Dear gaming: what do I buy with $517.50?

[Jimmy]

I was united with $517.50 for some work I did and I was thinking that I wanted to buy a DS Lite with some games, but at the same time I was thinking that a PSP looked very tempting, as did a Wii. The problem with getting on of those though is that I won't have much left over for games.

Also, I really like the whole touch-screen bit.

So, do I buy a DS, PSP, Wii or save up for better computer parts? [suggest something else if you want. No fanboy wars please, just sensible suggestions.]

edit: just remembered you aer all british. A DS over here is $200 with a game at about $50-60. A PSP is about $500 with games at $70-100 and a Wii is $400 with games at about $100 right now I think...

Irrelevant now, I have decided on a NDS. Now I want to know which games to purchase for it.

[RevJ42]

If you don't want fanboy wars, then really, they're all a good choice. Though I'm assuming (and in doing so making a yada yada yada) by the pricing you're an AU, and the support for PSP's already starting to dry up, so I wouldn't get that. You can find a whole lot of cheap DS games, so if you want lots of games and you prolly won't get more money for a while, a DS seems like a good choice. The only other variable is can you live without Twilight Princess, and it seems you can, so Wii's probably not a great option for you, unless you live in a big gaming family who'd appreciate Wii Sports.

So go with the DS. That's my medical opinion anyway.

[Ben Stiller]

I wouldn't get a psp or a ds, cause they're both starting to die now, there hasn't be a decent game released on either for ages.

As for a Wii, I personally don't like them, but if I were you I'd go to a gaming store and try one out, see if you like it.

Personally, I'd save a bit more money up and get a 360 with GoW and R6.

(btw do you mean canadian dollers or aus dollars? cause that can't be USD...)

[Jimmy]

I wouldn't get a psp or a ds, cause they're both starting to die now, there hasn't be a decent game released on either for ages.

Ah, but I don't have the decent games that have already been released, so I can buy all the good ones for cheaper.


As for a Wii, I personally don't like them, but if I were you I'd go to a gaming store and try one out, see if you like it.

Personally, I'd save a bit more money up and get a 360 with GoW and R6.

(btw do you mean canadian dollers or aus dollars? cause that can't be USD...)

I already have a normal Xbox, and I like it but I find the idea of portable gaming a bit more tantalising. I only like my Xbox for playing halo when friends come over.

And yeah, it's AU$.

[Ben Stiller]

Save up a bit more money and get a PSP and a DS then. :p

[Jimmy]

I think I have decided on DS due to your persuasions [somehow :S].

Now please tell me which games I should buy for it. I have already seen and tried a game called Trauma Center: Under The Knife which was DAMN fun, so I need more that I can buy.

[Ben Stiller]

New Super Mario Bros, definitely.

[Bosnod]

Advance wars dual strike is a good one to go for. It has brought me many days of fun.

Also, i agree with new super mario bros.

[The Grandmaster]

I wouldn't get a psp or a ds, cause they're both starting to die now

The DS is not starting to die, that's just crazy talk (It is arguably the hottest gaming machine out right now). The PSP is second best to DS at the moment, and isn't exactly doing brilliant in terms of software quality or sales, but I'm sure we'll eventually see it live up to it's potential.

So enough of the crazy talk.

[Ben Stiller]

The hottest gaming machine out right now? I beg to differ.

I know literally 4 people who own DSs, two of which being my sisters.

Imo, it's a nice little console, but isn't really much more than a handheld snes.

[doctor_fruitbat]

I have Sonic Rush, New Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart DS and Metroid Prime: Hunters, and I regret not a single one of them. Yoshi's Island DS rocks hard too.

[Splush]

The hottest gaming machine out right now? I beg to differ.

I know literally 4 people who own DSs, two of which being my sisters.

Imo, it's a nice little console, but isn't really much more than a handheld snes.
I knew two other people with DSs, then one of them sold theirs, but anecdotal evidence aside the DS is still a huge deal. It's performance in Japan is just insane, I can't remember any figures off my head but it's dominating every other system, and the top 10 games in Japan are often all DS games. Also, the Dragon Quest series is moving from Playstation to DS in its next iteration, and that's the biggest franchise in Japan. Western performance isn't quite as crazy but it's still doing really, really well here.

[Haroshi]

I know loads of people with DS's.
There are about 20 people at my college who have one (me included).

We have have 8 way mario kart and 10 way tetris quite often. :)

[eidderf]

The hottest gaming machine out right now? I beg to differ.

I know literally 4 people who own DSs, two of which being my sisters.

Imo, it's a nice little console, but isn't really much more than a handheld snes.
Seriously you can't judge things like that, I don't know anyone else with a wii but apparently it has sold very well. How well a gaming machine is doing isn't based on if you, your sisters and your friends have got a certain console

[Roxit]

I think some good games are coming out this January Glooomp, I would wait till then. I'm going to have a little check now...

[Ben Stiller]

I was just saying, for the hottest console, I don't see many of them.

I've seen plenty more Wiis, PSPs, 360s, PS2s, Xboxes, PSXs, N64s, SNESs, NESs, Dreamcasts, Mega Drives, Gameboys, Game Gears etc etc etc.

