Quake3World

For several reasons.

I was sitting on my hands and hoping that when the Nintendo DS launched, as the clear underdog, it would surprise everyone and stand up to the PSP quite well.

Being half the price was already making it attractive and a safer investment. Likewise, the idea of dual screens and backwards compatability had me daydreaming of the possibilities.

Unfortunately, I've learned that the DS only supports GBA games, and its compatability doesn't stretch back to the original GameBoy games. That's a big punch, since the last Nintendo product I bought was a gameboy, and I was holding out for being able to use my stack of cartridges on the DS. No go.

After playing around with the system at shop displays, the unit feels tacky, too. A real low-quality feel to the buttons and especially the wimpy D-Pad. The styling is horrible. All-silver and cheap plastic construction, coupled with considerable size, makes this a far inferior product to the GBA: SP (of which the NES version looks like an attractive purchase right now).

The touchpad.. nice idea, essentially gives the DS the potential to be used as a PDA as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with and kind of email, calender or contacts facility, just chat... Maybe in the future, but that would mean paying for features which could easily come as standard

Lastly, the dual screen hasn't been taken advantage of in the way I'd hoped. Granted, it's early days, but it looks like it's only ever going to be able to push basic 2d images, as opposed to, say, being able to view your teammates screen on HIS DS when you link up for some co-op action.

However for all the faults of the DS, the end result doesn't make me want to purchase a PSP, at least not yet. I can live without mobile gaming for the forseeable future, and if anything does tempt me, it's likely to be the GBA: SP dropping in price over the coming months.

How about everyone else who's considering the new kit? What's your thoughts?

Why would you want to use a mobile gaming device as PDA?

I would rather get a GBA instead of a DS, it looks focking horrid.

For some reason I haven't been that interested in a DS. Probably because I dont travel much etc.

I do agree with you with the poor qualiy build of the product, I remember going into game and my local cinema where they had them to mess about with. I dont like the touch screen, it feels really crap when i use the pen that comes with it.

Putting the product aside and looking at the games, they seem to be quite good, however I'm biased because I've always been a Sega fan and never really liked Mario, Goldeneye etc.

I played a PSP a few months ago, mate of mine works in a import games store and allowed me to have a fiddle. I really do like the PSP compared to the DS, but as ive said, i dont think i would buy one because of how little i travel. And the fact i cant afford it (uni student).

Overall, I would probably go on ebay or go down a cash converters and buy a Mega drive with loads of old school games then get a DS

saturn wrote:Why would you want to use a mobile gaming device as PDA?

I would rather get a GBA instead of a DS, it looks focking horrid.

I think the best way to phrase this is 'what would you like to use a mobile device for?'.

Take the nokia N-Gage. No, please... they're quite cheap now... ok, we'll pay you... just... take one...

The N-Gage failed because it did neither function well. The phone was unsexy and cumbersome to use, the gaming aspect was low-tech and again, cumbersome.

The Nintendo DS already HAS the stylings and features for both PDA and gaming functions, the only thing it's missing is the software to back up the PDA functions with.

So my thinking is that if you're going to make all these 'jack of all trades' tradeoffs such as a touch screen, wireless, chat functionality, and so on, why not go the little extra distance and have some software to fulfill the potential of this, out of the box.

Essentially, you're right, I don't think I need PDA functions on a gaming device, but Nintendo have already gone halfway with that and I guess I'm more irked by the half-measure of it than that I really wanted it in the first place.

It's all about the PSP, pretty looking with good specs, not in that order but it's close.

I had a feeling the DS could be a turkey, probably told you I thought so too, guess we'll see how that pans out in a few months.

PSP is sweet, but the price tag is lame, the media choice sucks and buying into a console with no clear competition is ASKING to be fucked in the ass over the next few years becuase prices will stay high and quality will not rise appropriately.

I think my overall opinion on these handhelds is 'well, I was pretty fired up with the idea of portable gaming since these 2 were being released simultaneously, but since both are a dissapointment, I think I'll come to my senses and see I don't really want either'.

The choice isn't 'either or' it's 'one, the other, or neither' and I almost lost sight of that (curse you, sony)

The choice of media shouldn't come into it, it's no worse than making the things cartridges as has always been the case with most consoles, handheld or otherwise; the only real alternative would have been to not put the discs in silly cases like I believe they are.

There IS competition, the DS, whether you discount it or not; chances are Sony will drop the prices if the DS sells, which (in spite of me long giving up on Nintendo's shite a long time ago) it probably will.

Aye, when I have money - in the far distant future - I'll be getting a PSP.

Nintendo could have had the upper hand in terms of media.. their handhelds have always been backwards compatable and you can buy adapters for their consoles which allow you to play the handheld games on your TV...

But not this time around, no gameboy compatability really shit on my parade.

I guess Sony didn't have a chance in that field... their only option would have been to create a handheld that could accomodate CDs, but they would be pretty big units.

Foo wrote:For several reasons.

I was sitting on my hands and hoping that when the Nintendo DS launched, as the clear underdog, it would surprise everyone and stand up to the PSP quite well.

Being half the price was already making it attractive and a safer investment. Likewise, the idea of dual screens and backwards compatability had me daydreaming of the possibilities.

Unfortunately, I've learned that the DS only supports GBA games, and its compatability doesn't stretch back to the original GameBoy games. That's a big punch, since the last Nintendo product I bought was a gameboy, and I was holding out for being able to use my stack of cartridges on the DS. No go.

