Okay, it's a handheld video game system, correct? But does it COME with any games?? Everywhere online they are about $129 but no mention of games. 'Bundles' run well over $150 and include a game. But does it come with any at all?? How much are games?

What, exactly, is the point of a DS? Is it for travel? I mean, if one already has a game system hooked up to their TV at home, you don't really need a DS, do you??

Any enlightenment you can give me would be appreciated. As you can see, I'm am clueless and obviously not at all hip!!

By Emily7 on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 09:45 am:

No it doesn't include a game. If you have any gameboy advance games they can be played on it as well as the DS games.
Yes you can take it when you travel.
The games run anywhere from $10.00 to $40.00.
As far as needing one if you have one hooked up to your tv at home, I guess that is personal preference.

By Kate on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 10:17 am:

Well, we have a Playstation 2.....and from what I'm hearing, that's not the same I guess. I figured that a game system was a game system and could play any games, just like you can play any DVD in any brand dvd player. So is the big difference that you can only play Nintendo games in Nintendo systems, and Playstation in Playstation systems, and Wii in Wii?? How does one ever decide which system to get then??? That sounds like a huge marketing ploy and excellent way to get people to part with their money. So am I understanding it correctly?

For DS, can you download games onto one cartridge or anything?? Or must you buy each individual game and separate cartridge?

By Mrs_B on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 10:29 am:

The DS can also be used to play games against others who have a DS as well. They can play the games against each other. I believe it uses wifi to do so? I could be wrong though. I just bought one for Kaitlyn for Christmas. We don't own any other gaming systems though. As well as purchasing games, I would buy an accessory kit too. They run around $20. But it comes with a carrying case, headphones, some extra stylus (the little pen things they come with for the touch screen) and a few other things. Try looking on ebay too. I bought Kaitlyn a game system, accessory kit and 18 games for just over $300. It would have cost me a lot more to buy individually and I don't have to worry about buying any more games.

By Kate on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 10:30 am:

Um...wifi? What's that? I'm hopeless!

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 10:32 am:

My kids each have one. They are small and very portable, which can't be done with a game system like a PS2. They have been God sends when on long trips or while waiting in a doctor's office, etc.

By Mrs_B on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 10:36 am:

wifi= wireless internet

By Mrs_B on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 10:39 am:

So I just read about it because it's a little confusing to me too.

There are wifi games that can be played.

There are also multiplayer games that can be played without wifi and within a certain distance from each other using a game card. Sometimes only one person needs a game card, then other times all players have to have a copy of it.


I hope somebody with a DS can chime in about this. Now i'm confused. LOL

By Kate on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 10:51 am:

Wireless internet....isn't that something you have to pay for?? A subscription or something, and then a password?

By Mrs_B on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 11:51 am:

Kate- This link is what I got doing a quick search.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2015408_play-games-nintendo.html

I don't believe you have to pay a subscriber fee, maybe just purchase the multi-play card? That's how I read it.

By Kaye on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 12:04 pm:

Okay a DS lite is a handheld game system that is all inclusive. It is the like the player and teh tv. Just like your playstation you individually buy games. The only other handheld device is a psp (playstation portable). It is geared for older kids and adults and is more expensive.

Why have both? portability. My kids play in the car, take it to game day at school, etc. There are games that are available that are only on ds, but some games come out in multi platforms. It is like cassettes and cd's. They can have the same music but different format. Nintendo is really geared towards younger players and they offer a lot for the under 10 crew. They have games for girls, they have educational games.

Wifi...this is a bit different that the computer. If you have a ds, you can turn it on and it can locate other ds's in the area, but only for about 100 yards. So there are some games that one of my kids can own, and the others can hook up to play with them, without us having 3 games. You can chat with those same people, but again, the range is less than your standard walkie talkie, so my kids have never managed to talk with anyone that wasn't in the same room with them..LOL. My son has a friend who lives about 10 houses away, but it won't reach that far.

Once you own a ds, you do not have to pay any fees, you just have to buy games. We get a lot of our games at game stop, used. But most games new cost about 30-40 dollars. There are older games that are cheaper.

By Kate on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 02:26 pm:

WOW!!! What an expensive little thing it can turn out to be!!! My DD is almost thirteen....would a DS be too babyish for her? Someone on Craigslist is selling one with a 'R4ds and 2gb microSD card' whatever the heck that is!!!! There are a TON of games on the 'SD card'. I'm confused...where would those games have come from? Were they downloaded somehow? I thought you had to buy each one separately?

Thanks to everyone for trying to enlighten me! I'm a slow student here, but a few things are penetrating!!!

By Dandjmom on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 02:56 pm:

Kaye,
My dd is 13 and she loves her DS lite as well as my 5 year old. they have a few of the same games. But for Christmas I bought my daughter more older games like Brain -age and Focus Point. I'm actually going to get one for myself, I've eyed a bundle at Walmart for $149. you get the system ( your color choice), starter kit. choice of two games( from a pre-selected selection of games.

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 03:02 pm:

I wasn't aware that you could download games onto an SD card. I'm not even sure where you would put it. I just looked at my dd's and I don't see a slot for the SD Card. My son is now intersted in knowing this as well. If you figure out how please let me know.

By Kaye on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 03:57 pm:

A psp uses an sd card, a ds does not.

For a girl, a DS is the way too go. I have found boys like the better graphics from some of the other systems, but my children 14,13 and 10 all have one and really enjoy them.

I think walmart has a preblack friday bundle going on right now. Log on and check it out.