So I'm looking at getting a Nintendo DS... but which flavor?

[DeadPoolX]

In terms of console longevity, I think the PS2 wins that prize. It was originally released in 2000 and now, in 2011, there are still games getting made for it. Sales are still relatively steady as well. Amazing, huh?

[BBP]

There are also still games being made for CD-i. And that's been around for 20 years now!

[audiodane]

Wow ... that's pretty cool on both counts (PS2 and CD-i)!

[Tawmis]

In terms of console longevity, I think the PS2 wins that prize. It was originally released in 2000 and now, in 2011, there are still games getting made for it. Sales are still relatively steady as well. Amazing, huh?

I think it comes down to preference of games... The Wii may sell for EONS... but I'd much rather buy whatever XBOX has to offer, as they offer games, more in line with my own personal interests. It was the same for the PS2 vs XBOX. I have both consoles... but my preference by far is XBOX, because it offers more games that I enjoyed over the PS2.

[DeadPoolX]

In terms of console longevity, I think the PS2 wins that prize. It was originally released in 2000 and now, in 2011, there are still games getting made for it. Sales are still relatively steady as well. Amazing, huh?

I think it comes down to preference of games... The Wii may sell for EONS... but I'd much rather buy whatever XBOX has to offer, as they offer games, more in line with my own personal interests. It was the same for the PS2 vs XBOX. I have both consoles... but my preference by far is XBOX, because it offers more games that I enjoyed over the PS2.

Game preference isn't the topic here. It's the overall longevity of the console. The PS2 is still selling (both games and the unit itself) whereas the Xbox isn't. That's all I'm talking about.

You could prefer Atari 2600 games to whatever is out now, but that doesn't mean the console is still alive and kicking. So game preference really isn't relevant in this case.

But since you brought up game preference... why do even have consoles that you don't care for? That seems like a huge waste of money to me. Don't say "I didn't know I wouldn't like it." That's BS. You know what you like in a game and there were (and still are) plenty of reviews on games for every console, so why?

[Tawmis]

Game preference isn't the topic here. It's the overall longevity of the console. The PS2 is still selling (both games and the unit itself) whereas the Xbox isn't. That's all I'm talking about. You could prefer Atari 2600 games to whatever is out now, but that doesn't mean the console is still alive and kicking. So game preference really isn't relevant in this case.

But isn't longevity also determined by how frequently you play it? For example, Sierra games have quite a bit of longevity here...? I get what you're saying that they're still making games for the PS2... but part of that is because I think the PS3 is WAY too highly priced... so Sony, in their infinite wisdom, knew that the PS2 was still a strong market, as most did not "upgrade" to the PS3. So naturally, Sony continued to make games for the PS2. (This is sort of like how, even though EverQuest 2 is the newest game, it's now "free to play" - and yet the original EverQuest still fetches a monthly fee. Why? Because SO many people are invested into the original EverQuest, that they know they still have a strong market there, so they can still charge monthly there).

But since you brought up game preference... why do even have consoles that you don't care for? That seems like a huge waste of money to me. Don't say "I didn't know I wouldn't like it." That's BS. You know what you like in a game and there were (and still are) plenty of reviews on games for every console, so why?

Heh - you will get a kick out of this. Perhaps. I run an online game called Tyragon which has been around since late 1999 (and still going). Well two users pulled together, for no reason at all - to randomly get me a PS2 (along with some games). It was just a gift to say thanks. Quite amazing, since the PS2 was still fairly new at the time.

That said, would I have gotten the PS2 anyway? Yes. The PS2 has some games on it that I would have liked to play that were not available on the XBOX. But my original reason back in the day when I was going to get a PS2 or XBOX ... what was my choice based on? One game. Toejam and Earl III. I had no idea, other than HALO what else was on the XBOX. But I was going to get the XBOX just for that single game. As it turns out, it was a great purchase, as my XBOX has like 40 games in the library while the PS2 has about 30.

The XBOX and PS2 are both in my office now. 9 out of 10 times, if I am fiddling with a console, it will be the XBOX over the PS2.

[Tawmis]

Game preference isn't the topic here. It's the overall longevity of the console.

And technically, the topic is: looking at getting a Nintendo DS... but which flavor?

