Would you reccomend buying a DS at this point?

I'm seriously considering getting a DS, but there are a couple of things i'm not sure about.

First of all, would you reccomend a DS in general? It's a cool system, and in many instances I've argued about it being better than the PSP (which I'm not even considering), but there doesn't appear to be a very wide selection of good games for the system, especially at this point in its lifecycle. Which brings us to #2...

Won't a successor be announced soon? The DS was back in '04, and both the GBA and GBC had a lifecycle of ~3 years, and since the DS is now going into its 4th year... it kinda makes sense for a DS2 or something to be anounced in July. What are your thoughts?

Also, is the DS good for playing GBA games? One of the reasons I got the idea was recently "rediscovering" my GBA, and realizing both that handhelds are fun and that the GBA's screen drives me insane. Seriously, I don't get how I could deal with the dimness and lack of backlight (which are sorta the same thing). You have to hold it in just the right angle to see the action, and even then there's the reflections issue. So while I can't think of anything that could go wrong, is there any problem with playing GBA games on the DS?

Thanks!

Yes, a DS is definitely worth it.

As for your other questions, i don't expect an announcement on a successor for a few more years, to be honest. Nintendo consistently sells hundreds of thousands of DS units weekly, and there is no sign of stopping anytime soon. A new handheld would just destroy the momentum the DS currently has, and i don't expect an announcement of anything new until at least 2009, perhaps later.

Finally, i haven't personally run into any problems playing GBA games on the DS, and the extra backlight on the DS (unless you have an SP) definitely helps.

The ds lite is an amazing system it also has very many good games may i reccomend legend of zleda phantom of hourglass!It all depends on what type ofgames you like the ds has a wide variety.I am not to sure that there will be a third release of the ds anytime soon cause with the rate its going at write now i sure hope theres not another realesase soon but if ther is a new ds coming this is wat the modle is rumerd to look like >>

it looks almost as if the game card is an sd card:o

No good games at the moment?

I'll list the games I own and have enjoyed immensely, as I can personally recommend these:

Elite Beat Agents

Metroid Prime Hunters

Mario Kart

Zelda: PH

Worms OW2

Advance Wars DS

StarFox Command

Anno 1701

And there are loads more games I don't own but plan on buying, so I don't agree with the statement that it doesn't have many good games. Just look at metacritic in score order and you'll see there are plenty of fun games.

1:They probably won't make a new ds soon just because what exactly would they change they need more time to think about new ideas.

2:What are you talking about no good games there is a lot of good games just not any good ones at this time but more are coming out and there is good ones out already.

3:The ds is good for playing GBA games and i underdstand i have no idea how i playedGBA games back then.

SoiwoulddefinitelyreccomendaDS

I'm pretty much in the same boat, except for now my problem is I can't find a DS to buy. Here's my view on the subject.

Even if nintendo releases a new handheld system the DS is still pretty valuable. Just look at the GBA life cycle, and how long it took for the DS to build a great library. Chances are even if nintendo makes a new handheld developers will focus on the DS for at least another 2 years after the new system is released. I really don't see nintendo releasing anything soon, but even if they do I wouldn't worry much.

It's also likely that nintendo will create a new DS model, but really there's not much to complain about from the old one. It would basically be thinner w/ a larger screen, and maybe a longer battery life, all of which are perfectly acceptable on the ds-lite, and I still know quite a few people that are happy w/ the DS phat. So even if they release a new DS after you buy your lite it's not really going to matter too much.

As far as games go I'm not a huge nintendo fan when it comes to mario, zelda, and such so I felt the DS library was fairly lacking, but it seems to be pretty good if you know where to look. Also if you're a fan of off-kilter games the DS seems to have a great library w/ elite beat agents, and hotel dusk. Also there's alot of future titles that seem interesting like Assassin's creed, ninja gaiden DS, and Insecticide. I agree the DS library doesn't quite match it's age, and popularity, but it's still the best we've got in handheld gaming.

I haven't heard anything about the GBA ports except they tend to attract dust so don't loose your GBA cover. I'm also looking forward to catching up on a ton of GBA games.

There's so many DS games out, and many of them are great. My DS is awesome, i would recomend one to anyone.