After playing around with the system at shop displays, the unit feels tacky, too. A real low-quality feel to the buttons and especially the wimpy D-Pad. The styling is horrible. All-silver and cheap plastic construction, coupled with considerable size, makes this a far inferior product to the GBA: SP (of which the NES version looks like an attractive purchase right now).

The touchpad.. nice idea, essentially gives the DS the potential to be used as a PDA as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with and kind of email, calender or contacts facility, just chat... Maybe in the future, but that would mean paying for features which could easily come as standard

Lastly, the dual screen hasn't been taken advantage of in the way I'd hoped. Granted, it's early days, but it looks like it's only ever going to be able to push basic 2d images, as opposed to, say, being able to view your teammates screen on HIS DS when you link up for some co-op action.

However for all the faults of the DS, the end result doesn't make me want to purchase a PSP, at least not yet. I can live without mobile gaming for the forseeable future, and if anything does tempt me, it's likely to be the GBA: SP dropping in price over the coming months.

How about everyone else who's considering the new kit? What's your thoughts?

Well, a few things:

1) I think its retarded that it doesnt support old Gameboy games. Why? Its a bullshit marketing move by Nintendo so that people still buy/play the GBA. The cartridge slot for the GBA can hold and play BOTH GBA and GB games. Why cant the cartridge slot on the DS made for GBA games play GB games as well?

2) note that multiplayer GBA games cannot be played on the DS

3) the build for the system is pretty decent. nintendo consoles/machines in general are much better built than Sony's. this time is its the same case.

4) email, pda capabilities will as I understand is being developed and is called the V-Pocket. im guessing (and hoping) its a cartridge like thing that you just put in your DS. it should have been out to begin with and be free.

5) theres a rumour going about that the DS will drop in price in April. dont know if its true or not.

Having had only a short time with both the DS and PSP, I can already tell you my view on it. The DS I used felt cheaply made, like if it dropped from any notable distance it would shatter. I also noted that Metroid Prime: Hunters could be played entirely without the use of the second screen, and the touch capability. That screamed gimmick, which so far, seems to be the case.

the touchpad is a definite gimmick but for Metroid Prime Hunters I find it easier to use than the traditional "turok" style scheme.

Foo maybe this is more up your alley then?

http://www.xploder.net/?s=82_6090a407-e ... s&id=86&c=

If I kept the 150 or so NES games I had ages ago I would sooo get this.

Or this

http://www.gizmondo.com/

dzjepp wrote:Or this

http://www.gizmondo.com/

Seen it in EGM. Looks nice.

there's also that nifty crazy korean handheld that basically is just a portable pc, and runs all the popular emulators + mp3 capabilities... can't remember the name, saw it linked here like a year ago.

quo or something crazy like that with a q in it ?

Foo wrote:

saturn wrote:Why would you want to use a mobile gaming device as PDA?

I would rather get a GBA instead of a DS, it looks focking horrid.

I think the best way to phrase this is 'what would you like to use a mobile device for?'.

Take the nokia N-Gage. No, please... they're quite cheap now... ok, we'll pay you... just... take one...

The N-Gage failed because it did neither function well. The phone was unsexy and cumbersome to use, the gaming aspect was low-tech and again, cumbersome.

The Nintendo DS already HAS the stylings and features for both PDA and gaming functions, the only thing it's missing is the software to back up the PDA functions with.

So my thinking is that if you're going to make all these 'jack of all trades' tradeoffs such as a touch screen, wireless, chat functionality, and so on, why not go the little extra distance and have some software to fulfill the potential of this, out of the box.

Essentially, you're right, I don't think I need PDA functions on a gaming device, but Nintendo have already gone halfway with that and I guess I'm more irked by the half-measure of it than that I really wanted it in the first place.

I love my ngage..

Mp3, Video, Any Java app, and samba apps.. also bluetooth, which is nice for wireless handsfree headsets..
[lvlshot]http://s88080780.onlinehome.us/headset2.JPG[/lvlshot]

the DS, i like, theres OTHER COLORS out there..
http://www.lik-sang.com/list.php?nav=over&category=273&
while you have to get a voltage converter its worth it if you MUST have colors..

dunno.. PSP is really nice, but the fucking price is just to high.. 250 bucks for what? a memory card and some headphones?

DS has a decent price point..


AND the PDA software for the DS, its comming same with wifi internet gaming..

SOAPboy wrote:stuff i wrote

but the Ngage STILL manages to look bulky and undeniably ugly beyond comprehension. no amount of features can overcome that.

and remind me again how much that was when it first came out?

SOAPboy wrote:
DS has a decent price point..


AND the PDA software for the DS, its comming same with wifi internet gaming..

wait a minute. isn't a DS $150 USD? how much is this extra stuff going to cost the consumer? more specifically the wifi adapter?

SOAPboy wrote: [lvlshot]http://s88080780.onlinehome.us/headset2.JPG[/lvlshot]

nice jailhouse tats.

:icon19:

My Tungsten T3 already has Lemmings, Scrabble and Bejeweled. That's all the touch screen gaming anyone ever needs.

I'll never take anything besides my cellphone with me ever again.
If you want me to use (buy) something, you better integrate it into a cellphone or I'm not buying it. And don't you dare making cellphones any larger, or I won't be buying them either.