[Eugine]

Well, since I gave my nephew my DS Lite, I am looking for a replacement.

Right now, I am leaning towards replacing it with a DSi since it is newer, and due to my belief that Nintendo will release downloadable GBA games... Besides that, I don't see anymore substantial reasons for purchasing a DSi since it is more expensive... but, I like newer things =[

So, which do you prefer, and why? And ultimately, what do you think I should get? [yes, there's a difference with the two questions]

[Platinum Sun]

I like the lite mainly because I already have one and don't see the point in upgrading. A cheap camera is another bell and/or whistle that I really don't need. I think it's just Nintendo trying to cram some versatility up the DS's ass to compete with the PSP. If DLC for the DS comes out, who's to say that it won't work on the lite with the DS Wifi connection? I should look into what features the DSi has though, to be honest I don't really know.

[Mallick]

See, the only reason not to get a DSi is if you've already got a DS or a DS lite. If you're going to go out and buy a new handheld, why not go for the newest one?

[Someone Else]

If you already have a GBA, money to spare, and a Wii, definitely get a DSi. The DSi has some Wii - DSi interactive features supposedly. If you don't have a GBA, get the Lite hands down.

I don't have a DSi but I do want one, my Lite is a little busted up (it was one of the first models made) and needs replacing.

[Golden Legacy]

Odd as it may sound, I'd go for the DSi if nothing else for it's larger screens. Hours spent looking at two handheld screens may as well be made as least straining as possible.

If GBA compatibility is a must (and you don't own an Advance), though, the Lite would be my choice.

[Nosferatu]

And all I can think is "Fuck, I need to find my charger/ DS."

[Drizzy Drake]

Eugine, on Aug 28 2009, 10:56 AM, said:

Well, since I gave my nephew my DS Lite, I am looking for a replacement.

Right now, I am leaning towards replacing it with a DSi since it is newer, and due to my belief that Nintendo will release downloadable GBA games... Besides that, I don't see anymore substantial reasons for purchasing a DSi since it is more expensive... but, I like newer things =[

So, which do you prefer, and why? And ultimately, what do you think I should get? [yes, there's a difference with the two questions]

why in the hell did you give it away knowing full well you'd turn around and buy another one?

[Mallick]

I can't seem to word this right, but..
he gave it to his nephew as a gift. he's buying a replacement of his own. its the same thing as buying a new one for his nephew, eugine himself is just getting the better end of it. yedig?

[FusionDragon28]

Unless Nintendo decides to release old Game Boy titles thru the DSi Shop, I see little incentive of getting the DSi.

FD28

[My Best Wishes]

I'd go Ds Lite just because of the price and the fact the DSi doesn't do much new, just made for the $$. If you're really that worried about GBA games just buy a flashcart.

[Toasty]

Platinum Sun, on Aug 28 2009, 11:49 AM, said:

I like the lite mainly because I already have one and don't see the point in upgrading. A cheap camera is another bell and/or whistle that I really don't need. I think it's just Nintendo trying to cram some versatility up the DS's ass to compete with the PSP. If DLC for the DS comes out, who's to say that it won't work on the lite with the DS Wifi connection? I should look into what features the DSi has though, to be honest I don't really know.

It won't work because the DS Lite and DSi have different operating systems. You can't connect to the DSi ware store thingy or whatever on the Lite, and since the Lite has no SD card slot, you definitely can't just download it elsewhere and transfer it to the Lite. Besides, the Lite has pretty much no internal storage. Just enough to function the way it's supposed to.
And really, Nintendo has no real need to get a leg up on the PSP. The difference is sales is already astronomical.



Honestly, DS Lites are finally going for less-than-market price on Ebay. I saw one yesterday, brand new, that was going for $80 (buy it now, even).

However, the DSi has DLC, support for 32GB SD cards, and thanks to the SD card, I imagine it's much easier to hack or drop an emulator in it.



If you've got the cash, there's really no reason to not go for the DSi. If you wanna save some green, though, the DS Lite is the obvious choice.

[Split Infinity]

Advance emulation on the DSi is almost inevitable, homebrew or otherwise.

