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DS Lite and its Gummi Buttons

S

Sho Nuff

Banned
There are demo units of DS Lites at Yodobashis and probably every other major electronics chain now. You can go and check them out and play this great demo cartridge that has a whole mess of games on it. The screen will make you go "WOW" as it's exactly the same as the GBA Mark II's (and is noticeably overcontrasty on games like Mario Kart, but whatever). It's big, bright, and beautiful, and more responsive than the PSP (no annoying red ghosting, thank you sirs).

However

THIS SHIT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE OPENED UP THE DS AND PUT GUMMI BEARS UNDERNEATH THE D-PAD AND BUTTON CONTACTS. The original DS has a totally fine "clicky" d-pad and the buttons have nice tactile feedback that let you KNOW that you pressed them. The buttons are close together on the original DS, but they're cell phone-ish in their tactility.

The DS Lite's buttons are mooshy rubbish. They suck. Hard. They suck so bad that I'm considering just picking up another original DS model instead of the Lite (I sold my original one last week on Yahoo Japan). I am also not exactly loving the d-pad, though the other GAFfer who came with me didn't have as big a problem with it as I did.

Has anyone else played with the demo units?
 
Sho Nuff said:
There are demo units of DS Lites at Yodobashis and probably every other major electronics chain now. You can go and check them out and play this great demo cartridge that has a whole mess of games on it. The screen will make you go "WOW" as it's exactly the same as the GBA Mark II's (and is noticeably overcontrasty on games like Mario Kart, but whatever). It's big, bright, and beautiful, and more responsive than the PSP (no annoying red ghosting, thank you sirs).

However

THIS SHIT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE OPENED UP THE DS AND PUT GUMMI BEARS UNDERNEATH THE D-PAD AND BUTTON CONTACTS. The original DS has a totally fine "clicky" d-pad and the buttons have nice tactile feedback that let you KNOW that you pressed them. The buttons are close together on the original DS, but they're cell phone-ish in their tactility.

The DS Lite's buttons are mooshy rubbish. They suck. Hard. They suck so bad that I'm considering just picking up another original DS model instead of the Lite (I sold my original one last week on Yahoo Japan). I am also not exactly loving the d-pad, though the other GAFfer who came with me didn't have as big a problem with it as I did.

Has anyone else played with the demo units?
Click to expand...
I HATE The DS/GBASP/GBASPRedux's hard clicks. They hurt my thumbs so fucking much. If the DSL's buttons are like the Micro's, then it's fine by me.
 
B.K. said:
It's not as bad as the SP's contrast, is it?
Click to expand...

Not AS bad, but I think that's the nature of the beast -- when you make a GBA game you tend to boost your contrast to account for the screen, but when you plug that image into a bright, backlit LCD like the ones in the SP Mark II, it's like the colors jump off the screen and punch you in the liver. A good example is Mario Golf GBA, which looks like you've turned the contrast all the way up on the TV and it looks really obnoxious.

The original DS has a better screen so there's not as much contrast boosting, though Mario Kart's super-vibrant colors still seem a little bit much.

Note that brightness<>contrast, so turning down the brightness levels on the Lite's display will probably not affect the color bleed effect?
 
Battersea Power Station said:
That sucks. I truly thought the Lite will have fixed most problems -- I didn't think about it creating new ones. Are the buttons as bad as the Dual Shock's?
Click to expand...

Dual shock can get away with it a little bit better because the buttons are bigger and spaced apart more. The Lite's buttons are very close together, and there are four of them, so herm.

Large + mooshy = OK
Large + clicky = nonexistent
Small + clicky = OK
Small + mooshy = :(
 
Not only are the buttons mushy, but the interior look like cheap third-party plastic looking. Don't let the pictures deceive you, when you open the nice slick DS lite, it all feels and looks cheap inside :/
 
Troidal said:
Not only are the buttons mushy, but the interior look like cheap third-party plastic looking. Don't let the pictures deceive you, when you open the nice slick DS lite, it all feels and looks cheap inside :/
Click to expand...
:(
 
Troidal said:
Not only are the buttons mushy, but the interior look like cheap third-party plastic looking. Don't let the pictures deceive you, when you open the nice slick DS lite, it all feels and looks cheap inside :/
Click to expand...

