The DS Lite U.S. Launch 125
Yesterday Nintendo began selling the upgraded version of their popular DS handheld system, and by all accounts sales are going very well. 1up has a look at the story of the DS so far, from somewhat rocky launch up through this last amazing Christmas season. From the article: "Nintendo had lost its collective mind. At least, that's how it looked back in January 2004 when the company announced its latest system, the DS. 'We have developed Nintendo DS based upon a completely different concept from existing game devices in order to provide players with a unique entertainment experience for the 21st century,' company president Satoru Iwata stated--a bold proclamation. But few were buying it." PC Magazine has details on what was upgraded, and Engadget has pictures from the NYC launch party.
Re:DS Launch in Canada (Score:4, Informative)
They were launched here in Australia at the beginning of the month, and my wife and I walked in to the store after lunch, not even being aware that it was a launch day or that the DS was anything special (I'm not really up on Nintendo portables). We ended up just picking one up off the shelf though and buying it for a present for a friend.
There were no lines or stock shortages that I saw...
Best Way to Protect your DS Screen (Score:5, Informative)
To solve the problem we simply bought some high quality Palm Pilot screen protectors, then cut this to the right dimensions for the DS. It works flawlessly with the DS and the stylus, and looks better after use than the Nintendo protectors do new. This pad hardly shows marks at all, even after playing stylus intensive games. They are less than $1 each at your local office supply store.
Yesterday we picked up a DS Lite and the first thing we did was throw a Palm protector onto the screen. Works like a charm.
DSLinux is available now (Score:4, Informative)
Zero [dslinux.org].
And here's what you need to run Linux or other homebrew programs on your DS [pocketheaven.com].
Re:Bought mine launch day (Score:5, Informative)
If you can't exchange it at the place you purchased it, just call Nintendo Consumer Service (1-800-255-3700) as listed on the back of your DS. If you give them a credit card number as a deposit, I'm sure they'll ship you a replacement. Just open the box, grab your new DS, test it... then put your old DS back in the box, slap on the new mailing label, and drop it back in the mail.
But the point is, Nintendo Consumer Service has been superlative since as long as I can remember (1988 at least), so give them a try if the store gives you any hassles.
Re:Bought mine launch day (Score:3, Informative)
I know that's been their policy before, but I just called this morning for mine and advance replacement wasn't an option -- just depot repair (and they're damn fast at it, but a week is still a week).
So I guess I'll drop by the store tomorrow once I've collected my box etc., copied my WFC ID back to my old DS, and such...
Re:stuck pixelies (Score:4, Informative)
Where did you get that information? At the original DS' launch, any stuck pixel was enough to merit a replacement under Nintendo's 1 year warranty. Give them a call on their 1-800 number and see if they'll get you a replacement unit.
Re:hmmm but.. (Score:3, Informative)
At first I thought that was a reason to import one (they run about $200ish on eBay), but I'm glad I decided against it and just went for the US model. While asthetically I might have prefered black or the dark navy, the new slick finish is great but it takes fingerprints like nobody's business. Since I keep a sunglasses shami around to clean the screens anyway it's not a huge problem, but on the white you can't see them unless you hold it up to a light and really look for them. I have a friend who imported one of the dark navy ones and the fingerprints show up much more. It'd be a nightmare if you are OCD like me and would be cleaning it every time you sat it down.
That said, it's the best purchase I've made in a long time. I am so totally floored by the quality of the screens...games that I finished long ago (Super Princess Peach, Mario and Luigi : Partners In Time) look like brand new games. The colors are incredibly vibrant (the yellows and greens that were there the whole time but I never saw astounded me), and the backgrounds pop out and the detail is so much more apparent. I never really wanted to admit that I noticed it before, but the regular DS has very muddy looking screens. I'm only running on brightness level 3 (out of 4) and it's literally like night and day when comparing side-by-side with the normal DS.
Thankfully, I've found a use for my old one - it's going to keep Brain Age in my living room where I can access it easily when watching TV and such; now when people visit I'll be able to play the great two-player games (that, thankfully, only require one cart unlike the old days where everyone needed their own copy) with them instead of telling them how if they bought one we could play together.
AE
Re:Best Way to Protect your DS Screen (Score:3, Informative)
There are a lot of LCD screen restorers out there. They all should work.
Re:hmmm but.. (Score:2, Informative)
Also importing voides your warranty.
Other than that there is no difference that I know of. Every game works, and you can swtich the language back to English.
Re:Thinking of getting one but... (Score:3, Informative)
Advance Wars: Dual Strike - Totally awesome game. If you've played the previous Advance Wars titles, this is an excellent upgrade. If you haven't, then this game is a must have. It's a Turn Based Strategy game, which I personally love, so your opinion may differ if you're not into that sort of thing. I've also heard the Age of Empires DS game is really good, but don't actually own it yet.
Tetris DS - The king of the puzzle games. This is probably one of the two best installments of Tetris ever made. It does have a few quirks that hardcore players say make it "too easy" (Specifically, the need to 'lock' pieces, which means you can continue spinning them indefinitely while you try to formulate a stratgy). On the other hand, it has 6 different play modes, all of which are fun, great multiplay local or internet. Including Single Card Multiplay (which many DS games have.)
Meteos - Another puzzle game, in a similar vein as Tetris, but probably more resembling Bejeweled (if you've ever played that). Played entirely with the touchscreen, you have falling squares of different colors. You can only make vertical movements, and you're trying to match up 3 or more squares of the same color either horizontally or vertically to 'blast off' groups of blocks. The absolute greatest thing about this is that Meteos takes place across different planets. Each planet has it's own rules, including differen gravity, differnt rocket strengths for vertical vs. horizontal combos, and different colored squares that spawn. This game is great, but you may want to wait, as this game was released before WFC was set up, so it has no internet play. A new version is coming out in the coming months that will likely have new planets, as well as internet play (it's being cobranded by Disney, if that matters to you at all).
Trace Memory (Another Code) - The name is different depending on where you purchase it. Trace Memory in North America, Another Code in Europe. This is an old style adventure game, reminiscent of old text adventures, or the old Lucas Arts game (although with less humor). A warning, this game is very short. As in, 5 or 6 hours of play time max. It makes up for that by being fiendishly clever, though. It really makes some unique use of the DS' features, and is well worth a play through. You may want to get a cheap used version however, since it is so short.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - I didn't think I would like this game, but damn was I wrong. It seems pretty simple, but actually gets pretty complex as you move forward. The best thing about this game though is the humor. It has some of the best writing of any DS game I've played. If you have any sense of humor at all you can't help but enjoy it. It's a remake of a Japan on GBA game, and has some added features for the DS, including one chapter that makes much better use of the touch screen (although it is used very intelligently in the other chapters).
Metroid Prime: Hunters - First, a warning. If you are looking for an old school Metroid experience, this is not it. This is an FPS first, and a Metroid Shooter second. The control scheme has a steep learning curve, but once you get it, it is incredible. Taken for what it is, a handheld arcade style FPS (more like Quake or Unreal than like Syphon Filter), it is stellar. If you like that type of game you will enjoy MPH.
New Super Mario Bros. - If you like classic Super Mario Bros. (especially SMB3 or SMB World), you'll enjoy this game. If you're just going to blaze through the game, it's pretty short (apparently you can beat it in just 4