A DS is a really good system.It has alot of games to choose from. I have one and totally like it better than the psp. It has desent graphics, but maybe the new DS will look better so far all I know is that it is slimmer.

I would get a DS if you don't have one yet.

answer your first question there are plenty of good games about 60 or so. (i'll make a list or something if you want, maybe a thread on all of them cause recommendation has a lot but there are more) but there are alot of genres, you can look in the recommendation thread for some.

#2) they're probably not going to release one anytime soon. Maybe in a couple of year, but nintendo as already said last years they really have no plans as of yet, because of the sucess of the DS. So you have quite a while.

#3) the DS is great for playing GBA games, You cant play GB or GBC games just to warn you but the GBA games are very nice with the extrabrightness power. You can also play them on the top or bottom screen.

#1 by posting in the Nintendo DS forums, you are talking to all the Nintendo DS fans all over the world which means that everyone in this forum would probably agree that you should get a DS.. (that includes myself..)

#2 The Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance had a lifespan of 4 - 5 years (not 3). The gameboy advance was released in 2000 and yet it still sells up to now.. and guess what, all of nintendo's handhelds are reverse compatible..

#3 The Nintendo DS's library of games is not that bad.. It still has A LOT of upcoming games in 2008.. Final Fantasy 4, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Advence Wars Days of Ruin, Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire Emblem DS, Metal Slug DS, Metroid uhh.. (I don't know), Assasin's Creed DS, etc..

#4 Even if the DS was released way back in 2004, it would still live longer due to the fact that Nintento released the DS early on purpose.. The "Nintendo DS" actually means "Nintendo Developer's System".. Since the DS has an innovated design, they released the system early so that developers could get the hang of it and learn how to develp games for it..

GET A DS.. Happy New Year.. =)

I'm seriously considering getting a DS, but there are a couple of things i'm not sure about.

First of all, would you reccomend a DS in general? It's a cool system, and in many instances I've argued about it being better than the PSP (which I'm not even considering), but there doesn't appear to be a very wide selection of good games for the system, especially at this point in its lifecycle. Which brings us to #2...

Won't a successor be announced soon? The DS was back in '04, and both the GBA and GBC had a lifecycle of ~3 years, and since the DS is now going into its 4th year... it kinda makes sense for a DS2 or something to be anounced in July. What are your thoughts?

Also, is the DS good for playing GBA games? One of the reasons I got the idea was recently "rediscovering" my GBA, and realizing both that handhelds are fun and that the GBA's screen drives me insane. Seriously, I don't get how I could deal with the dimness and lack of backlight (which are sorta the same thing). You have to hold it in just the right angle to see the action, and even then there's the reflections issue. So while I can't think of anything that could go wrong, is there any problem with playing GBA games on the DS?

Thanks!

ri_od

Buying a DS at this time would be great. The DS has a great array of games, and a lot more to come (Advance wars: Days of Ruin, Final Fantasy A2, Final fantasy cristal chronicles and such).

Also, as stated above, I don't believe anything will be coming any time soon for handheld systems. The PSP has but only a few good games that can be counted with one hand, and the DS is just too crazy at the moment, new games announced for the next year and such makes it the uncontestable king of handheld systems.

my ds i only had it for 2 years and i have 2 plug it into the wall to play itbill22y

i would say take a look at the game selection if you like them, get a DS, you would love it.

I got one a couple of month ago, mainly to play the Castlevania games for it. I end up getting the ones for GBA as well (btw no problem playing those there) Also got lunar knigths, and FF 12. and at some point I have a couple of more to get like mario and luigi patners in time and maybe zelda (if i do not convice my friend to give it to me :P )

So imo is worth it, but check the game list 1st (the 1st post on the recommedation thread is pretty good)

About the psp, i think is a good system my last roomate had one, but for me it does not have many games, I did need to borrow it bc I own Castlevania DXC, but beside that well no much (the few games I like for psp were release for another console as well, ps2 or Wii so.. :? ) I almost got one bc I had CV DXC and was thinking about getting SH: O , but now the lastest is suppose to be ported for ps2... I guess i would keep borrowing for DXC :P

Hope taht helps... see you around