Halp! Portable console buying advice for noob.

WelshBloke · 11-09-2012, 01:01 PM

I'd like to buy my kid a portable console for Xmas.

I'm thinking Nintendo DSi XL, but I really know nothing about portable consoles.

He's 7 and into the usual, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Batman, etc so I think Nintendo has the games covered.

Is the 3DS XL any better considering he won't be using the 3D part? Or the DS lite? Or the regular sized DSi?

Or that Sony thing?

Crap! I really should have kept up on this stuff.

DaveSimmons · 11-09-2012, 01:12 PM

For young kids, Nintendo is a much better choice than a PS Vita and is up to $100 cheaper.

The price difference between DSi and 3DS is only about $20, so the 3DS might make sense for being able to play any new 3DS games as well as existing DS games.

Battery life is much better on the DSi though: 3-8 for 3DS, 3-14 for DSi.

You might wait to see what deals there for Black Friday (does that happen in the UK?) and for holiday bundles.

WelshBloke · 11-09-2012, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveSimmons

For young kids, Nintendo is a much better choice than a PS Vita and is up to $100 cheaper.

The price difference between DSi and 3DS is only about $20, so the 3DS might make sense for being able to play any new 3DS games as well as existing DS games.

Battery life is much better on the DSi though: 3-8 for 3DS, 3-14 for DSi.

You might wait to see what deals there for Black Friday (does that happen in the UK?) and for holiday bundles.

Cheers.

We don't get black friday (WTF is black friday?)

Yeah I was worried if I got him the DSi that it might not play some of the newer games or that it might become obsolete quickly.

It is possible to turn the 3D stuff off isnt it? And the games will still work properly and look ok?

gorcorps · 11-09-2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WelshBloke

Cheers.

We don't get black friday (WTF is black friday?)

Yeah I was worried if I got him the DSi that it might not play some of the newer games or that it might become obsolete quickly.

It is possible to turn the 3D stuff off isnt it? And the games will still work properly and look ok?

BF is the day after Thanksgiving in the states, which is when a lot of stores have big sales and it's pretty much the accepted start date for x-mas shopping. Obviously you don't have Thanksgiving so it wouldn't be the same day, but is there a day out there that a lot of stores have huge sales and everybody starts shopping?

DaveSimmons · 11-09-2012, 01:43 PM

Like Boxing Day in Canada? I know it isn't Guy Fawkes day, you've already missed that

Anyway, holiday sales and holiday bundles.

WelshBloke · 11-09-2012, 02:28 PM

Our big sales start after Xmas. All the shops try to sell off all their excess stock.

Theres a gradual increase in offers coming up to Xmas though.

cmdrdredd · 11-09-2012, 03:16 PM

You can turn 3D off and sometimes I prefer that to the 3D effect. I'm not a fan of the 3Ds myself, I didn't buy one. I do own a PSVita (Sony's handheld gaming device) but purchased that for other titles specific to Sony like Little Big Planet.

WelshBloke · 11-09-2012, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdrdredd

You can turn 3D off and sometimes I prefer that to the 3D effect. I'm not a fan of the 3Ds myself, I didn't buy one. I do own a PSVita (Sony's handheld gaming device) but purchased that for other titles specific to Sony like Little Big Planet.

Theres been a few warnings about the 3D and young kids and TBH I'd rather not take the risk over a game system.

If I can turn it off and keep the future proofing of the new system I'll probably do that.

cmdrdredd · 11-09-2012, 03:57 PM

There's a depth slider on the system that increases or decreases the 3D effect. All the way down = off.

WelshBloke · 11-09-2012, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdrdredd

There's a depth slider on the system that increases or decreases the 3D effect. All the way down = off.

Do the games still look/work OK with the 3D off?

cmdrdredd · 11-09-2012, 04:01 PM

Yeah and like I said sometimes I prefer it. Even though I didn't buy it, I have borrowed a friend's for a trip to Orlando and got familiar with it.

WelshBloke · 11-09-2012, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdrdredd

Yeah and like I said sometimes I prefer it. Even though I didn't buy it, I have borrowed a friend's for a trip to Orlando and got familiar with it.

Cheers.

I think I'll get him the 3DS XL then.

cmdrdredd · 11-09-2012, 04:13 PM

Hope he enjoys it.

WelshBloke · 11-15-2012, 01:12 PM

Bit more advice please.

Anyone got any opinions on these games:

Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (Nintendo 3DS)
Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 (Nintendo 3DS)
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Nintendo 3DS)

Cheers.

cmdrdredd · 11-15-2012, 03:40 PM

Lego Star Wars is top quality(all of them). Batman is ok and I thought Harry Potter was crap and I am a huge Harry Potter fan.

WelshBloke · 11-15-2012, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdrdredd

Lego Star Wars is top quality(all of them). Batman is ok and I thought Harry Potter was crap and I am a huge Harry Potter fan.

Thanks again.

Shame about the Harry Potter thing though, he's pretty obsessed at the mo.

I'll order the Lego Star Wars one though.

Tweak155 · 11-15-2012, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WelshBloke

Thanks again.

Shame about the Harry Potter thing though, he's pretty obsessed at the mo.

I'll order the Lego Star Wars one though.

If he's that obsessed, I doubt he'll care if it isn't that good. He'll be way more excited to play it.

cmdrdredd · 11-15-2012, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WelshBloke

Thanks again.

Shame about the Harry Potter thing though, he's pretty obsessed at the mo.

I'll order the Lego Star Wars one though.

It is just one person's opinion. I don't mean to turn you off of it. Give it a try. He may like it a lot.

SandEagle · 11-15-2012, 06:47 PM

there are reports out there that talk about the damage that 3d can have on little kids' eyes. go with the dsi xl, it'll be $99 during black friday

WelshBloke · 11-16-2012, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandEagle

there are reports out there that talk about the damage that 3d can have on little kids' eyes. go with the dsi xl, it'll be $99 during black friday

Thats why I wanted to know if you could turn the 3d off.

Anyway its ordered now. Just need to choose some games.

exdeath · 11-16-2012, 10:11 AM

DS for sure. Which one?

Well if the primary interest is non 3DS games, the standard DSi XL will be better. The 3DS XL has a higher pixel density wide screen so regular DS carts will run scaled to non native fullscreen or be letterboxed. So a regular DSi XL will give you the largest sharpest display for regular DS/DSi games.

WelshBloke · 11-16-2012, 10:18 AM

Ordered a blue 3DS XL. I did think about the wide screen thing and DS games but figured that there's quite a few 3DS games to keep him busy and that DS ones shouldn't look that bad.

cmdrdredd · 11-16-2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandEagle

there are reports out there that talk about the damage that 3d can have on little kids' eyes. go with the dsi xl, it'll be $99 during black friday

They don't have black friday where he is from, this was mentioned previously. It was also mentioned that he already ordered it.

He also already mentioned he was aware of those reports about young children with 3D effects.

so...yeah

All these different versions of the DS is why I don't own one. Nintendo needs to EOL them more rapidly to make it easier for buyer choice and they also need to release a system with dual analog sticks or something.

WelshBloke · 11-16-2012, 10:23 AM

I was a bit

when I noticed you have to order the charger separately. That could have made for a disappointing Xmas morning!

cmdrdredd · 11-16-2012, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WelshBloke

I was a bit

when I noticed you have to order the charger separately. That could have made for a disappointing Xmas morning!

It should come with a charging cable in the box but not a "charging cradle" that some people use instead.