But really, I'd rather mess around with some of the DSiWare rather than my old GBA games that I've already played through half a dozen times anyway.

http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/938/938719/art-style-aquario-screen-20081216012352048_640w.jpg http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/955/955883/art-style-nalaku-screens-20090220013431980_640w.jpg

[Drizzy Drake]

Captain Cannabis, on Aug 28 2009, 07:07 PM, said:

I can't seem to word this right, but..
he gave it to his nephew as a gift. he's buying a replacement of his own. its the same thing as buying a new one for his nephew, eugine himself is just getting the better end of it. yedig?

Fair enough. I truly didnt get why the fuck he'd do that.

Fusiondragon28, on Aug 28 2009, 09:00 PM, said:

Unless Nintendo decides to release old Game Boy titles thru the DSi Shop, I see little incentive of getting the DSi.

FD28

This. Essentially, your choice comes down to GBA playability. If you have a GBA or SP, absolutely no reason to get a Lite... if you don't ask yourself if you can live without playing any of you GB games again.

Kinda simple really.

[Split Infinity]

Don't forget the Pal Park. <3

[Nosferatu]

Drizzy Drake, on Aug 29 2009, 07:23 AM, said:

Fair enough. I truly didnt get why the fuck he'd do that.
This. Essentially, your choice comes down to GBA playability. If you have a GBA or SP, absolutely no reason to get a Lite... if you don't ask yourself if you can live without playing any of you GB games again.

Kinda simple really.

Kinda like the backwards compatibility on the PS3?

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4380/36875955.png

[Drizzy Drake]

Nosferatu, on Aug 29 2009, 10:28 PM, said:

Kinda like the backwards compatibility on the PS3?

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4380/36875955.png

This =/= relevant

The PS3 lost backwards combatability through model switches, not an entire new system, therefore somebody wanting that would be looking for a phat PS3 all the same... just an earlier model, and might take a while to find it too, as apposed to having the choices in front of you ,and the changing prices making the choice a little more difficult. Nobody would buy a newer PS3 (not counting slim's) if they had a choice between a new one and an old backwards compatible one.

[Split Infinity]

BC is too overrated these days. You buy a PS3 to play PS3 shiz, not your old library of games which worked just fine on their original console. The one you already paid for.

[Nosferatu]

Drizzy Drake, on Aug 29 2009, 08:36 PM, said:

This =/= relevant

The PS3 lost backwards combatability through model switches, not an entire new system, therefore somebody wanting that would be looking for a phat PS3 all the same... just an earlier model, and might take a while to find it too, as apposed to having the choices in front of you ,and the changing prices making the choice a little more difficult. Nobody would buy a newer PS3 (not counting slim's) if they had a choice between a new one and an old backwards compatible one.

And the DSi is a completely different system as compared to the DSLite?

[Someone Else]

I heard that the PS3 Slim would get a PS2 emulator anyways.

You can't compare console to handhelds when you're talking about backwards compatibility. Hooking up a lot of consoles to a TV is a chore. If I had to hook up my PS2 when I wanted to play PS2 games, and then had to hook up my PS3 when I wanted to play PS3 games I'd get annoyed pretty fast.

[Split Infinity]

Eh, most new sets have an overkill amount of AV ports anyway.

[Drizzy Drake]

Split Infinity, on Aug 30 2009, 01:36 AM, said:

BC is too overrated these days. You buy a PS3 to play PS3 shiz, not your old library of games which worked just fine on their original console. The one you already paid for.

durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, ps2 broke a bit after i got the ps3, therefore backwards combatability is a must (not anymore with my l33t computer and epic ps3 emulatorz).

Nosferatu, on Aug 30 2009, 02:06 AM, said:

And the DSi is a completely different system as compared to the DSLite?

Different price point, therefore there is a decision to be made. With two PS3's in front of you, if they're the same size, NOBODY would take the non-backwards combatabile one, even if they didn't have any PS2/1 games.. why NOT take the free shit. With a DSi in front of you you don't just say the DS Lite is the one to go for because it's cheaper with BC.. maybe you like the DSi's features. All I'm saying is the PS3 is one system with no price changes but yet some software and hardware differences, whereas the DSi is in theory a new console with the price changes and the major overhaul.

[Split Infinity]

Drizzy Drake, on Aug 30 2009, 04:43 PM, said:

(not anymore with my l33t computer and epic ps3 emulatorz).

