Nintendo DS plus...what?

Started by Jeikobu October 25th, 2010 4:52 PM
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Male
In God's timing, Japan!
Seen July 12th, 2013
Posted July 12th, 2013
473 posts
19.7 Years
Ok, so I'm planning to ask for a DS (probably DS Lite) for the Christmas season. I also want to get Pokemon White imported from Japan. However, I have one question: should I get anything else (i.e.: accessories)? In short, what does a strictly Pokemon DS gamer need to have the best experience? I'm really new to DS as a whole, which may sound silly. Can anyone explain things to me?
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Stellar

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Essentially, there's no accessory that can enhance the 4th generation Pokémon experience. If you get a Lite rather than a DSi you don't have to worry about not being able to import from 3rd generation games, and it's not like you need a link cable or anything since everything is done wirelessly. So if you were to get DS/Lite by itself, you would be capable of playing D/P/Pt and HG/SS to their fullest capacities, and the only thing you'd be missing in B/W is the Live Caster feature which is exclusive to the DSi.
Male
In God's timing, Japan!
Seen July 12th, 2013
Posted July 12th, 2013
473 posts
19.7 Years
Essentially, there's no accessory that can enhance the 4th generation Pokémon experience. If you get a Lite rather than a DSi you don't have to worry about not being able to import from 3rd generation games
I think I want a Lite since I think it goes for the cheapest. Since I have a GBA SP, it shouldn't matter if the DS can play the 3rd generation games, should it?

the only thing you'd be missing in B/W is the Live Caster feature which is exclusive to the DSi.
What is "Live Caster"?

Does DS Lite have a built in lit screen like GBA SP does? Also, does it charge by being plugged in with a cord (i.e.: not on batteries) like the GBA SP?
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." - Romans 1:20


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ソラ

May My Heart Be My Guiding Key

Age 32
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Posted March 18th, 2023
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15.2 Years
I rather get Lite then DSi for Black and White if you want to import it.
But other games will do good on DSi. But I like the lite more. You'll learn on it, you'll grow. But If you want Experience get Pokemon Platinum, and HG or SS too with it. :33
Age 27
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Best City OCE
Seen October 18th, 2021
Posted April 1st, 2013
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Does DS Lite have a built in lit screen like GBA SP does?
Yes, and with multiple adjustable levels of lighting.
Also, does it charge by being plugged in with a cord (i.e.: not on batteries) like the GBA SP?
Charger, yep.

Lites are good. Accessories are completely unnecessary.
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Male
In God's timing, Japan!
Seen July 12th, 2013
Posted July 12th, 2013
473 posts
19.7 Years
Thanks Caterpie!

I rather get Lite then DSi for Black and White if you want to import it.
Why?

You'll learn on it, you'll grow.
How so?

But If you want Experience get Pokemon Platinum, and HG or SS too with it. :33
Why?

I like your name by the way. :) Conan's been a great show I think, thought I'm only about 1 1/2 hundred episodes in.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." - Romans 1:20


Learn the Japanese names for Pokemon!

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Age 34
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The World In-Between
Seen April 4th, 2011
Posted March 9th, 2011
1,193 posts
14.2 Years
I'd get Pokemon Platinum (the definite version of Gen IV, since it has everything, story/location-wise, from D/P and more), and HeartGold or SoulSilver (either is great, a fitting remake of the Gen II games and more).
I'd wait to get White, personally, since its supposed to be released in Spring, probably March or April, and you'll have one of the other Pokemon games to tide you over.
Also, you shouldn't limit yourself to just Pokemon, there are alot of fantastic non-Pokemon titles on the DS.

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You should get a little microphone if you are going to play Pokemon online. There is one built into the DS but I don't think it is very good. You can't use a normal computer microphone you have to use one that is made for the DS.

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I have a Lite, and it serves me well. It's great if you don't want to spend money. But if you are really into the online side of things and don't mind giving up the cash, DSi is great, especially for Pokemon Black and White. Lets you do live chat with other people with BW.

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Male
In God's timing, Japan!
Seen July 12th, 2013
Posted July 12th, 2013
473 posts
19.7 Years
Get a DSI, My lite can't read games like ACWW.
What's ACWW? If it's game other than Pokemon, then this contingency doesn't matter to me.

I'd wait to get White, personally, since its supposed to be released in Spring, probably March or April, and you'll have one of the other Pokemon games to tide you over.
I only want the Japanese version. The only reasons I can think of to wait on White are 1) I still don't know much Japanese, 2) I'm playing Red right now and have considered, "would I rather play them in order"? Ultimately though, I can look online for help if I get stuck in White, and I'd just rather have the newest most improved game now and then I can go back later.

