portable games consoles-which is best??

tomt

I've got a DS, just chipping in with my knowledge if you go for a DS in the end:

You've got 2 options - a DS or a 'DS Lite'. The DS Lite is smaller, more stylish and has a brighter screen. Other than that functionality are the same. Basically ask your kid which one they'd prefer (i.e. fave colour, better grip etc).

If you get a game or two with it, definitely buy New Super Mario Brothers. It's a classic game remade to modern day standards - and it is simply extremely playable. Also you can't go wrong with any of the Mario games if your kid is 11 or below I reckon.

Also the DS can play all Gameboy Advance (GBA) games. There are hundreds to choose from and many are in the bargain bins in stores and online. There are some great GBA games, and again, the Mario range has some gems - including Mario Tennis and Mario Golf. There's loads of Pokemon games that kids love, on the GBA, and two new ones coming to the DS later in 2007.

You can also take the DS into most HMV stores and get demos of new games.

If you have Wi-fi (Wireless internet access) at home, then the DS can use this for many games to play opponents online. Free Wi-fi access for DS gaming is available at all BT Openzone access points - i.e. at pretty much every stand-alone McDonalds restaurant int he UK I think, not to mention many shopping centres and coffee shops. So if he is a little lad, a Happy Meal at McDonalds stretches a lot further with free wi-fi access!

iapetus

jim2k23 wrote:

from my point of view and I've had both handheld's although i've recently traded in my psp for a ds because it was just collecting dust

Skye32 wrote:

My son, who will be 7 on Tuesday, had a DS for Christmas. He didn't like it and ended up playing with my other son's PSP.

And this is exactly why the best person to ask is your son.

Someone mentioned the issue of the DS interacting with Wii games, and it's worth pointing out that the PSP has some great interaction with PS3 as well, so if you're expecting to get either of those consoles for him in the future it might help with the handheld decision as well.

jinkssick

well if you like to view your pics as slideshows, PSP. convert and watch movies on the go with a great battery life, PSP. Free games, PSP. Play mp3s, PSP.

I think the original games and the touch screen (which is soon coming to a PSP) as is camera (video too) with microphone.

mcsquared_2

touchscreen coming to psp??? dont think so! not even the likes of maxconsole have come up with that gem! i have a psp from when they first came out in japan, probably has about 150hrs play on it thats all, i wish that i'd bought a DS instead. the psp used to look good when noone else had one but you can count the good games on one hand, well maybe if you cut off a few fingers anyway. most or the games are rehashes of old ps1/2 games (GTA - yawn) the DS is definitely the best of the 2 and it'll cost you less - oh and 'free games' shouldn't really be a reason to buy a console but the DS can do it too - not that I advocate that sort of thing

makinprogress

Can I just ask Phanco...what is a 'Supercard'?

My 7 year old son asked for a DS for Christmas and got one!
His Dad has a PSP.
My 9 year old nephew got a PSP for Christmas, and is always trying to swap with my Son for the DS!
I like the DS too! Good Fun!!!

phanco

makinprogress wrote:

Can I just ask Phanco...what is a 'Supercard'?

My 7 year old son asked for a DS for Christmas and got one!
His Dad has a PSP.
My 9 year old nephew got a PSP for Christmas, and is always trying to swap with my Son for the DS!
I like the DS too! Good Fun!!!

Supercard is a brand name for a series of cards you can use to play "homebrew" applications on the DS (which would include downloaded games if you are so enclined - not that I can condone such a thing ).
there are various flavours but the latest one is called the Supercard DS ONE card which looks like a standard DS cartridge but takes a microSD card. This will run most software (as ever with these things not every game will play 100%). My daughter has a different version where a card (called a passkey) goes into the NDS cart slot and the main card with microSD goes into the GBS slot in her DS lite.

Checkout http://eng.supercard.cn/

antiville

phanco wrote:

Supercard is a brand name for a series of cards you can use to play "homebrew" applications on the DS (which would include downloaded games if you are so enclined - not that I can condone such a thing ).
there are various flavours but the latest one is called the Supercard DS ONE card which looks like a standard DS cartridge but takes a microSD card. This will run most software (as ever with these things not every game will play 100%). My daughter has a different version where a card (called a passkey) goes into the NDS cart slot and the main card with microSD goes into the GBS slot in her DS lite.

Checkout http://eng.supercard.cn/

Thanks for that info, I'd seen before that there was a way to download games which you could then transfer to the DS - I just was'nt sure what you needed to use to store them on the console itself.

Is it quite easy to use, and also is there any possible harm that can come to the DS?

Thanks in advance

phanco

antiville wrote:

Thanks for that info, I'd seen before that there was a way to download games which you could then transfer to the DS - I just was'nt sure what you needed to use to store them on the console itself.

Is it quite easy to use, and also is there any possible harm that can come to the DS?

Thanks in advance

The one I mentioned (Supercard DS ONE) is very simple to use - you do need a PC though (obviously). There are some systems files which must be copied onto the memroy card to actually provide the user interface on the DS. The good thing about this is that updates are as simple as downloading the new version and drag-and-drop onto the memory card.

There are two ways to copy apps - if you can find a .nds file of an application you are interested in (google can be very helpful) you can just drag it into the memory card. If you get a big enough memory card you can also play MP3s and watch videos.

Some apps might not work in this way and you have to use a software package to "convert" them - this software is a free download from supercard and is fairly frequently updated. the conversion takes about a minute (max) and then you just copy the resulting files onto your memory card.

Note that some apps dont work even after conversion - new versions of the conversion software and GUI software should improve compatibility - but there are no gaurantees (but then again you are doing something a bit naughty...)

There are others on the market as well and the debate about which one is best is almost as fervent as the DS V PSP debates - all I can say is my DD and I have 2 variants from supercard and they have worked with 90% of the 'apps' we have tried them on....

AMO

Personally I think both consoles are good. For pure games PSP wins by quantity and DS has the lead in terms of quality:
http://www.metacritic.com/games/

To me its fairly balanced IF they were the same price. When adding in the factor of pricing, DS wins hands down.

AMO

Rachie_B

My son aged 10 had a DS lite for xmas
It's what he wanted, and i was pleased as it means he can use all his GBA games he already has!

PLUS his younger brother had a new GBA for xmas so they can share / swap games now