Support NeoGAF

[aoi tsuki]

As much as i'm liking the DS and the control (i've gotten over my touchscreen issues, mostly), there's still a few minor issues i've got with it.

* DS cart should be hot-swappable. IIRC, Matrix's 3D memory allows this. i'd like to be able to switch out a game in session.

* System changes shut the system off - Why not just reset it? It's not a major issue, especially considering how many times you need to change your system settings, but it's an annoyance.

* Power off delay needs to be longer - It's about three-quartes of a second, and it could stand to be a little longer.

* ABXY buttons are too small - It's nearly as bad as the original Xbox's button cluster. i suppose it's a tradeoff for being able to use them as a directional pad.

* Lack of 12-hour time - i can read 24-hour time fine, but it seems kinda odd that there's not an option for it. i'm sure localized games will feature it, but for it's simply not the norm for most Americans.

* Lack of options for GBA gaming - i can understand leaving out the link capabilities. It gives GBA/SP owners a reason to hang onto their systems and moreso gives value to them, as if the price, portability, and design of the SP wasn't enough. But the lack of button mapping is disappointing. The X and Y buttons are completely useless with GBA games and could function very well as clones of the triggers. Also, GBA games could at least shut the backlight off when closed.

Anyone else?

 

[The Faceless Master]

i wish they shipped more units

 

[Mama Smurf]

I wish I didn't have to go through Pictochat, then Mario, then Metroid just to see if there's anyone within the area playing one of them. I'd like it just to be able to search for all signals at once and tell me if there's anyone near and what they're playing.

The system shutting down thing is the other annoyance, but it's not so bad. Just stupid.

Everything else seems fine.

 

[snapty00]

Yeah, the small buttons are a huge annoyance to me. I think I read somewhere that after E3, they made the buttons larger...if so, I'd sure hate to feel how small they were at E3.

Other complaints:
-Can't hot-swap games at the main-menu screen
-No analog stick of any sort
-Battery life is a disappointment
-Lack of ability to link most GBA games
-No way to receive messages via PictoChat without the system being turned on
-Needs texture filtering...badly

 

[belgurdo]

I'm going to get one next year, but I'm still not seeing any titles that are solid.

 

[Memles]

1. Launch lineup sucks ass.
2. I don't have the money to buy one to play the one launch game I want, SM64DS, and Minish Cap in January.

 

[mumu]

-Battery life is a disappointment

How many hours did you get out of it?

 

[Grubdog]

- It's taking too long to come out in PAL territories

 

[SantaC]

in other news, i still don't been able to get one

 

[BuddyC]

-No way to receive messages via PictoChat without the system being turned on

...

 

[snapty00]

How many hours did you get out of it?

Without WiFi, I'd say about 6.5 or maybe 7.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

My only gripe is that I'm not compelled to buy one. I think to myself, while glancing at the Gameboy display case, "Hm. Let's see...I could spend $170 on a DS and a game, OR I could buy 7-8 games for my SP, which by the way, I'm still very, VERY happy with". No doubt the software will be there one day. But it will not be this year.

 

[atomsk]

no wario ware at launch.

and i dont have the 50 bucks to import it...

 

[Sullichin]

Yeah, the small buttons are a huge annoyance to me. I think I read somewhere that after E3, they made the buttons larger...if so, I'd sure hate to feel how small they were at E3.

Other complaints:
-Can't hot-swap games at the main-menu screen
-No analog stick of any sort
-Battery life is a disappointment
-Lack of ability to link most GBA games
-No way to receive messages via PictoChat without the system being turned on
-Needs texture filtering...badly

Battery life a dissapointment? It's been wonderful for me. I play it several hours a day and only charge it overnight, and it's always green.

Are you honestly complaining that the ability to link GBA games isn't there.. I mean seriously. You want them to go and add an extra port to the system, one that would hardly be used? I have maybe linked up my GBA once or twice through its whole lifespan - multiplayer on GBA is pretty terrible. I've already played multiplayer DS a lot more than that.

 

[Gahiggidy]

This thread doesn't belong in this forum.

 

[suaveric]

Does the DS run a lot longer when its in GBA mode?

 

[Soul4ger]

I've charged my DS once (after the initial charge), I have over 60 stars in Mario 64 and have beaten Feel the Magic on Regular difficulty and Hard, and I haven't shown Red yet. So... Maybe your battery is defective.

 

[lexi]

My only gripe is the aforementioned no soft-reset. I'd love to be able to 'quit' Mario and go back to the DS menu. Not a glaring problem though, as a hard-reset takes about 3 seconds.

