So you know who just said that:
I am female, I am married
I have two children (one AS and one NT)
I have been diagnosed with Aspergers and MERLD
I have significant chronic medical conditions as well
There are plenty of E rated games, including nearly all of the lego games.
These retail games are family friendly that I can vouch for on quality:
Sonic Lost World (not confuse it with the 3DS game)
Lego City Undercover (don't confuse it with the lacking 3DS game)
New Super Mario Bros U
Super Mario 3D World (don't confuse it with 3D Land on the 3DS)
Nintendo Land (normally is packed in) also needs Wii remote + (or the accessory plugged into the original Wii remotes)
Mario Kart 8
Smash bros Wii U (non violent fighting based game using mainly Nintendo characters and items)
Scribblenauts (both games), They require you to spell to play the game
Sonic and Sega All-Star Racing: Transformed
Captain Toad: Treasure Trackers (Puzzle game)
Kirby Rainbow Curse (I think that's the right title)is a puzzle game
Splatoon, which is coming out a week from tomorrow, it is family friendly paintball shooter made by Nintendo.
Mario Party 10 is a digital board game with mini games (needs Wii Remote)
Wii Party U is the better digital board game with mini games (needs Wii Remote)
Game and Wario is a goofy game (Needs Wii remote + or the accessory plugged into the original Wii remotes)
Mario and Sonic at the Sochi Olympics (Needs Wii remote + or the accessory plugged into the original Wii remotes)
Wii Sports Club (it has Tennis, Boxing, Bowling, Golf and Baseball at the moment can be digitally bought, Needs Wii remote + or the accessory plugged into the original Wii remotes)
Just Dance games
Disney Infinity, though you need to buy the corresponding figurines to play the game
Skylanders, though you need to buy the corresponding figurines to play the game
eShop:
Art Academy Sketch Pad is a drawing app on the eShop.
Pokemon Rumble U is a cheap battle games were you battle as wind up Pokemon toys.
NES Remix 1&2 (can be bought in stores)
Shovel Knight
Pushmo (this can be a difficult puzzle game)
Tons of retro games and other indie games.
Coming later this year so far that are kid friendly:
The full Art Academy
Yoshi's Wolly World
Mario Maker

This is the Splatoon Bundle that is exclusive to Best Buy starting next Friday.
It comes with Splatoon and Nintendoland for $300
Though if you just want Nintendoland and Wii U, you can buy it here from Nintendo's online store for $200
https://store.nintendo.com/ng3/browse/p ... prod150200
I own nearly every game I listed.
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For controllers you will need the following for multiplayer:
2 Wii Remotes (they are used on some games, especially Mario Party 10), hopefully you have a Wii and the controllers.
1 Wii U Pro controller (this used as the main multiplayer controller on most games)
Make sure to turn on the systems parental controls!
Also do not link a credit card to the eShop, so your kids will be limited to the funds put in via prepaid Nintendo eShop cards.
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Xenocity, that's for all those tips!
I was impatient and I went and bought one right after I posted...
But, it only came with one controller (gamepad). And we do not have a wii. We had no game systems whatsoever before this one.
It came loaded with super Mario 3d world and Nintendoland. And we bought wipe out. I didn't see any other games I liked at Walmart.
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So you know who just said that:
I am female, I am married
I have two children (one AS and one NT)
I have been diagnosed with Aspergers and MERLD
I have significant chronic medical conditions as well
I was impatient and I went and bought one right after I posted...
But, it only came with one controller (gamepad). And we do not have a wii. We had no game systems whatsoever before this one.
It came loaded with super Mario 3d world and Nintendoland. And we bought wipe out. I didn't see any other games I liked at Walmart.
Ah then you need to buy at least two Wii Remotes + (they are the only ones stocked) to play most mutliplayer modes in Nintendoland.
In many cases it is cheaper to buy games online...
I personally look for sales.
cheapassgamers.com is a website that is primarily focused with video games sales and price drops.
Also Wipe Out is not well made.
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Yeah, I'd definitely agree with the idea that this console might be what you're looking for.
Heck, even when Nintendo does do a fighting game (Smash Bros) they manage to do it in a way that's no more offensive than any movie designed for kids. And no more offensive than, say, the Mario games. Nobody really gets hurt in the game (all characters are from Nintendo's own games mostly, which typically are family friendly to begin with, and even in those games those characters tend to be basically indestructible; even the biggest villains in their games never *really* end up hurting anyone as a rule), they just get knocked out of the arena and come back on; it's all very cartoony with lasers and goofy items, and it has alot of genuine hilarity and a sense of fun to it. None of that blood & gore or super serious drama or blah blah blah. Just a good game that can be enjoyed by literally anyone. It's brilliant, really.
Not saying that you have to buy that game specifically, but I think it's a good example of how Nintendo's designers approach things. With the other consoles, it's always gotta be dark and "edgy" and blah blah blah... the sorts of things that A: can indeed be offensive, and B: doesnt actually add anything to the actual gameplay, which is the important part. Heck, even Splatoon that Xenocity mentions; other developers, they do shooters with blood everywhere and hyper realistic military whatsits and blah blah blah. To them, it's gotta have those things or it's not a shooter. Wheras Nintendo goes "Why does it have to be like that all the time? Instead we're going to have these endearing characters that are part squid and they spray colored ink/paint everywhere and they can do all sorts of crazy stuff that's just FUN. Who needs the blood and "edgy" stuff?".
