First Console Purchase

[Alex MacCutchan]

Hello Everyone,

I've been asked to price out the cost of purchasing a gaming console for our library. I was just wondering what your first experiences were like. Did you purchase multiple games up front or did you grow your collection over the years? I am a gamer myself so I know I have a preference when it comes to consoles but have you found that patrons prefer one type over another?

I am thinking about suggesting we purchase a Wii along with at least one more Wiimote and maybe 2 or 3 games. For the games I was thinking of Guitar Hero, Mario Kart Wii, or Mario Party 8. I know that Guitar Hero is very popular around here for library programs. Have any of you had success with other games?

Thanks a lot for any advice you have to offer,

--
Alex MacCutchan
Adult & Youth Services Librarian
Milton Public Library
905-875-2665, ext. 3267
www.mpl.on.ca

[Jim Peterson]

Hi Alex. We too are starting up a Game Night here, and have purchased a Wii to get started. We opted to go with a bundle that Circuit City (www.circuitcity.com) had advertised, which included Wii Sports (included with Wii), Guitar Hero III Wireless, and Wii Play. Also part of the bundle was an extra Wiimote and Nunchuk. Circuit City and Wal-Mart (www.walmart.com) both allow for customization of the bundles. You don't save a whole lot by purchasing the bundles, but it does make it easy to quickly generate interest in your program among all age groups by purchasing games/equipment of interest to them.

If we had it to do over, or if this really takes off like I think it will, we'll get Wii Carnival and perhaps Wii Fit as well as Mario Kart. Wii Carnival has carnival-type games such as a dunking booth, shooting gallery, basketball shoot and others, and I've had the idea to use it as a 'virtual fund-raiser.' Not sure about that, but it seems like a good idea if I can figure out the logistics.

Good luck, Alex!

Jim Peterson
Technology Coordinator
Goodnight Memorial Library
270-586-8397

[Keri Adams]

If you know anyone who has a wii fit, I would strongly test it out before buying it for a library.  It is NOT a good multiplayer game, as my friends discovered as one of them hula hooped and then the other realized they would have to log all the way out try to try it for themselves.  Also, as the point of the game is fitness and particularly weight loss, I would hate to think of kids stepping onto a scale in front other other participants.  Even if you just create a dummy character for everyone to play there are only about four games on it that would even make sense for a group library setting.  I don't think it would be worth the money until they start designing many more games for the board.

That said, I have it at home and love it.  It can be quite the workout if you really put yourself into it and my competative nature will definitely help both my husband and I lose weight as I try to beat him at everything.

Keri Adams
YA Librarian
Johnson Public Library
Hackensack, NJ

*Find out when your favorite author has a new book out!*
http://www.yalit.com
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[George Bergstrom]

I think that Wii Ski works with the Fit board...  have not played it yet, but it looks fun!


--
George C. A. Bergstrom
Business Reference Librarian
Management & Economics Library
Purdue University
Lafayette, IN 47907

(765) 494 - 2918

[Gillian Wiseman]

For the Wii, Supersmash Brothers Brawl is VERY popular. I'd strongly suggest getting four wiimotes if you can afford it for this game. Another game that the kids really liked was Link's Crossbow Shooter.

 

Mario Party 8 and Raving Rabbids were both dismally unpopular.

[Jenson-Benjamin, Merideth]

Surprisingly, Cooking Mama has been very popular here. And nothing is more hilarious than watching 13 year old boys pound out Mochi.

Also surprisingly popular is Wii Playground. I guess dodgeball is popular no matter what it's form.

Merideth

________________________________

www.mpl.on.ca <http://www.mpl.on.ca/>

[Erwin]

Get a Wii for sure. I suggest trying Best Buy or Circuit City on a
Sunday morning if you want to avoid buying those expensive bundles. (I
managed to get a standalone console for one of our summer reading
program grand prizes by pure luck at Circuit City one Sunday morning.
I was buying an iTunes gift card when I saw a stack of Wiis and the
cashier guy asked me if I wanted to buy one!)

For games here are the essentials: Wii Sports (of course), SSBB, Mario
Kart Wii, GH3. And if you can afford it: Rock Band

Rock Band is some serious fun -- more so than Guitar Hero, imo -- and
is growing more popular by the day. I plan on getting Rock Band 2 for
Xbox 360 when it comes out this fall and doing a special RB2 premiere
tournament for my teens.

[Margie Walker]

Hi,
I saw in the Toys R Us flyer that they had the WII. I went the next day and
they still had some left. I also found out that if you sign up for Toys R
Us email they will let you know when they are coming in and you can reserve
ahead of time.

Margie Walker
YA/Reference Librarian
Amesbury Public Library
149 Main Street
Amesbury, MA 01913
978-388-8148

-----Original Message-----
From: LibG...@googlegroups.com [mailto:LibG...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Erwin
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 7:16 PM
To: LibGaming
Subject: {LibGaming} Re: First Console Purchase

[Alex MacCutchan]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to send a quick thanks for all the advice. I'll be submitting my suggestion this afternoon (I decided to try for a Wii with GH3, Mariokart, and SSB) so here's hoping I get approval.

Thanks again,

--
Alex MacCutchan
Adult & Youth Services Librarian
Milton Public Library
905-875-2665, ext. 3267
www.mpl.on.ca

2008/7/12 Margie Walker <mwa...@mvlc.org>: