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Anyone else find the DS' sharp edges uncomfortable?

N

neptunes

Member
This is what I'm talking about...ergonomical disaster.
aws689.jpg


After 15-20 minutes of playing with my DS (I no longer have one) My hand, and more specifically the center of my palms. would get seriously cramped. It would happen when I was playing games that required excessive use of the A,B,X,Y buttons. (Mostly when playing GBA games)

I was wondering if anyone experienced the same problem, and if nintendo acknowledges this problem and will address it with a future revision. (they could have just rounded the edges)

Everything else about the unit is fine though, I can't wait for an "SP" revision. :P
 
neptunes said:
This is what I'm talking about...ergonomical disaster.
aws689.jpg


After 15-20 minutes of playing with my DS (I no longer have one) My hand, and more specifically the center of my palms. would get seriously cramped. It would happen when I was playing games that required excessive use of the A,B,X,Y buttons. (Mostly when playing GBA games)

I was wondering if anyone experienced the same problem, and if nintendo acknowledges this problem and will address it with a future revision. (they could have just rounded the edges)

Everything else about the unit is fine though, I can't wait for an "SP" revision. :P
Click to expand...

Cry more? All handhelds will be like this.. unless its made into a insane fat size that no one will ever like
 
no way. but thanks for the picture so i could tell more accurately how you were injuring yourself.

did you sell the unit because of its 'sharp edges'?
 
The DS is actually far more comfortable than any nintendo handheld ive used before. I play all my SP games on it just because its less stress on the neck and wrists.
 
i used to have this problem when i bought it, but ive seemed to have shifted the way i hold it now, and it doesnt seem to bother me anymore. systems seems pretty comfortable to me now.


..that said, i cant wait till they make an DS "SP" :P
 
I guess airlines will ask you to keep the DS in your suitcase, it could be used as a weapon to hijack planes...
 
I'm assuming you're speaking of the lip/joint between the top and bottom of the DS? I can see how that little bit of plastic sticking out further could push into your hand...if that's the case...

Try not squeezing the DS while playing.
Click to expand...

This is the best advice you could get outside of filing them down.
 
The system is more comfortable than the PSP, to me. Playing Wipeout on the PSP using the nub, both shoulder buttons, and the face buttons is hell on the hands. Actually, the nub placement in general is pretty lousy.
 
I have to agree with him, but not the part about the DS having sharp edges. It's that dull edge that sticks out. It digs into your palm. Fortunately the only game I've really experienced this is in Daigassou Band Bros, and on the ABXY side only.
 
No, but I'll tell you what does happen.

When I use the triggers much (as in Band Bros. and Nanostray), my pinky fingers end up underneath the system (over the headphone jack) in order to support those button presses. And it cramps up my hands. The PSP does the same thing.

I'm getting used to it. I guess I was just soft. :-)
 
He's just trying to validate his reasoning for selling it.

Pathetic.

"Why don't you want this anymore?"

"IT'S TOO SHARP. OW. IT HURTS."

"...retard."
 
We have some believers

hallelujah.JPG

"hallelujah"

I knew I couldn't have been the only one who experienced it, I was probably holding incorrectlty.

( and maybe sharp was too strong of a word. :P)

to DEMI: I already sold it (READ THE 1sT POST), got good money for it too.
 
Games that use both L & R buttons tend to cause me some pain. You're pulling the system in towards your palms when hovering over L & R... this isn't the case on GBA SP because the system has less width, and GBA has much nicer ergonomics -- it has kinder edges and is contoured (rather than flat) underneath.

This doesn't bother me for most DS games because I'm playing with the stylus a lot, either with the DS laid on a table, my lap, or supported gently in one hand. It's not unbearable in the games where it does hurt, but it does make the length of my play time shorter.

DSpain.gif


Leondexter said:
No, but I'll tell you what does happen.

When I use the triggers much (as in Band Bros. and Nanostray), my pinky fingers end up underneath the system (over the headphone jack) in order to support those button presses. And it cramps up my hands. The PSP does the same thing.

I'm getting used to it. I guess I was just soft. :-)
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I think I'll get used to it too. I just need to reach the next level!

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neptunes said:
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Come on, somebody had to have experienced this as well. ;_;

I'm not crazy! >.<
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i get cramps when playing as well but it's not due to sharp edges.
it is just because the buttons are so close to the edges that my monsterous hands are in a non natrual thumb layout leaving me with what feels like writers cramp in about 20 minutes. games that require left on the thumb pad or a lot of the A button are really the only issues. if only that A button was on the bottom it would mostly go away.

just a good reminder to get the hell off in 30 minutes and do something else for me. :lol
 
I don't have large hands and the DS cramps me very badly. Handhelds don't need to be uncomfortable -- look at the PSP, the GBA, or the Game Gear. The DS's tiny, un-tactile buttons, large flat D-pad, and cramped layout is undeniably an ergonomic disaster.

The plastic ridge, while mystifying, is one of the least of the problems.
 
Actually, I did notice that at first, but as I played my DS more, i found a better position.

Its worse when using the thumb stylus during Hunters, as youre holding the system with both hands and stretching the thumb in, thus pushing the palm into the system.

However, I have a feeling that thumb thing scratches the screen, so I learned to use the regular styluse and not get tired
 
I agree it's not confortable. No handhelds have ever been confortable and thinking about it, that sucks. Why don't they make it more like a controller? Don't we have it in our hands just as long as controllers for home consoles? Why only the controllers are having a nice design for the hand?

I think it's not a big deal (i have a DS and not really complaining) but thinking about it, handhelds are really cheap on the confort side. Even the PSP is bad at this. Why not being in the form a Dualshock2 controller or something?
 
Wyzdom said:
I agree it's not confortable. No handhelds have ever been confortable and thinking about it, that sucks. Why don't they make it more like a controller? Don't we have it in our hands just as long as controllers for home consoles? Why only the controllers are having a nice design for the hand?

I think it's not a big deal (i have a DS and not really complaining) but thinking about it, handhelds are really cheap on the confort side. Even the PSP is bad at this. Why not being in the form a Dualshock2 controller or something?
Click to expand...


Yes lets make it like a controller thus destroying all sense of it being portable
 
You're not alone Neptunes. I understand exactly what you're talking about. I'd almost made a thread about this at one point as well.

Yes, the DS has sharp bottom edges and they push right into the pressure points in the palms of your hands. It hurts like a bitch if you're not careful. I have to hold my DS more loosely to not have the problem, but keeping my hands so loose sometimes causes problems when playing some games.

A buddy of mine picked up a third-party DS grip accessory, and has since stopped complaing about the problem. Personally, I hope for an SP revision of sorts at some point with a more comfortable design. Don't get me wrong; the DS is my favorite system right now. I just agree that the bottom has a slightly uncomfortable design.
 
Actually I agree. It's the only design flaw (other that what it looks like closed) I see with the DS. I mean I pretty much got used to it, but they should be rounder. Just like how the stupid shiny front side of the PSP should be more like the back of it. Neither are a big deal.
 
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