I didn't know you owned a bank of Colorado supercomputers.

[Toasty]

Drizzy Drake, on Aug 29 2009, 11:43 PM, said:

durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, ps2 broke a bit after i got the ps3, therefore backwards combatability is a must (not anymore with my l33t computer and epic ps2 emulatorz).
Different price point, therefore there is a decision to be made. With two PS3's in front of you, if they're the same size, NOBODY would take the non-backwards combatabile one, even if they didn't have any PS2/1 games.. why NOT take the free shit. With a DSi in front of you you don't just say the DS Lite is the one to go for because it's cheaper with BC.. maybe you like the DSi's features. All I'm saying is the PS3 is one system with no price changes but yet some software and hardware differences, whereas the DSi is in theory a new console with the price changes and the major overhaul.

You're welcome.

Also, the 60GB NTSC PS3 (hardware emulation) sells for $330 at Gamestop if you can find one (and that's used iirc). Probably about $400+ on Ebay.

Now compare that to a 120GB slim model for $300.

The choice is most definitely not obvious.


And honestly, PS2 emulation on a decent PC, while troublesome at some times, is way, way, WAY better than playing your PS2 games on a PS2. Or even a PS3 for that matter. Reason being that you can force a higher resolution than 480i/p.

So really, if you've got a budget Core 2 model (Even an E2180, or the newer version, E5200, which I have), a mid-range graphics card from the previous generation of GPU's (GeForce 8600GT or better is advised, imo, but not necessary), and about 2-4GB of RAM or better, you're set.

Though there is a little bit of a learning curve.


And to be partially legal, you should own a PS2 as well. But you don't have to download ISO's as your PC should read the discs fine through the emu.



tl;dr download PCSX2 naow and backwards compatibility is a non-issue.




But back to the DS's. Chances are that Ninty will release GBC and GBA games for the DSi ware or something at some point in time. That, or you can download an emu for it or something, as I'm sure they're out there.

But if you don't want to bother with that, you don't have a GBA/SP, and you want to play GBA games, get the Lite.

[Nosferatu]

Drizzy Drake, on Aug 29 2009, 11:43 PM, said:

durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, ps2 broke a bit after i got the ps3, therefore backwards combatability is a must (not anymore with my l33t computer and epic ps3 emulatorz).
Different price point, therefore there is a decision to be made. With two PS3's in front of you, if they're the same size, NOBODY would take the non-backwards combatabile one, even if they didn't have any PS2/1 games.. why NOT take the free shit. With a DSi in front of you you don't just say the DS Lite is the one to go for because it's cheaper with BC.. maybe you like the DSi's features. All I'm saying is the PS3 is one system with no price changes but yet some software and hardware differences, whereas the DSi is in theory a new console with the price changes and the major overhaul.

K let's do this the way I'm seeing it.

Older PS3s = Bulkier, had backwards compatibility as far as I know
Newer PS3s = Slimmer, someone said fuck it and cut the bitch

Older DSs = Bulkier, had backwards compatibility to some extent
Newer DSs = Slimmer, someone said fuck it and yet again cut the bitch.

Just sayin' that some people seem to be saying fuck it to BC these days.

[Toasty]

The difference, Nos, is that backwards compatibility was cut on the PS3 before the Slim model was even announced (due to cost constraints), whereas Nintendo cut BC for the DSi so they could reduce it's size even further.

[Eugine]

Captain Cannabis, on Aug 28 2009, 07:07 PM, said:

I can't seem to word this right, but..
he gave it to his nephew as a gift. he's buying a replacement of his own. its the same thing as buying a new one for his nephew, eugine himself is just getting the better end of it. yedig?

Yeah. My nephew is too destructive to buy him a new DS.

Any indications Nintendo will cut the DSi [and Wii] price for the holidays?

[Nosferatu]

Toasty, on Aug 30 2009, 11:53 PM, said:

The difference, Nos, is that backwards compatibility was cut on the PS3 before the Slim model was even announced (due to cost constraints), whereas Nintendo cut BC for the DSi so they could reduce it's size even further.

Either way the newer models don't have it. thatwasthepoint.jpg

[Someone Else]

Eugine, on Aug 31 2009, 08:54 AM, said:

Yeah. My nephew is too destructive to buy him a new DS.

