Annoying DS design flaws ...

H

Hollywood

Banned
Some of the things I hate about the DS design:

- Buttons should be bigger, I hate how when I run in Mario 64 and jump, my thumb sometimes hits the a button and i kick they could have easily made these buttons a little bigger.

- No adjusting buttons in GBA mode. It sucks trying to play mario advance using B and A buttons, going against your thumb when Y and B fits PERFECTLY for the game. What makes it even more stupid is Mario DS uses this configuration and they didnt even consider it for Mario Advance.

- No analog is also very annoying. It's tough to play Mario 64 with a dpad in short walking areas because standing still and then hitting the opposite direction often makes your guy walk instead of flipping him in the opposite direction. I've died a few times from this. It would be a lot easier to play the GBA games with an analog than some of these 3D DS games with a D-pad.

Other issues I don't like is the DS shoulda had a little more power, how hard would it have been to add a couple of the technology techniques in the N64? Other than that its a good system, I just wish they made some simple adjustments.
 
As much as I hate saying this, the small buttons are actually supposed to be that size because they double as an extra D-pad for left-handed players. So it's a feature. (Sigh.)

You're right on the GBA mode, of course.

I don't know about anybody else but I had about as much trouble playing Ape Escape with the analog nubbin on the PSP as I did with the thumbstrap/D-pad on Mario. I don't think it would have helped.
 
I have yet to recieve my DS, but I think there's a "flaw" in the actual design, as in how it looks. It has this sloppy, thrown-together during lunchbreak look: "we'll add some buttons heeere and a screen on top and the extra space around it can stay, let's not waste anymore time on this, we'll make it sleeker with DS SP soon anyway"
 
I have a very tough time to use the thumb strap or stylus without putting the DS unit on a table because my writs and overly stretch thumb told me that it is not good to do that for a long period of time. Therefore, I am forced to put the DS on a table which screw up the viewing angle.
 
"It's too big... I want a DS SP."

Yeah it is too big compared to an SP, but how could it be smaller really?. With the two screens and d-pad/buttons on each side, it has to be big.
 
Kobun Heat said:
As much as I hate saying this, the small buttons are actually supposed to be that size because they double as an extra D-pad for left-handed players. So it's a feature. (Sigh.)
Click to expand...
If that's the case, then the DS should have had 2 dpads instead of the 4 face buttons.
 
Kiriku said:
I have yet to recieve my DS, but I think there's a "flaw" in the actual design, as in how it looks. It has this sloppy, thrown-together during lunchbreak look: "we'll add some buttons heeere and a screen on top and the extra space around it can stay, let's not waste anymore time on this, we'll make it sleeker with DS SP soon anyway"
Click to expand...
No way! It's the sexiest piece of hardware i've ever seen!

I do agree that it's too big though, it's hard to play anything on it for long periods of time without my hands hurting somehow. The only way I can play for a long time is if I put the DS down on a desk or something and play a game that only requires the touch screen.
 
captainbiotch said:
The buttons feel natural after a few hours of play, I don't understand the whining about the size.
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I agree, I have no problems with them while playing Band Brothers, in fact they make entering combos a lot easier, though the game is still undeniably hard. Regardless though, awesome game, I wish I had imported it back during the JP launch, my DS probably would have been used much more often.
 
I think the ds is a very fancy bit of kit actually. The only flaw it has is that the games aren't coming quick enough. that said, I can't afford any right now anyway....
 
Defensor said:
If that's the case, then the DS should have had 2 dpads instead of the 4 face buttons.
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah, great idea. I'm sure that would've went over well. I can only imagine the reaction here at GAF... *roll*
 
I don't like how the system has to power down after trying to use Pictochat or the Multiplayer, even if you don't actually find anything. Changing the configuration stuff, that I understand, but why when you just look for other multiplayer games in progress?
 