I forgot though, you can't have opinions on gaming because each manufacturer has it's own little minions to defend it. :)

[Roxit]

Hmmm it seems Star Fox Command has been put back to March in the UK. So get it off e-bay. Mario Hoops is quite nice as well, but I have played that for only a very short time, but was not impressed by the fact you can unlock Final Fantasy characters, because I hate ff.
If your a fan of Zelda, the Phantom Hourglass comes out in March as well over here. Don't know how early it comes out in America and Japan.

[Joe G]

Metroid Hunters is a must- especially if you have friends with DS's or plan to play online (possibly with mine and slurps little crew:p ).

[The Grandmaster]

The hottest gaming machine out right now? I beg to differ.

I know literally 4 people who own DSs, two of which being my sisters.

You only knowing four people that own a DS really means nothing. There is more than enough evidence to show that it is one of the most successful consoles out right now.

but isn't really much more than a handheld snes.

Shows how much you know about the DS...

[doctor_fruitbat]

Mario Hoops is quite nice as well, but I have played that for only a very short time, but was not impressed by the fact you can unlock Final Fantasy characters, because I hate ff.

You can unlock FF characters? I'm sold!

[eidderf]

I was just saying, for the hottest console, I don't see many of them.

I've seen plenty more Wiis, PSPs, 360s, PS2s, Xboxes, PSXs, N64s, SNESs, NESs, Dreamcasts, Mega Drives, Gameboys, Game Gears etc etc etc.

I forgot though, you can't have opinions on gaming because each manufacturer has it's own little minions to defend it. :)
That wasn't an opinion though, it would be like me saying I reckon the Sun isn't very hot because it's usually quite cold in the UK. It is the hottest console because of the very high number of sales, it doesn't matter how many of them you see. Your opinion doesn't come into it.

[Bosnod]

The DS was the biggest selling console of 2006 in uk - fact(or so I heard somewhere).

Also, I think this is going a bit off topic. :S

Why have I not seen anyone say animal crossing (including me)? It's an immensely good game, especially online.

[sushi.]

Dawn of Sorrow.
Dawn of Sorrow.
Dawn of Sorrow.

Seriously. I can't stress this enough.

DO NOT GET: Touch Detective, either of the Brain Boost games.

[jimeh]

Portable gaming you say?

Buy this.

http://www.gp2x.co.uk/

[Taysmith]

Don't get an NDS. With $517.50 you can get a PS3 an.......oh wait, no you can't

[RevJ42]

Yeah, Dawn of Sorrow. Also, if you can manage to find Phoenix Wright in Australia (which I did last week after about a year of looking), snatch it up, as it's still a great game even though the craze is over.

Mario Kart's got an enormous amount of gameplay in it, if you've ever liked a MK game, and Metroid Prime Hunters has awesome multiplayer.

SIDENOTE: On this whole "don't see anyone with DSs" thing, funnily enough I agree. For the top selling console (I think?) you don't really see many people on the streets with them. Maybe they're just like me and don't really use the portability features ;)

[doctor_fruitbat]

I rarely play it out and about. I save it for lectures, mostly, and tell everyone who asks for a go to get their own so we can play over wifi. That's free advertising, that is. :)

[St. Jesus]

I'd have to say Metroid Prime Hunters, FF3 DS, Advance Wars, Mario Kart, and of course the New Super Mario Bros. I own all of these, and i enjoy them all very much.

[captain canuck]

Dawn of Sorrow. my own futile search for that (because i didn't like the exhorbitant prices online retailers were trying to get away with) leads me to believe this will be a tough one to track down for anything other than $15 more than the average DS game costs (if you look for it in 'new' condition), or so overused you might as well not bother.

mind you, i only personally couldn't justify the extra cost (which still didn't count shipping & handling). its probably irrelevant to anyone not in my (unemployed) situation though.

[i_stalk_badgers]

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

Naturally.

DS/PSPs are useful for lectures though, just don't accidentally leave your volume turned on.

</personal experience>

[doctor_fruitbat]

Or get so engrossed in the game you slowly raise it closer and closer to your face, until the room is dark and everyone is watching a film and you have a DS an inch from your nose with your face bathed in bright white light, and it takes fifteen minutes to notice the 'lower the fucking DS' sign your friend has helpfully crawled on your notepad. I never got caught, mind. :D

[sushi.]

you don't really see many people on the streets with them.

I see people with them all the time. They're usually kids, though. But that's to be expected- kids get dragged places, they wanna bring something to entertain themselves. I know I used to carry my dinosaur GameBoy around with me.

I've seen people at school with them, too. Otherwise, though, why would you see people randomly carrying around DSs out in the open. It's just not something that's done.

I know a decent number of people with DSs, and in trying to get my boyfriend one for Christmas discovered that they are sold out everywhere. I'm amazed that Nintendo is selling out of a two year old system, unless the supplies were just really low for the holiday season.

[doctor_fruitbat]

Be fair, the PS2 had a rough start then went on to sell 100 million... The DS should have plenty of life in it yet, especially with Brain Training and Nintendogs and all that lot drawing in the girls and the old folk.