 

[Lyte Edge]

Did everyone charge the DS up when you first got it? Nintendo says to do that in the manual and I'm wondering if failure to do so screws up the battery a bit. (I charged mine up just to be safe, friends didn't)

 

[mumu]

Did everyone charge the DS up when you first got it? Nintendo says to do that in the manual and I'm wondering if failure to do so screws up the battery a bit. (I charged mine up just to be safe, friends didn't)

Like with all devices it is highly recommend to fully charge the batteries before you use the device the first time, and then fully drain them before re-charching. I'm not sure if that type of conditioning is still necessary with the new type of Li-Ion batteries though.

 

[bummyhead]

my only gripes?

-impossible to find, sold out everywhere after the first day.

-Canadian's being raped with a price that comes nowhere close to relating to the current exchnage rate. At the current exchnage, a DS SHOULD cost about $175 Canadian dollars. 179.99 would be a fair way to round up. And yet we are being gouged a fulle 199.99. Nintendo of Canada can go to hell.

-lack of launch line-up. I firmly belive it was a smart choice to get the ds out as fast as possible with the PSP on the horizon, I think the PSP launching first would have been very bad for Nintendo. However there really is only one DS title that is worht having, Mario 64. Everything else needed more time on the oven, with the possible exception of feel the magic, but that "mini-game collection" sub genre has never interested me.

-No RPGs available, and no firm details on any of those supposedly in development.

Thankfully there is lot's off good stuff coming, Castlevania, Zelda, etc.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

The ads and interviews all say it's being marketed to a more mature market....why not add the simplest of PDA functions, like a note taking program or reminder list tied into the calendar...something beyond the simplistic alarm clock? It would have sold to a lot more adults even with a lack of launch software if there were the simplest of reasons to justify it as something you could use every day.

 

[Crazymoogle]

Like with all devices it is highly recommend to fully charge the batteries before you use the device the first time, and then fully drain them before re-charching. I'm not sure if that type of conditioning is still necessary with the new type of Li-Ion batteries though.

Not required for Li-ion as there is no memory effect. Most Li-ion electronics ship with an undercharged battery because a fully charged battery suffers capacity loss while in storage.

 

[Boom]

my only gripes?

-impossible to find, sold out everywhere after the first day.

Walked into Game Crazy just this morning and was able to pick one up as they had plenty behind the counter.

 

[M3wThr33]

The DS's ship with about 1 hour left on the battery. They aren't fully charged.
Organizer+ is a program that has PIM functions. It'll be coming out soon.

 

[Kai Dracon]

The only real flaw I see that's worth a gripe over so far, is the point about scanning for network games: they really, really should have allowed the browser to scan for ANY and all DS games in progress, then let you insert the appropriate game card (if need be, or just download).

The wireless setup of the system is still nice, simple, to the point, and a snap to navigate. But as more and more games are released that use wireless, it will become a pain to cycle through card after card looking for games in progress - that may be starting or ending at random, as other people quit or switch games.

 

[Che]

It's getting released on Europe in three freaking months.

 

[duderon]

-When a DS and GBA game are in the system at the same time, the DS game automatically loads. (I think someone said you could change this)

-The buttons are kinda to close to the sides, so it can be uncomfortable holding the system with two hands at times.

 

[seismologist]

-When a DS and GBA game are in the system at the same time, the DS game automatically loads. (I think someone said you could change this)

You can change it to have the menu come up and you choose which game you want to play. That's the way I do it.

 

[Dead]

The games control like shit.

Graphics are abysmal.

The Stylus is a piece of shit.

Hardware is uncomfortable to use.

2nd screen is useless aside from the gimmick touch feature.

I cant see myself using Pictochat unless I was in Middle School.

Thumb Strap is about the worst thing ever.


I think thats about it.

 

[DIrtyWeasel]

* Power off delay needs to be longer - It's about three-quartes of a second, and it could stand to be a little longer.

This might be a stupid question... but WHY would you want it to take longer to turn off?

 

[DIrtyWeasel]

Does the DS run a lot longer when its in GBA mode?

Yes, because it only uses one screen.

 

[duderon]

You can change it to have the menu come up and you choose which game you want to play. That's the way I do it.

Ah, i only have one gripe then

 

[Dilbert]

(Copy of a post in the main DS thread...)

I played a demo unit at EBGames in the local mall when I was out shopping yesterday. To be blunt: I was not impressed. (For what it's worth, I own and enjoy a GBA SP.)

