TwoCredits

PS2.

Seriously, the PS3 library of games so far is a joke. If you can find one that has the backwards compatibility hardware, then ok, but since launch they've dwindled that capability down.

If you want a blu-ray player, I guess get a PS3, but I'm completely unimpressed with it. Really long load times, very few compelling games... It's a dud.

Wii is pretty fantastic, especially since you're able to play gamecube games, as well as original NES, SNES, Sega, Sega Genesis, etc etc through their built in store.

Xbox360 is nice, but I don't think there is much available geared for younger kids.

Seriously, the PS3 library of games so far is a joke...

Really? It looks like there are will be soon plenty of games for PS3 according to this,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_3_games

Keep in mind, I'm not a serious gamer here. This is more a purchase to diversify the family entertainment options, and I guess to help keep my kids somewhat hip to their world.

Yes, well, they've been saying the library of PS3 games will be much larger "soon" for well over a year now.

At some point it's bound to be, but I have yet to see a single impressive title on the system.

From the research I've been doing, looks like my chances are better at finding the xbox bundled with a couple of games, more than I'm seeing with the Playstation, which comes bundled with the Spiderman 3 movie.

Hmm...starting to sway toward the xbox

I like my Xbox 360...there may not be many games appropriate for a 7 year-old, but there's always the Live Arcade games (Uno, etc.)

You could always buy a portable system (if you're not committed to getting him a console). I think a Nintendo DS would be great for him and meet many of your requirements.

I ended up getting the xbox. It was pretty telling that out of all the places we went (Target, Best Buy, Toys-R-Us and Sams) all of them, with the exception of Sams) were sold out of both the xbox and the Wii, but seemed to plenty of PS3s in stock. That kind of told me everything I needed to know, right there.

Funny thing though, Sams has their xboxes all stashed in the same cage where they keep all the tabacco and cigs.

The boy is doing pretty well at Madden football right now -- well he knows to punch buttons and move the joysticks thinking he's accomplished something -- so all's well in the world.

Good work fuscom! I remember I was nasty at Madden on PS2 back in college, but Paul is a lot better than I am. He's got too much free time.

Hell you talking about fool? I've played Madden like twice in my life. The 360 was definitely the right move since the game library tops both the Wii and PS3. Be sure to checkout the Live Marketplace for cheap game downloads to enjoy even more that are suited for the younger kids.

I'd say the 360 does fall flat on one of your requirements though:

"- Doesn't require purchase of a lot of extras to get the best experience"

For me buying extras for it has only improved the experience, but is unfortunate that it's not super right out of the box (much like the Wii is).

I bought a PS3 and have been completely amazed by it
The blu-ray is absoloutely stunning plus the PS3 was the cheapest blu-ray player out there last time I looked
You should be careful though, as I read in a recent issue of T3 that there is going to be a PS3 slim and lite coming out, so my advice would be to wait for that

You should be careful though, as I read in a recent issue of T3 that there is going to be a PS3 slim and lite coming out, so my advice would be to wait for that

I heard about that in a gaming podcast I listen to so I'm going to wait for it. Hopefully some more enticing games (to me) will be out by then.

Also hopefully the PS3 blu-ray player is better quality than the PS2 dvd players were. They were fine when it came out, but 3-4 years later and EVERYONE's ended up breaking right around the same time.