OT: Playstation 2 opinion?

Please reply OFF list since this is decidedly off topic. I figure there are at least several gamers on the list who could offer their feelings on the questions we have, hence my approaching the list. Anyway, Beverly and I are thinking of getting our 8-yr-old a Playstation 2 for Christmas or his early February birthday. I'm not really into video games at all so we could use some feedback. I just understand some of the technology :-) We've had a Nintendo 64 for the past year and its likeable. I do admit having fun with a Donkey Kong and a couple different Super Mario games. They are indeed challenging from a hand-eye coordination, memory and limited intellectual standpoint, so I begrudgingly admit there is some value for Matt to play them. However, Bev has found that most of Matt's friends have Playstation I's and II's and that the game selection is somewhat better than N64. Matt also expresses a slight preference for the PS games. So, we're shopping. Bev understands DVD's can be played on the PS 2 unit. Are these movie DVD's they're talking about? Audio DVD's? How is the playback quality? Comparable to an average DVD player? Any advice on prices? Usual price at Wal-Mart, Ames and other dept. stores is $299 so we figure that's that unless a sale pops up. Thanks in advance. -Chris -- -- Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net Member of Antique Wireless Association URL: http://www.antiquewireless.org/