Which I believe I answered by saying, whatever his gaming preference is.

[audiodane]

Game preference isn't the topic here. It's the overall longevity of the console.

And technically, the topic is: looking at getting a Nintendo DS... but which flavor?

Which I believe I answered by saying, whatever his gaming preference is.

I have to side with Tawmis on this argument...

For my own sake, while I have considered an iPodTouch (before realizing it is apparently fairly incapable as a gaming platform), I would have a REAL hard time giving up the fan-dom I have for Nintendo dating back to the NES and our many dozens of games for that system (still use it today in fact, it's in my entertainment center as I type this). If everyone here were able to convince me to lean towards an Android tablet, or a GWiz, or anything non-Nintendo, I'd be eyeing Nintendo's 3DS successor just as heavily. (for better or worse)

I'm interested in the price point the 3DS comes in at, and how much I can sell my GBA/SP and GC for. I think I'm fairly settled on a 3DS at this point. Just don't know if my budget will allow it until they finalize the price.

cheers to all,
..dane

[oberonqa]

Game preference isn't the topic here. It's the overall longevity of the console.

And technically, the topic is: looking at getting a Nintendo DS... but which flavor?

Which I believe I answered by saying, whatever his gaming preference is.

I have to side with Tawmis on this argument...

For my own sake, while I have considered an iPodTouch (before realizing it is apparently fairly incapable as a gaming platform), I would have a REAL hard time giving up the fan-dom I have for Nintendo dating back to the NES and our many dozens of games for that system (still use it today in fact, it's in my entertainment center as I type this). If everyone here were able to convince me to lean towards an Android tablet, or a GWiz, or anything non-Nintendo, I'd be eyeing Nintendo's 3DS successor just as heavily. (for better or worse)

I'm interested in the price point the 3DS comes in at, and how much I can sell my GBA/SP and GC for. I think I'm fairly settled on a 3DS at this point. Just don't know if my budget will allow it until they finalize the price.

cheers to all,
..dane

If it follows the pricing of the DSi when it first came out, it'll be $229 USD. Actually, if Nintendo follows it's own pricing structure, the release of the 3DS will be immediately followed with a price drop on the other DS variants (DSi XL, DSi and DS Lite)... which is usually (going by the pricing structure I saw when I worked at Game Crazy prior to the company going belly-up) a $20 USD price drop.

Currently (as of the time I write this), GameStop is selling the assorted flavors at the following price points:

DSi XL - $169.99
DSi - $149.99
DS Lite - $129.99

So.... when the 3DS comes out, I would imagine the assorted flavors will be at the following price points:

3DS - $229.99
DSI XL - $149.99
DSi - $129.99
DS Lite - $109.99

That being said... if the 3DS is out of your price range, there's a very good chance the other flavors will be well within your price range. Also keep in mind the following:

---> All DS's will play the same games, with a few notable exceptions:

a. Games that utilize a special peripheral that attaches to the system via the GBA slot will not work on the DSi, DSi XL, or 3DS, due to the absence of the GBA slot in these flavors. This isn't a big deal unless you have your heart set on playing Guitar Hero (which comes with a special four-key attachment that plugs into the GBA slot).

b. Speaking of the GBA slot... if you have any GBA games that you want to hold onto to play on your new handheld, you will need to get a DS Lite, as it is the only flavor of DS that has the requisite GBA slot.

c. Games made specifically for the 3DS will not work on anything but the 3DS... and games made specifically for the DSi's will not work on a DS Lite. An example would be The Legend of Zelda 3DS. That game is made specifically for the 3DS and therefore will not work on anything but a 3DS. Conversely, a game called Rhythm Heaven will not work on the DS Lite, as it was made specifically for the DSi. However, all DS games will work on the 3DS (with the exception of Guitar Hero or other peripheral-required games).

---> The only difference between the DSi and the DSi XL is their size. The DSi XL is about 33% bigger, which makes it easier to hold if you have big hands and the screens are easier to see if you have vision problems.

---> The main differences between the DS Lite and the DSi/DSi XL are the GBA slot in the DS Lite, the cameras in the DSi/DSi XL, and the brightness of the screen on the DSi/DSi XL (the DS Lite has the dimmest screen of all the flavors).