Are you guys trying to save the DS lite to yourselves?

:lol
 
Troidal said:
Not only are the buttons mushy, but the interior look like cheap third-party plastic looking. Don't let the pictures deceive you, when you open the nice slick DS lite, it all feels and looks cheap inside :/
Click to expand...

On the outside it looks like they took the plastic and then put a second layer of clear plastic on top of that to give it the embossed DS symbol on the top (verra sexy). On the inside it's just the standard matte plastic.
 
Sho Nuff how does it compare to say the Gameboy Micro D-Pad and Buttons? And what about the Should buttons?
 
Troidal said:
Not only are the buttons mushy, but the interior look like cheap third-party plastic looking. Don't let the pictures deceive you, when you open the nice slick DS lite, it all feels and looks cheap inside :/
Click to expand...
Let's not kid ourselves, despite the pretty new makeover the actual hardware is still poop. Nintendo FTL!

I still want one for the new Mario and to play GBA games, though. I've been wanting to replay Aria of Sorrow for a while, now.
 
what about the size, did you find it a little too small at times? or was it satisfactory?

and the sizes of the buttons too small or are they fine?

VVVVV
Mode said:
This is the kind of stuff about the DS lite I would like to know. The flaws. Do you think the Lite will dig into your skin or hurt your hands after extended plays like the original DS?
Click to expand...
I'd like to know this as well.
 
This is the kind of stuff about the DS lite I would like to know. The flaws. Do you think the Lite will dig into your skin or hurt your hands after extended plays like the original DS?
 
VOOK said:
Sho Nuff how does it compare to say the Gameboy Micro D-Pad and Buttons? And what about the Should buttons?
Click to expand...

Shoulder buttons are great, no issues there. Dpad feels softer than the Micro's, which is fine to begin with, but the buttons...errrgh.

Physical size seemed okay and not as retardedly bulky as DS Mark I, but then again the unit was tethered to the unit with some steel pipe so I couldn't get a good feel for it. It feels like there isn't any "wasted space" on the unit this time around.
 
Smiles and Cries said:
I got 2 coming and this is not easy to read :(

these guys suck :p

I still can't wait :)
Click to expand...

Then again, I could be trolling and the unit is actually flawless, as if it were crafted by the hands of Jesus Christ himself!!!
 
Doesn't like every gaming device have mushy buttons? The original DS was the only one that I can think of that deviated from the norm. I really don't see what the problem is.
 
I think the inner hinge of the plastic on the inside of the Lite is disgusting looking.

I will hold onto my original DS.

But I will envy those with the DS Lite.

That is all the information I have to offer this thread.
 
Fried Newt (who forgot his password) IMs me and sez: "Dude, the buttons on the micro are awesome... If it were like the micro I'd be all over that. It's like pressing cotton balls, except they're not analog cotton balls so you have no idea when they're actually going to register the fact that you're pressing them."
 
Sho Nuff said:
On the outside it looks like they took the plastic and then put a second layer of clear plastic on top of that to give it the embossed DS symbol on the top (verra sexy). On the inside it's just the standard matte plastic.
Click to expand...
That's why I'm sticking to white unless I see them in person. White plastic > Purple plastic.

*mush* Buuuh I dunno if I pushed the button! D:
I scoff at your preference for tactile feedback! scoff scoff scoff! mush mush mush!
 
Sho Nuff said:
Shoulder buttons are great, no issues there. Dpad feels softer than the Micro's, which is fine to begin with, but the buttons...errrgh.