I have a Lite, and it serves me well. It's great if you don't want to spend money. But if you are really into the online side of things and don't mind giving up the cash, DSi is great, especially for Pokemon Black and White. Lets you do live chat with other people with BW.
Thanks for the info.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." - Romans 1:20


Learn the Japanese names for Pokemon!

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Time Guardian

Requiem of the 13th Hour

Age 32
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Seen May 15th, 2011
Posted January 6th, 2011
64 posts
12.6 Years
Honestly, if you can find it, I would say to get the original DS since they last longer and much more durable then the lites. I've had my DS ever since before the lites came out and it's still is in working condition despite going through a little bit of abuse, but a few of my friends have lites and most of then ended up breaking theirs in half by accident and/or have an responsive R/L trigger.

As for accessories, there isn't really anything that you need, extra stylus are always a plus to be on the safe side in case you lose one or two. If you're concerned about your bottom screen getting too scratched up and not working right over time, you may need to consider getting some screen protectors, but that's only if you plan to get games that use a lot with the stylus and bottom screen.The pokemon games can mostly be played without use of the touch screen, and even so it's once in a while and not extensive, so you're not going to need it unless you plan to expand on your games library.

Anyways, since you plan to import the Japanese version, then the DS would HAVE to be either the original one or the lite. The DSi's are region locked so you can't played foreign games with them unless you get someone to hack the game system for you.

And all of Nintendo's portable systems since the GBASP has a charger and a backlit screen. And this is something that will end up being kept as a standard for all portable game systems more then likely
Age 27
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Best City OCE
Seen October 18th, 2021
Posted April 1st, 2013
5,978 posts
15.2 Years
Honestly, if you can find it, I would say to get the original DS since they last longer and much more durable then the lites. I've had my DS ever since before the lites came out and it's still is in working condition despite going through a little bit of abuse, but a few of my friends have lites and most of then ended up breaking theirs in half by accident and/or have an responsive R/L trigger.
but whatever you do with a DS Brik, do not drop it while open. I did and it pretty much snapped the middle hinge so now I have a DS with a really dodgy top screen. The graphics died too.

The battery of a DS Lite is stronger than that of a Brik, but the buttons are less durable. Meh.
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and that's always sad.
But everything begins again, too,
and that's always happy.

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Maybe she's born with it

Age 28
New Zealand
Seen January 24th, 2020
Posted May 19th, 2016
1,939 posts
14.7 Years
Really the lite is ideal if you just want to play Pokemon. Some might say the brik last longer but they all last long as long as you look after it properly. You still have your GBA SP so it's safe to assume your not one of those people who go through a handheld console in a year or so because of tardy handling. The only thing you'd want is screen covers for the touch screen otherwise it gets ruined. Don't bother getting another stylus since I don't see how you could break it during gameplay unless you smash it onto the screen and you probably won't lose it since there's a gap on the side of the DS to hold it. Not to mention that the DS Lite comes with two styluses. So just get a DS Lite and screen covers unless you plan on buying the DSi Exclusive version of Black/White.

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Stellar

Minior used Cosmic Power!

Age 31
Female
outer space.
Seen December 7th, 2022
Posted November 27th, 2022
870 posts
14.1 Years
I think I want a Lite since I think it goes for the cheapest. Since I have a GBA SP, it shouldn't matter if the DS can play the 3rd generation games, should it?
It kind of does if you want to bring your 3rd generation Pokémon over to your 4th generation games, since the only way to do that is to migrate them which requires the extra GBA slot.

Anyways, since you plan to import the Japanese version, then the DS would HAVE to be either the original one or the lite. The DSi's are region locked so you can't played foreign games with them unless you get someone to hack the game system for you.
Wow, I had no idea... good call. Makes me glad I never got a DSi.

Shadow

Original Flavor Darkness

Age 34
Male
The Middle of Nowhere!
Seen August 6th, 2021
Posted July 27th, 2021
2,863 posts
19.6 Years
The only accessory I would suggest are some headphones. Turning the sound down a tad helps your battery life quite a bit and with headphones you'll be able to hear your DS at half volume louder than you would without the headphones and the DS at max volume while it sucks out more battery power.

Mostly because the official Nintendo DS headphones are literally the best ones I've gotten ever. They're comfortable and lightweight, have lasted longer than much more expensive headphones from computer companies, and they good quality.