I've very definitely had my problems with Nintendo as a company over the years, which I can frequently be found rambling about on this forum, but with the Wii U and the 3DS, I'm really appreciating their design styles with this stuff. SO tired of all the edgy crap, particularly as I remember the old days when games didnt NEED that. Nintendo has stuck with that idea, and for that, I respect them, and can highly recommend their console. And the 3DS too, even if the blasted thing has no battery life. Well, mine doesnt, anyway. I have no luck with electronics, I really dont. But it's still a good device and I'm loving Pokemon on it, among other things.
Bradleigh
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Joined: 25 May 2008
Age: 34
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I know that when I was a young age like that it was a good family experience playing games like Super Mario, Mario Kart, and Mario Party, and they still make them for the new generation. The games do tend to be a bit expensive though.
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To consume the flames of a kingdom's fall
Thanks everyone!
I was kind of hoping for something that would be more like a board game, or a puzzle. Maybe like Dr. Mario or such. Anything like that?
_________________
So you know who just said that:
I am female, I am married
I have two children (one AS and one NT)
I have been diagnosed with Aspergers and MERLD
I have significant chronic medical conditions as well
I was kind of hoping for something that would be more like a board game, or a puzzle. Maybe like Dr. Mario or such. Anything like that?
There's not many things like board games; there's Mario Party, which is something like a board game with a bunch of minigames that happen between turns. There's also something that I *think* is called Fortune Street, but that was on the Wii, not the Wii U. The Wii U will run Wii games, but you cannot use the touchpad controller for it; everyone will need Wiimotes (the controller used by the Wii).
I cant think of anything else for board games... from what I see, they're just not a popular thing on consoles (and searching on Google brings up pretty much nothing that isnt Mario Party). Which to me is obnoxious, as *I* always liked board games, feh. Often when I *have* seen them on consoles, they're cheaply made; the sort of thing I'd advise people against buying due to very low quality (though low quality "shovelware" games are MUCH less of a problem on the Wii U than they were on the Wii). Often, it was the "party games" that were bad. And by "bad" I mean "absolute trash". Mario Party though was always a high quality series.
Now, puzzle games are... everywhere. There's tons of them. Definitely Dr. Mario (or even Dr. Luigi now as a seperate version), there's always Tetris (probably), and.... piles of others. I think most of these are found on the online shop for the thing. Anyone wanting puzzle games will not find that console lacking in them! It depends on what you're looking for. The ones that I see on shelves arent the "falling block" sort like Dr. Mario, but more of the "run though levels with platforming or something that have puzzle elements in them" kind of thing, such as Toad's Treasure Tracker.
And again, dont forget you can play the stuff in the Wii's library as well so long as you get the Wiimote. So that's another selling point for the thing.
Just make sure to research what you buy before you buy it. Not doing so is a mistake I've watched people make over and over and over again. It often doesnt end well. Having a look at the games on Youtube can be a great help, so you can see for yourself if it's something you might want.
What's the library?
We've just now got it up and running. The kids are setting up their mii's.
_________________
So you know who just said that:
I am female, I am married
I have two children (one AS and one NT)
I have been diagnosed with Aspergers and MERLD
I have significant chronic medical conditions as well
We've just now got it up and running. The kids are setting up their mii's.
Library = the Wii's overall selection of games and software. Often heard as the term "software library" for pretty much any console or computer or whatever. Basically I just mean that it can run any Wii game, wether it be actual discs, or things downloaded from the Wii's seperate online shop.
I hear it's a fun multiplayer game, but not worth the $30+.
If you are looking at Wii games the following are good and family friendly:
FlingSmash
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (though you can buy it on the Wii U eShop for $20)
Samba De Amigo is playable and cheap
Wii Sports Resort
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Boom Blox
Wii Party (different from Wii Party U)
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Endless Ocean
Excite Trucks
Excite Bots
Kirby Epic Yarn (It should be on the Wii U eShop or will soon be)
Kirby Return to Dream land (It should be on the Wii U eShop or will soon be)
Mario Sports Mix
Mario Striker Charged (Soccer game)
Mario Party 8
NiGHTs Journey into Dreams
PokePark 1&2
Rayman Raving Rabbids games
Rhythm Heaven
Simcity Creator
Sonic Colors
Wii Play Motion and Wii Play
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I'm really too impulsive to wait for answers. I bought it just now...
So THANK YOU for the big list! I can consult it first next time.
It's so nice to have my own little consultants here.
So, just now, I returned Wipe Out (we didn't open it before I read here that it's not really good). I got Wii Music and Mario Party 10. And two remotes and two nunchucks.
I think we will like Wii Music, even if it's too expensive. I remember the one on the Wii (not U) at my in-laws house and I really love the handbell game. Everyone in my family plays one or more instruments (even the 5 year old, who has 2 years of violin under her belt), so I think we will all enjoy it.
Now, to go try them out.
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So you know who just said that:
I am female, I am married
I have two children (one AS and one NT)
I have been diagnosed with Aspergers and MERLD
I have significant chronic medical conditions as well
Your welcome, some of us are big on video games.
Also retailers regularly have decent sales on video games now.
I bought most of my Wii, 3DS and Wii U libraries at extreme discount.
In the end the value you get of a video game is based play time and enjoyment.
Hopefully you have a set of rechargeable AA batteries.
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