iPod Touch vs. Nintendo DS

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Feb 19, 2001
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What do you guys think? I'm not asking a buying question or really a gaming question that much, but just what do you guys think about the two for gaming?

I thought it was cool when the DS came out and everyone and their mom played it. Tons of my college friends played it and a LOT of girls had it. I skipped out on it naturally being a huge PC gamer.

But now with the iPod Touch it seems I can play a bajillion games out there. Even the stupid free ones I see myself getting absorbed into hours of play. What do you guys think? I certainly see this as a better investment as it has the capabilities of a smartphone minus the phone and always-on connection feature, but still caters to gaming?

I see this as almost a PC vs. console battle. You have a device dedicated to power, productivity, and capability (computer) that's also capable of gaming, or you have a pure gaming device that we're now trying to add features like home theater and connectivity features. Apple's coming down from the smartphone platform into the gaming realm (although one can argue that the iPhone itself is leaps behind Symbian, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile in terms of power features), and to me it only makes more sense that you go top down (trickle down anyone) because your hardware and firmware capabilities are already there. It's a matter of developing the applications now.
 

adairusmc

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2006
7,095
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DS with modchip, or PSP (I have had both, currently have PSP). Crisis Core and FF Tactics are both digital crack rocks - I can hardly put them down once I get started playing either of them. Dissidia (sp?) is also coming out for PSP in September if you are into FF games.
 

secretanchitman

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Apr 11, 2001
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ipod touch has pretty good games, but i feel like the ds has much more "quality" games.

when i had my 2G ipod touch, i never bothered to jailbreak it, because i felt that there wasnt any point, since the app store is there. i know that some people do for certain applications, but i never saw a need to. as for the ds lite, the r4, m3, cyclo ds evolution, and whatever else is a must have.

edit: had more to say.
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
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PSP blows, I had one and ended up giving to my GF, some of the games have retardly long load time. I just wasn't impressed.

DS has some awesome titles, I would take a DS over a PSP any day of the weak - I do not own a DS for reference. My GF has one and I love playing with it from time to time.

I do own a Touch, and I sound like a mindless clone, but it's fucking GREAT for gaming. Let me explain. When I game on a portable device, I don't want a 30 hour super involved Fall Out 3 type game. I play those on my PC. On a hand held I want something that's fun, easy to get into, and can be picked up quick and put down just as quick when I'm done. I can say some of my favorite games are on my Touch. When implemented the tilt controls work wonderfully well. I was just playing the new Terminator shooter on mine. You lean left/right/up/down to look around and slide your finger to move (can change the control scheme to on screen pad) It controls great and is pretty fun to play.

DS has much more polished games, but they typically cost a lot more. And Touch games are getting bigger and better. Companies are really starting to shine with the control system. Some of the early games, pretty much sucked. Some of the newer ones have tight controls that flow very naturally.

I have invested maybe $100 in games, maybe more. There are some 99 cent ones I still play after having them for 6+ months. Zombie Ville USA, Rasta Monkey, Sway, Rollando are a few of my favorite games. And to top it off, I have a great interface for playing my music and videos. Plus, I actually use my Touch for my PDA, even though I have a Blackberry. I keep my shopping list, my budget, I store all my contacts and keep my to do list. Nothing better than pulling out my Touch to add a contact and a to-do call reminder than getting a quick game of Zombie Ville USA in before I put it back in my pocket. I cannot do shit like that with any other device.

There is no comparison to a Touch overall, PSP has traditional controls, DS has a pretty great implementation of a touch screen. The Touch just does more, and the games keep getting better and better. Motorcross 2009 could be a PS2 game, very good graphics and tight controls. I don't ever leave the house without my Touch. And I have about 115 apps installed on it. I bought it for music and find myself using it for everything from finding a place to eat (Urbanspoon app is PURE WIN) to VCN'ing in to a clients PC to edit their registry to fix a problem.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
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Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth


I have a PSP, but always reach for the DS lite.

this.

i have both a PSP and DS. i always go for my DS. its just a better gameing platform and has better games.


not saying the PSP sucks. its a good unit also. i enjoy playing FF crisis core (so far only game i own but have played others).