They look like these ones: http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-DS-LITE-HEADPHONES-HEADSET-EARPHONE/dp/B0019CVJOY/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1288170668&sr=8-20

Time Guardian

Requiem of the 13th Hour

Age 32
Female
Eneomaos Machine Tower
Seen May 15th, 2011
Posted January 6th, 2011
64 posts
12.6 Years
Don't bother getting another stylus since I don't see how you could break it during gameplay unless you smash it onto the screen and you probably won't lose it since there's a gap on the side of the DS to hold it.
Maybe it's just me, but my DS never held the original stylus that it came with real well, they would just keep on falling out of the holder, even if it was practically brand new. (Although after I bought a couple of fancy, half metal half plastic, off-brand stylus. They stayed in pretty darn good, so I think it's just the way nintendo makes their official stylus that makes them not stay in the hole very well)

I have no idea how the stylus holder with the lite is in terms of holding the actual stylus and if it stays there. So I'm just mostly speaking from my own experience with mine.

Apostrophe

Everybody do the search dance!

Male
Seen November 10th, 2010
Posted November 8th, 2010
256 posts
13.8 Years
I think I want a Lite since I think it goes for the cheapest. Since I have a GBA SP, it shouldn't matter if the DS can play the 3rd generation games, should it?
From personal experience, I am going to say beware the Lite, and if you ever have the choice, choose the original DS over it. Nintendo made the DS Lite out of cheap, crappy plastic, and many people have had problems with hinge cracks and screens going out.

The hinge cracks start out as just that --- a crack on the hinge that appears almost randomly (you don't exactly have to treat your DS badly, just own it for a while), but then some plastic cracks off, and before you know it, your top screen is just dangling there. That's what happened to both me and my friend's Lite.

My brother also had a DS Lite, and his top screen randomly just stopped working. No visible defects, there wasn't a scratch on the DS, the top screen just doesn't work anymore. So if you're planning on getting a DS Lite, just get an emulator --- you'll probably be using it within a couple of years.
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Male
Stuck in Generation 3 :(
Seen July 23rd, 2017
Posted June 9th, 2017
1,761 posts
14.8 Years
From personal experience, I am going to say beware the Lite, and if you ever have the choice, choose the original DS over it. Nintendo made the DS Lite out of cheap, crappy plastic, and many people have had problems with hinge cracks and screens going out.

The hinge cracks start out as just that --- a crack on the hinge that appears almost randomly (you don't exactly have to treat your DS badly, just own it for a while), but then some plastic cracks off, and before you know it, your top screen is just dangling there. That's what happened to both me and my friend's Lite.

My brother also had a DS Lite, and his top screen randomly just stopped working. No visible defects, there wasn't a scratch on the DS, the top screen just doesn't work anymore. So if you're planning on getting a DS Lite, just get an emulator --- you'll probably be using it within a couple of years.
Yikes...are they short on Nintendium or what? :'( My GBASP has had durability to survive several drops and falls, even while on and open...

The only problem I had with the DS Phat is the placement of the power button because you have a higher chance of accidentally pressing it instead of the D-pad and resetting the cart. Otherwise I think it looks better than the DS Lite, especially since GBA cartridges don't protrude from it, it can use the GameBoy Advance's charger, and it has a more durable feel to it.

I'd only warn against a DSi due to the lack of a GBA slot, and you might as well wait for the 3DS since it's basically DSi 2.0 (no offense intended to the 3DS; just saying that the DSi seems inferior as the GBA slot was removed and its camera isn't good in quality, from what I've heard. Since the 3DS basically does what the DSi does with an improved camera, 3D effects, and 3DS capacity coupled with backwards compatibility with DS games, might as well wait for that one). As for myself, I do not own any system of the Nintendo DS line right now, so I'm just waiting for the 3DS to be released.
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Age 25
Male
England :)
Seen November 18th, 2010
Posted November 7th, 2010
43 posts
12.6 Years
Well DS lites are really good and fit the job really well but out of the two DS lites that i've had both of them have a broken hinge which then makes the game play really hard since the top screen keeps dropping down :/ But i dunno maybe that's just me? Oh and if your looking for accesories get a few extra stylus's the ones that you can attach to your DS on the back of those machine are pretty decent since you can't really lose them. Also you could get a skin you wanted to a pokemon related one?

Elite Overlord LeSabre™

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Age 97
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Posted January 25th, 2022
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15.5 Years
My DS ite has one of those "half broken" hinges where the top screen/lid feels loose and doesn't "lock" in place. The choice between the DS/Lite and DSi really depends on how much you think you'll need the GBA slot. The DSi doesn't have that capability.

Aside from the hinge issue and the shoulder buttons sometimes not responding like they should, my DS Lite is fine for my purposes.

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