Id recomend the Xbox because of the hard-drive,no more buying extra memory cards...the game cube is the only one that cant be pirated,as far as I know.The most important things you should know are:

-The gamecube has a very small selection of games...and most of them depend on Nintendo classics,Mario,Donkey Kong,F-Zero,etc.
-The PS2 has a redeaming feature of being able to play PS(1) games too,so if you ever needed to give them a cheap reward untill you can afford another full price PS2 game......you can bribe them with a cheap PS game.
-The Xbox is the best all round console in my opinion,just make sure the controllers you get for them are the "S" controllers(smaller).

And before anyone dares to say I dont know what Im talking about: I own=Xbox,PS2,PSX,Gamecube,Dreamcast and N64 ... And Ive passed/completed 146 games and own nearly twice as much games than Ive completed...so flame/bash away. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

 

I would say Xbox is better. They all do about the same thing. The box plays dvds but you got to buy a conversion kit thats like 30 bucks or so. I bought that for my bro last xmas. See, saves you money by not buying a dvd player!! I don't know much about ps2 or game cube. Ps2 doesn't need the conversion to play the dvd's. Only prob I have with ALL the game consoles is that each manufacturer has games that the other doesn't. That makes me mad!!! Oh well, I'd rather go out and ride the real atv sitting in my GARAGE!!! hahaha. Plus, my little cousins beat me a lot playin video games. I give up too easily. WHERES MY V-FORCE AT DAMN IT!!!

 

Get em a NES with excitebike & Duckhunt... They'll learn 2 important parts of manhood, Motors and huntin'[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

For little kids, I'd say Gamecube - this sytem is definately geared more for kids.........I have two kids, too - unless your kids are VERY proficient with games like my son is (he finished HALO 2 in two days and he's 7!), the Nintendo Gamecube is a great system!!!! If they are more into higher intensity games, then I'd get a PS2........if it's more for you, then I'd get an X-BOX!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Remember the Atari 2600? Now that was game playing.

I have 3 machine hooked up right now, to one TV. I play the ps2 because of the quad games.

 

best edication you can get is in thos 3 games

 

This just in! I just watched x-play last night and they did a durabilty test. Hitting all three major consoles with a sledgehammer (moderatly hard) and dropping it off a roof 10-14ft... PS2 crapped out first.. then the Xbox and finally the Gamecube previaled! Before any of you say anything. They did this twice! Same results

 

I have to agree with most of the comments on here. here is how I rank the consoles:

-xbox is more for the advanced gammer. a lot of people are discouraged because of the controller. it is not that hard to get used to. my 8yr old cousin can beat a lot of people in halo, so that just proves anyone can learn. but the xbox game selection is pretty poor for kids. you can mod an xbox to get emulators(nes, sega, atari, super nintendo, etc.) but that is kinda illegal if you don't <U>own</U> the games that are on your box.

-ps2 is nice for everyone. can play dvds without a stupid kit and has a huge game selection. the controller is also a little easier to get used to.

-gamecube looks to me like it is for kids only. I can't really say anything about it, cause I never played it.

you may also want to wait, because the newer systems are supposed to be coming out soon, but then you are going to be coughing up a lot of cash. or wait until the new systems come out and buy one of the older ones for cheap.

and a little note to BigBadScrambler, it is illegal to make copies of games that you don't own. and people that do that are only hurting themselves and other xbox gamers because the game companies aren't getting the money they need to make more games. I know your friend isn't the only one that does it, but I suggest keeping that information to yourself.

 

I'd say go with the gamecube. I have all 3 systems and the gamecube is the most kid- friendly. It has a good variety of games, and a lot that your kids would probably like.