 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Originally posted by: QueBert
PSP blows, I had one and ended up giving to my GF, some of the games have retardly long load time. I just wasn't impressed.

DS has some awesome titles, I would take a DS over a PSP any day of the weak - I do not own a DS for reference. My GF has one and I love playing with it from time to time.

I do own a Touch, and I sound like a mindless clone, but it's fucking GREAT for gaming. Let me explain. When I game on a portable device, I don't want a 30 hour super involved Fall Out 3 type game. I play those on my PC. On a hand held I want something that's fun, easy to get into, and can be picked up quick and put down just as quick when I'm done. I can say some of my favorite games are on my Touch. When implemented the tilt controls work wonderfully well. I was just playing the new Terminator shooter on mine. You lean left/right/up/down to look around and slide your finger to move (can change the control scheme to on screen pad) It controls great and is pretty fun to play.

DS has much more polished games, but they typically cost a lot more. And Touch games are getting bigger and better. Companies are really starting to shine with the control system. Some of the early games, pretty much sucked. Some of the newer ones have tight controls that flow very naturally.

I have invested maybe $100 in games, maybe more. There are some 99 cent ones I still play after having them for 6+ months. Zombie Ville USA, Rasta Monkey, Sway, Rollando are a few of my favorite games. And to top it off, I have a great interface for playing my music and videos. Plus, I actually use my Touch for my PDA, even though I have a Blackberry. I keep my shopping list, my budget, I store all my contacts and keep my to do list. Nothing better than pulling out my Touch to add a contact and a to-do call reminder than getting a quick game of Zombie Ville USA in before I put it back in my pocket. I cannot do shit like that with any other device.

There is no comparison to a Touch overall, PSP has traditional controls, DS has a pretty great implementation of a touch screen. The Touch just does more, and the games keep getting better and better. Motorcross 2009 could be a PS2 game, very good graphics and tight controls. I don't ever leave the house without my Touch. And I have about 115 apps installed on it. I bought it for music and find myself using it for everything from finding a place to eat (Urbanspoon app is PURE WIN) to VCN'ing in to a clients PC to edit their registry to fix a problem.

LoL 115 apps. You're pretty clsoe to the max.

But with this said, yes the games are getting BETTER and BETTER. Companies like EA are releasing more games too. Just reading Touch Arcade everyday makes me drool. I seriously need to upgrade my iPod when the 3rd gen comes out because the no speaker 1st gen + slower CPU = real handicap.
 
Mar 11, 2004
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There's no question that the DS is the better gaming system right now. The real appeal of the Touch (and especially iPhone) is that its a convergent device that happens to do multiple things as well if not better than dedicated devices (the web browser on the Touch/iPhone is very good, games are ok, great multimedia capability, etc). If you can fit the DS in as a portable, then I'd say go for it. I have both (DS and Touch) right now, and I never play the DS. Its just not portable enough for me. I can't say I play games on the Touch either (actually, right now I don't take it with me either, but its not because of portability), but it'd almost certainly satisfy my gaming on the go craving.

There seems to be quite a bit of rumors about Apple taking a stronger focus on gaming, but who knows what that could mean. Also, there's possibly a 3rd gen Touch on the way, so I'd almost say wait for that, but there's always a lot of wishful thinking speculation so maybe grab a 2nd gen from someone going to upgrade or if they run sales.
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
NDS+DSTTi

I have a PSP, but always reach for the DS lite.


NDS Lite + DSTT (don't need the i version unless you're using the DSi model.)

Can't be beat! :)

The DSTT can be had for $5.75 shipped + whatever size MicroSDHC card you wish (depending on # of games or movies (you can fit around 4 to 5 movies on a 2GB card) to load onto the card).
 
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