Any indications Nintendo will cut the DSi [and Wii] price for the holidays?

Don't 360s cost $250 now? Nintendo would be smart to drop prices for the Wii, considering it's a technically inferior console, but I don't see any indication of them dropping the price soon.

[Mallick]

Nintendo has their target market eating out of their hand, that's why.

[Nosferatu]

Someone Else, on Aug 31 2009, 11:41 AM, said:

Don't 360s cost $250 now? Nintendo would be smart to drop prices for the Wii, considering it's a technically inferior console, but I don't see any indication of them dropping the price soon.

You say that like you think Nintendo cares about anything but it's profits.

[Toasty]

Someone Else, on Aug 31 2009, 11:41 AM, said:

Don't 360s cost $250 now? Nintendo would be smart to drop prices for the Wii, considering it's a technically inferior console, but I don't see any indication of them dropping the price soon.

Only the Pro's cost $250, and they're not in production anymore. So get 'em while you can, 'cause they'll be hard to find come this holiday season. Arcade's are $200 though.


And whether Nintendo will drop the price or not is up for grabs imo. There aren't any rumors, and Ninty is still selling incredibly well as far as hardware goes, but they'll probably need to drop the price eventually to keep those sales up.

[Neon]

I've been debating this for a long time. Do I get a DSi or DS Lite?

I think DSi is the better choice. You get fancy apps, better hardware, and if they ever release games you want that requires use of the extra features/power you're all set, and don't need to spend another 300. (and the DSi is pretty damn expensive)

But the Lite does have a cheaper price, backwards compatibility, and, for the foreseeable future, compatibility with the same games.

it really comes down to the backwards compatibility as others have said, but in exchange you're robbing yourself of the NEW and exciting features of the DSi.

[Someone Else]

Nosferatu, on Aug 31 2009, 02:16 PM, said:

You say that like you think Nintendo cares about anything but it's profits.

Yeah I know, there's this little voice in my head that pops up whenever I'm thinking of anything Nintendo related that says that Nintendo might change their ways eventually... I guess it's the inner fanboy and/or optimist in me that still sticks around a little.

Good thing I'm 90% cynist realist.

[Legolastom]

Meh getting another console just made me realize how much better they are (And were) compared to Nintendo's consoles and games.

[Toasty]

If/when Nintendo is overtaken in sales by either MS or Sony, I'm sure they'll come to their senses.

....maybe.

Regardless, there's still a ton of good games for the DS.

[Neon]

They were overtaken in the GCN era, and they haven't really changed much aside from changing their target audience.

[Someone Else]

I'm kinda doubting that the Wii's target audience is going to pick up Nintendo's successor to the Wii, whatever it is and whenever it comes around. Then, maybe they will change their ways.

Again, this might be my inner fanboy-optimist.

[Eugine]

Update:
I got the DSi with FE: Shadow Dragon.

I am pleased.

[Mallick]

Eugine, on Sep 28 2009, 06:10 AM, said:

Update:
I got the DSi with FE: Shadow Dragon.

I am pleased.

Yeah I'm playing it right now, it's great. :3

[Laharl]

Eugine, on Sep 28 2009, 02:10 PM, said:

I got the DSi

because camera >>>> entire gba back catalogue

[Toasty]

Because camera + faster hardware + SDHC Card slot + Built in browser + new store (lol) + entire GBA back catalogue for an extra $30 or so >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> no camera etc. etc. etc.

[EDIT] Extra $30 or so being for a used SP

[Split Infinity]

I haven't seen an Advance game on sale for about three years.

[Laharl]

Toasty, on Sep 29 2009, 04:36 AM, said:

Because camera + faster hardware + SDHC Card slot + Built in browser + new store (lol) + entire GBA back catalogue for an extra $30 or so >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> no camera etc. etc. etc.

[EDIT] Extra $30 or so being for a used SP

alternatively you could spend $30 on the used SP and not $100 or whatever on the DSi, you get to play good nintendo handheld games (remember them?) and save yourself a bit of money

[Split Infinity]

Split Infinity, on Sep 29 2009, 03:06 PM, said:

I haven't seen an Advance game on sale for about three years.

[Laharl]

look harder