Old People Gaming -or- Return of the DS Phat

[Yami CJMErl]

Nintendo DSi LL - with extra-big screens for the senior citizens! (No, seriously, that's why they're making it)

Also, I hear it's going to Europe early next year as the "DSi XL".

[Crisis]

My original model DS is starting to show some wear and tear and I've been thinking about getting a replacement. What's generally considered the best model? Original, Lite or DSi? Or perhaps I should wait for this?

[Cadpig]

I love my Lite. I would recommend a Lite and Bangai-O Spirits.

[Yami CJMErl]

Well, I WOULD normally say DSi, as long as you can stomach the lack of GBA support. Now I'm not so sure--it seems Nintendo keeps revising this thing on an annual basis these days.

[The Turtle Guy]

*groan*

This is getting ridiculous. Another one? Really?

I've shied away from the DSi so far because my DSL is still in working order. It has some badass new features, but I just keep think about what it dropped. Like some battery life. And my GBA games. And Guitar Hero. I love me some Guitar Hero.

Yet this big motherfucker seems kind of cool. And look, they're releasing it on my birthday. They're taunting me.

[Dr. BUGMAN]

What part of "for old folk" don't people understand?

Have fun with warped resolution when you all pick this up.

[Neo]

What "warped resolution", the screen is the same, except the pixels are bigger...

I don't get what appeal this has. If anything, I'd want a LIGHTER console, not a heavier one. PSP kinda gets away with it because you always hold it with both hands.

[Dr. BUGMAN]

What "warped resolution", the screen is the same, except the pixels are bigger....

I figured it was either bigger pixels or more pixels. Either way, they don't do the already chunky graphics any favors.

[Wombatwarlord777]

This is probably an overly broad and sweeping generalization, but do the elderly even play videogames?

[Crowbar]

I don't know about videogames, but they do play the DS.

[Esrever]

Geeze, dudes... you don't need to be "elderly" to have trouble reading small text.

[Segaholic2]

Geeze, dudes... you don't need to be "elderly" to have trouble reading small text.

Ha ha, you're old.

[Dash]

DSi LL... What? Is it something engrish-y like Large Large or Double Large? I can understand the European change to XL instead, but I'm kind of hoping they keep it LL for American release. "DSi Livin' Large" just has too much marketing potential.

Honestly though, I might get it for my Mom. She enjoys playing Layton on my DS but would likely enjoy the bigger screen space. And if Popcap ever gets on the DSiWare train she'd be set with a portable copy of Bookworm Adventures.

Before we all start calling her a totally casual gamer, she actually plays TF2 almost every night on 360. I still don't believe it myself.

[G.Silver]

I don't get what appeal this has. If anything, I'd want a LIGHTER console, not a heavier one. PSP kinda gets away with it because you always hold it with both hands.

Yeah, that extra 100 grams is murder.

[Neo]

Yeah, that extra 100 grams is murder.

Considering that's about 150% of the Lite/DSi's weight, yes it is!

Holding the thing with one hand for long periods of time eventually tires out your wrist. I know I couldn't play Metroid Prime Hunters on my phat without some kind of support, like a table, etc.

[Arcade]

The original model is the best if you are a guy with big hands, the DSL is for small hands (Ala, for girls), and the DSI is crap...

[G.Silver]

Yeah, that extra 100 grams is murder.

Considering that's about 150% of the Lite/DSi's weight, yes it is!

I can't stand to see it phrased like that! About 300g is 150% of the DSi's 200g, yes, but it's still only 300g.

Holding the thing with one hand for long periods of time eventually tires out your wrist. I know I couldn't play Metroid Prime Hunters on my phat without some kind of support, like a table, etc.

I was going to put something in here about possibly improving your wrist strength with an increase in regular masturbation (a GHZ approved method), but do you play differently on the DSi or DSL? I almost never hold the DS up in the air as I play, and it's the same for any controller, actually. When I think about it, I tend to keep controllers on my lap, or brace my arms against my waist. Holding your arms up for any length of time is going to be tiring, even if you're not doing anything.

[Neo]

But it's much more tiring the more weight you put on it. So, weight does matter a whole lot.

With my Lite, while I may support my elbow on something (ike the arm or back of a chair), I hold the console up in the air. I couldn't do that with my Phat without my wrist cramping.

I was going to put something in here about possibly improving your wrist strength with an increase in regular masturbation (a GHZ approved method)

Now you got me thinking. Is there a correlation between left- or right-handedness and which hand you use to grab your willy?

[Wombatwarlord777]

I assume there is.

[Green Gibbon!]

Once I broke my right arm and had to learn to jerk with my left. It was pretty tricky. Actually, I have a cousin who once broke both arms at the same time. To this day I wonder how he managed.

HAVING THAT SAID. The original humongous DS hurt my wrists in ways the newer models don't, but I still consider the Lite to be the worst model unless you like fingerprints and smears of mysterious constitution. The DSi is pretty much the best handheld design ever.

[j-man]

Sometimes I jerk off with my left hand, just to mix things up a bit.

But I don't have a DS. Sorry. Do carry on.

[Kogen]

Once I broke my right arm and had to learn to jerk with my left. It was pretty tricky. Actually, I have a cousin who once broke both arms at the same time. To this day I wonder how he managed.

There are these things called women. I can explain it to you later.

As for the game thing, I am not really sure if I would get it. I have a DS Lite like a lot of people and it works fine. This being bigger, slightly faster, and having some useless features is not exactly making me crave getting it. Only the speakers really need improvement on the Lite.

[Samface]

Actually, I have a cousin who once broke both arms at the same time. To this day I wonder how he managed.

Learnt to use his feet?

My DS Original Old-School Phat Whatever does get a little heavy after a while, but I've never been one to upgrade just for the sake of it. My iPod is a 2005-era Shuffle that only holds 130 songs, fer Chrissakes.

I have contributed to this conversation.