The stylus control for the Metroid demo was NOT like a mouse and keyboard -- sorry, but they are not the same thing. Pictochat seemed interesting, but who the hell is going to own one of these things that I want to chat with? (I'm guessing the installed base is not going to have a significant 30-year-old demographic.) The size of the unit is almost a dealbreaker for me, given that my main usage time for the GBA SP is when I'm on business travel. I can fit the SP, the charger, and a couple of games in less space that the DS unit itself would take up, and my computer bag is already pretty full of laptop accessories and papers as it is.

I'm sure it's cool technology and all that, but I see no compelling reason to upgrade anytime in the near future...maybe ever.

 

[Pimpbaa]

The stylus control for the Metroid demo was NOT like a mouse and keyboard -- sorry

No, but the thumb strap is. I hear of people playing metroid and mario 64 with the stylus. Why are you people doing this? The thumb strap is considerably better.

 

[w0o]

i'm finding it a bit awkward using the thumbpad with my short stubby thumbs. i would imagine the youngins' with even shorter thumbs would find it impossible. a thumbpad extension would be handy. though, i hear they will release a stylus that attaches to your thumb. that might work.

 

[shpankey]

for me it would be the complete lack of even a halfway decent game

 

[mrklaw]

The games control like shit.

Graphics are abysmal.

The Stylus is a piece of shit.

Hardware is uncomfortable to use.

2nd screen is useless aside from the gimmick touch feature.

I cant see myself using Pictochat unless I was in Middle School.

Thumb Strap is about the worst thing ever.


I think thats about it.

Don't know why, but instead of annoying me, that made me laugh.

It's getting released on Europe in three freaking months.

More like 4. Probably end of March.

 

[snapty00]

They're also going to HAVE to do something about the weight of the system. If all you're going to do is use it as a oversized Game Boy, then the weight is fine. But if you're holding it with one hand on either the left or right side and constantly bearing down on the touch screen with the other hand, then weight becomes an issue.

 

[RevenantKioku]

They're also going to HAVE to do something about the weight of the system. If all you're going to do is use it as a oversized Game Boy, then the weight is fine. But if you're holding it with one hand on either the left or right side and constantly bearing down on the touch screen with the other hand, then weight becomes an issue.

After an hour of use, I adjusted fine.

 

[Great King Bowser]

i'm finding it a bit awkward using the thumbpad with my short stubby thumbs. i would imagine the youngins' with even shorter thumbs would find it impossible. a thumbpad extension would be handy. though, i hear they will release a stylus that attaches to your thumb. that might work.

My tiny, girly Vietnamese hands say "eh-oh".

 

[MakMan]

Biggest gripe of DS is indeed that we Europeans must wait again....

 

[snapty00]

After an hour of use, I adjusted fine.

I don't see how you can "adjust" to that. You could put your hand behind the DS, but then you couldn't press the buttons on the left or right side.

 

[RevenantKioku]

I don't see how you can "adjust" to that. You could put your hand behind the DS, but then you couldn't press the buttons on the left or right side.

Similarly to when I first got the SP, my hands cramped a little since the system was different to the one I was used to.
After using the DS for about an hour, I was comfortable holding it with one hand, using stylus in the other, and I haven't had an issue since.

 

[snaildog]

I just hope that Nintendo are going to start advertising again in New Zealand so that I won't be the only one who has a DS. I know a lot of people (been boarding/working in uni hostels for two years, as well as working at a supermarket), yet I only know ONE other person with a Gamecube (he's obsessed with the Resident Evil series) and ONE other person who has a GBA/SP (I convinced her to buy one). The Nintendo 64 was very popular and sold well, but since Zelda: Ocarina I haven't seen any Nintendo ads at all, no joke. The Xbox on the other hand has advertised brilliantly, with simple 'cool' ads that work. I know more people with Xboxen than PS2s, and Halo parties are pretty common.

 

[Pimpbaa]

Why are some complaining about weight of the DS? You guys have weak hands or something? Lift some weights!

 

[neptunes]

The viewing angle blows.
In order to get the best possible view your head has to perfectly aligned with the ds.

 

[Suerte]

Why are some complaining about weight of the DS? You guys have weak hands or something? Lift some weights!

Or masturbate!

 

[Pimpbaa]

Or masturbate!

Worked for me!

 

[DDayton]

-When a DS and GBA game are in the system at the same time, the DS game automatically loads. (I think someone said you could change this)

If you have the system set to automatically run the game...

* Hold B while starting the system to boot the GBA game.
* Hold START while starting the system to enter the options menu.

I'm not sure if the GBA bit is mentioned in the manual, but I figured there had to be a way to do it... I just tried all the button combinations until one worked.