To Nintendo DS or Not?

*Louise*

My DS1 got his first one when he was 6.

I would suggest getting the DSi for now - you can always upgrade in a couple of years, but for a young child I wouldn't go with the 3D one.

As for games - Super mario, lego, toy story, nintendogs - there are loads of games, just look for the ones labelled 3+ rather than 7+. they won't be too aggressive.

Also - they are never too young to get started on the Brain Training game. It's great for improving mental arithmetic. DS1 is now 10 and has started doing the Professor Layton puzzles.

With regards to children being glued to them - well, that's down to the parents. Make sure they only have short spells on them and that they're not allowed them at the dinner table etc and there shouldn't be any problems.

They can't be that bad - DS1's school has them for all the kids to do brain training on occasionally during school hours!:rotfl:

Counting_Pennies_2

Thanks all for your fantastic replies. Armed with the advice I am going to go to a shop to look at them in person.

When it comes to buying them, any ideas on the best retailer, online?

Also, one final question. My son's grandparents are very keen for ideas for buying a gift for his birthday, and I think a game for the DS will be a good idea. Before I decide on the model, is it possible just to give them ideas for the game? Do all the DS games come in the same format, or do they have to be specific?


Thanks again

CRANKY40

All ds games are the same, either for DS, DSi etc. It's also very reassuring to note that they wash well, sometimes several times before being discovered in pockets. You can also buy the old Gameboy Advance games to play in a DS lite, but they only work on one screen and don't work in a DSi.

If you can afford the extra get him a DSi because it is also a camera. I think my son has about 400 photos on his just now (you can get an SD card for the DSi to allow them to keep more photos and add music). They are mostly photos of himself :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Counting_Pennies_2

Thanks that is really helpful, as he would like a camera as well.

In terms of accessories, can you advise on what is needed. We would like to take this when we go on holiday, so chargers, adapters, cases etc.

Any advice is very welcomed.

onlyroz

You should get all the necessary accessories in with the bundle, but you might want to buy a case for it, to protect it against bumps, and maybe a wallet to store the games in. As for foreign power adaptors - just the usual ones you buy for other electrical stuff will be fine.

I'd also recommend the DSi over the regular DS - my son has lots of fun taking pictures of himself and twisting them into grotesque shapes.

*Louise*

You will get a standard charger with it, I can't remember about the car charger, (I think there is one with it though) somone who has bought one recently may be able to answer that.

You will also get headphones and a stylus, more styluses would be good to have.

I recommend buying a flip and play case rather than a storage one, as it offers more protection if it is dropped.

Eg: (not recommending this one particularly, just posting so you can see the picture)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Venom-Blue-Flip-Play-Nintendo/dp/B00167SUM6/ref=sr_1_5?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1299409147&sr=1-5