I think you got PSP mixed up with DS mate. DS is a ugly looking handheld.


kind of an insult comparing it to PSP actually
 
PSP outside of the screen is bland yes. As well as the DS. Each is a solid color save for the back/grey buttons on the DS, and the white screen printed letters/symbols on PSP.

The other functions of the PSP (outisde of its appearance) don't appeal to me.
 
Robert-GCA said:
PSP outside of the screen is bland yes. As well as the DS. Each is a solid color save for the back/grey buttons on the DS, and the white screen printed letters/symbols on PSP.

The other functions of the PSP (outisde of its appearance) don't appeal to me.
Click to expand...

D...Do you really think that "blandness" has to do with the amount of colors used?

I'm just trying to fathom such an outlook on life.
 
refreshZ said:
Riiiiiiiight, and your opinion counts why??

:lol
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Because unlike most of the people on this board, I have actually played the system and the games. But that still won't matter to you, so why bother brining it up?

If there was a way to change my name to -AMN as I now cover all the game sites in our network, I would.
 
f_elz said:
The DS is perfect for me. Nothing is annoying. Nice if they took out the GBA port though.
Click to expand...

Why?! If it wasn't for backwards compatibility with GBA, I wouldn't have bought the damn thing.
 
Amir0x said:
D...Do you really think that "blandness" has to do with the amount of colors used?

I'm just trying to fathom such an outlook on life.
Click to expand...
Not entirely no. PSP is shaped similarly to the orginal GBA although bigger because of the screen of which I have always complimented. GBA was never "sexy" looking to me either, as I'm sure is the case for most everyone here.
 
DS = trash. PSP = not trash

Argument over.


3249-1-lockdown.jpg
 
Robert-GCA said:
Not entirely no. PSP is shaped similarly to the orginal GBA although bigger because of the screen of which I have always complimented. GBA was never "sexy" looking to me either, as I'm sure is the case for most everyone here.
Click to expand...

Yes, but the GBA didn't have FINGERPRINT MAGNET finish, did it?

You lose this round!
 
f_elz said:
Nice if they took out the GBA port though.
Click to expand...


I also bought the DS partially to finally play GBA games the way they were meant to be played. (I only had the original GBA) and now along with Wario Ware and Yoshi, I am picking up some of the great GBA games I missed -
 
DS' buttons are ridiculously small (both D-Pad and action buttons).

The shoulder buttons are not ergonomic.

The screens have a narrow viewing angle on the vertical axis. This is a problem since the two screens are almost always viewed from different angles.

The body feels cheap.
 
Were I tossing out features that should be included at a meeting, I'd certainly suggest having it at least turn off the backlight when the system is closed for GBA games. Sure it wouldn't be an automatic sleep mode for every game, but it'd be a minor power saver.

Already mentioned, but button mapping for GBA is a no-brainer. Whether it be making Y and B equivalent to B and A, or making X act as R... whatever.

It seems a bit stupid that after being in Pictochat, or changing some system setting, it must turn the system off. Doesn't even give the option to restart it, just to power the thing off.
 
mashoutposse said:
DS' buttons are ridiculously small (both D-Pad and action buttons).

The shoulder buttons are not ergonomic.
Click to expand...
Mostly disagree with you here. The D-pad seems more usable than the GBA's or GBASP's. The shoulders... well, they're still far from a PlayStation or GameCube level of comfortability, but I find them a step up from the uncomfortable GBA and SP shoulders which left my fingers in a cramp if I needed to use them often.

The screens have a narrow viewing angle on the vertical axis. This is a problem since the two screens are almost always viewed from different angles.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've noticed that too. The system does allow you to open it up a bit further so the screens are at more of the same angle, but that's just weird in a different way.
 
The biggest fault of the DS is that it's so f*cking boring coming after the GBA. It really fails to wow you and that really stinks as a next hardware iteration. Or third pillar, or whatever it is.

The second biggest flaw is sometimes it uglies up a picture in a magazine next to a PSP.
 
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