DS Lite

[Dark Jaguar]

Got the chance to play one in a store. Disappointed. The texture doesn't feel like what it looks like. I expected the feeling of PURE GLOSS. It just feels like regular plastic, like my 360 controller.

Review site A: The screens now touch when you close the system, it's a good thing because it prevents something from getting between the screen and scratching either one.

Me: LIAR! Did you even try to test out that hypothesis? Here's another possibility: closing it when some small thing on it you didn't notice actually GUARENTEES BOTH screens will be scratched, HARD. Before, if it was small, no worries.

Review site B: Instead of those terrible clicky buttons the original had, now it has the same buttons as on the GBA micro, which are softer.

Review site B (back when it reviewed the GBA SP): Instead of the soft unresponsive buttons of the original GBA, the new SP has more clicky buttons which are much more responsive and feel just plain better. I'm surprised they didn't think of this earlier.

Me: Way to be hypocrites guys!

Makes me want to vent pure tabasco sauce, which is my BLOOD, in these guy's open wounds which I will inflict with my HAIR! Too bad I don't bleed because that's just how awesome I am!

[A Black Falcon]

I tried a Lite in EB last week, they had Metroid Prime (played for a few minuites, gave up when I couldn't figure out how to use the scan visor) and New SMB (level 1, basic Mario fun)... pretty cool. :) The four main face buttons are really close together (and small, as is the d-pad), but you get used to it... the main obvious issue is the same one from the original DS: how the heck are you supposed to use touchscreen games and hold the thing at the same time? :)

[Dark Jaguar]

Also, I want one.

[Dark Jaguar]

One hand holds, one hand uses the touch screen. If you are playing a game that ONLY uses the screen, this works fine. If you are playing Dawn of Sorrow, then you just got powned.

[lazyfatbum]

DJ how is the viewable angle of the screens? Does it lose color or brightness as you move the screen at different angles like the original DS does (anything outside of viewing it directly and completely straight on)?

[Dark Jaguar]

I wish I could tell you. It was in a cast iron vice you see.

What I can tell you is that the old trick for getting past autoload still works, so I reaked havoc with bios settings to set them CORRECTLY.

Also, the bios isn't updated at all except for the 4 levels of brightness. The graphics for the DS in the bios still use the old model. Oh well. The only annoying thing is minor changes still require shutting off the system.

[lazyfatbum]

So what you're saying is you couldn't move the DSL to compare its viewable angle, but couldn't you move around the stationary DSL to test the same idea?

*pushes glasses back up on to nose as to be closer to the eyes*

[Dark Jaguar]

I could if I had bothered to even think about something like that, because to be honest I don't even care. "Viewing angle" has always been sufficient for me on Nintendo's LCD screens. Never had the entire contrast completly invert itself on my SP for example.

Besides, store lighting being what it is, it was hard enough to even really tell the difference between the lighting. Lowest setting seemed dimmer than my memory's account of what the original DS is like, but I don't know. I don't have a candle power direct comparison or the ability to take a photo and use a dropper to compare hex values or anything like that.

You could always go to a local store yourself and check their display if you need that vital data though.

[A Black Falcon]

I believe I've heard it has a wider viewing angle, but haven't checked for myself so I won't say that for sure... but I believe it does.

[Dark Jaguar]

Okay I saw another one a bit ago and I can safely say that while I can't be sure if the viewing angle is any wider, it does still shift as you move your head around.

But upon thinking about the tech involved in an LCD, that's to be expected. It's built into the technology due to the sheer fact that it is based entirely on polarization. It can be limited but it'll always be there. No matter though. It's not like your whole family is going to be gathering around the screens. It'll just be you.

[Lord Shockwave]

I bought one.

Smokes the original DS, and I will be expanding my DS library just for it, oh yes, I will. :D

[Dark Jaguar]

Once best buy is sold out of that original model, you know where I'll be.

Of course, the new DS isn't nearly as much of an improvement as the SP was over the original GBA, but really, it's hard to make a comparison like that fairly.

[The Former DMiller]

The viewing angle is definitely improved. I got one from Sam's Club with The New Super Mario Bros. I like the new feel of the buttons and the easier the Lite is to handle, but it definitely isn't as much of an improvement as the SP was over the GBA.

[Dark Jaguar]

Prefer the new feel eh? I didn't get enough of a chance to use the new system to really decide if I prefer the new button feel. I can say I really did love the clicky instant feedback style of the GBA SP and original DS buttons, and it's hard to go back to something that doesn't seem, at least at first impression, to have the same sort of instant responsiveness.

[The Former DMiller]

Well, I felt that the feel of the original DS buttons was too rough. It didn't have the perfect clicky feel, but it wasn't smooth to the touch either. I think the Playstation controller buttons have a good feel that gives you good feedback and is soft at the same time. I think the DS Lite is the same way, although we'll see how it holds up after constant use.

[TheBiggah]

Anybody hear that Nintendo had a shipment stolen that was bound for the UK?

http://www.revo-europe.com/news.php?nid=9287

-TheBiggah-

[Great Rumbler]

The DS Lite is selling like mad in Japan.

[TheBiggah]

That's true, I had originally thought Ebay...but since the shipment went missing in Asia, it will probably be fenced in asia too.

-TheBiggah-

[A Black Falcon]

It's had a good start in the US too, I believe...

[Dark Jaguar]

And now I have one. The plan worked perfectly, and they even helped by suggesting the Lite themselves for the warrentee exchangy dealie. Also before I left I transferred the DS specific wifi data to someone else's DS and transferred the data to the Lite when I brought it back.