Physical size seemed okay and not as retardedly bulky as DS Mark I, but then again the unit was tethered to the unit with some steel pipe so I couldn't get a good feel for it. It feels like there isn't any "wasted space" on the unit this time around.
Click to expand...


okay let me get this right

Dpad = okay
Shoulder = Great
Buttons = Suck Gummi Ass
Size = Okay
Outside case = verra sexy
Inside Case = Same Old Standard

Screen = ?

???
 
Smiles and Cries said:
Screen = ?

???
Click to expand...

Screen = Exactly the same as the SP Mark II but at DS resolution. I am a miserable videophile so the contrast level drives me loopy but other people like it a lot.

Shit, I forgot to check whether or not the earphone jack was recessed. I couldn't use my awesome Sony monitors to listen to Sonic Rush's soundtrack :(
 
what about the firmware do you have still have to shutdown after every option? (i would think so) and also how do you change the brightness?
 
Most GBA games (post SP/Gameboy Player) had contrast options in them, so you could make them look better on your backlit SP, like a TV screen. I guess DS games won't have this :(
 
Sho Nuff said:
Screen = Exactly the same as the SP Mark II but at DS resolution. I am a miserable videophile so the contrast level drives me loopy but other people like it a lot.

Shit, I forgot to check whether or not the earphone jack was recessed. I couldn't use my awesome Sony monitors to listen to Sonic Rush's soundtrack :(
Click to expand...


do you own a PSP? folks in another thread here want a comparison between the two

:D

thanks for the info seems like a fair review to me

overall would you say DS lite is an improvement over the DS or would you go back to the DS?
 
Sho Nuff said:
On the outside it looks like they took the plastic and then put a second layer of clear plastic on top of that to give it the embossed DS symbol on the top (verra sexy). On the inside it's just the standard matte plastic.
Click to expand...

Well its that matte plastic thats bothering me. The demo units, all colors, when you look closely at the gap between the slick plastic exterior top and the inside matte plastic, it just has this cheap fit to it. I can't describe it well in words, but when I saw it, I was quite disappointed. White is tolerable, but the other colors really look like a dinky toy.

If it werent for the better screens, I'd probably just buy the old DS...
 
Um I loved the gummi GBA buttons. The DS one was too loud and kind of hurt. I always thought the Ds buttons would break or get jammed by the way they felt
 
Smiles and Cries said:
do you own a PSP? folks in another thread here want a comparison between the two.
Click to expand...

Take a picture of a PSP running right next to a DS Mark II. That is exactly what you should expect. Same screen technology in both Nintendo units.

-The PSP screen is higher res and better calibrated as a whole, but exhibits ghosting in dark scenes.
-The Nintendo screen is a notch brighter but overcontrasty.

overall would you say DS lite is an improvement over the DS or would you go back to the DS?
Click to expand...

Muhhhhhhhhh. I like the body and overall design a lot more, but the buttons are suxor. I don't know what I'm going to do.

Buy a PSP



Just kidding lol
 
when my gf plays mario kart ds because she is new at playing games she gets excited and press harder during the races she says it hurts after a few races... she may like gummi buttons :\

I want my new ds now :(
 
I held off buying the original DS because I was turned off by the handhelsds design. Inthat I didn't like the feel for the cluncky D-pad along with its somewhat stiff buttons,so I'm for the new gummy ones then.
 
Dpad feels softer than the Micro's, which is fine to begin with, but the buttons...errrgh.
Click to expand...
...so the buttons are even softer, or just uh, i dont know. could you feel when they activated or was there just no tactile feel? cause it feels pretty obvious to me with the gb micro buttons when theyre activated.

Sho Nuff said:
On the outside it looks like they took the plastic and then put a second layer of clear plastic on top of that to give it the embossed DS symbol on the top (verra sexy). On the inside it's just the standard matte plastic.
Click to expand...
like the first white ibooks sorta (other than the embossed logo part). those had clear plastic painted white from the inside, at some point they moved to solid white plastic and lowered the price. all the ibooks were matte on the inside too iirc. i dont really mind the inside of the ds being matte, if there was some reflection/glare, the whole system would reflect it.
 
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