To get a DS, or not to get a DS?

[Hisham]

Alright, on friday, while working for my dad's friend for this contract work, I made 140 dollars in 6 hours (something like 23 dollars an hour).

Anyways, now that I am SO close to get a DS (it is 149.99 in Canada, and I can probably get the rest of the money within 2 weeks), I have a couple of questions that I need answered before I take the plunge.

First thing first, I know the Wifi for the DS lite sucks and it doesn't support WPA encoding, and I will NOT change my setup to WEP encoding. My first question is how well does the USB wifi station work? Is it reliable? Cuz I will mostly be gaming in my room, so I would have it connected to my laptop, which is connected wirelessly to the internet. Will this cause complications, or should it still work properly? And is there any software I need to install, or is it plug-and-play?

And the next thing is games. I obviously want to also get a game with it. I was thinking Custom Robo, or some other decently priced game (15 to 20 bucks Canadian). What would be your recommendations for the games?

There is also the fact that I have NEVER been into portable gaming. I never saw the point of a Gameboy or such, when I could just use the money to buy 2 or more console games, or save up more and get a console. I don't know whether or not I will enjoy the DS too much (this comming from somebody who adores 2D games BTW). I just want to know whether you people feel your DS purchases were worth it...

PS: My bad if this post it all over the place because I was out of my house for 2 days, and I am a bit tired.

[Bloodman]

I think, and I say this from the bottom of my heart, don't get a DS. After reading all that, you may get bored of it after a few months. There are alot better things more life worthy than a DS. Invest in something other than video games. It's a 150 dollars you have there, spend it wisely.

[Hisham]

I should have included this. I commute to university, and that is ususally atleast an hour bus ride, sometimes more depending on traffic. That is the orginal reason for me wanting a DS, and the more I searched up on it, the more it seemed I wanted to get it, but I still have the lingering doubt.

If I don't get a DS, I probably will just buy some 360 or PS3 games, or put the money towards a Wii. But I don't really know why I am drawn to get the DS moreso than the rest of the options I see me spending the money on. Anyways, thanks for your input Bloodman.

[Khaos]

I am in love with my DS. I just stuff it in my pocket whenever I suspect I may be bored and waiting on errands and the like... Great time killer and boredom buster. I've am on my fourth one after having brothers breaking two and me breaking one, so a total of $560 I've spent (Holy shit...) for my DS love.

Games I recommend currently:
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (a given)
Elite Beat Agents
Final Fantasy III
Mario Kart DS
Animal Crossing

Just to name a few.

[Bloodman]

I'd spend my money on an Ipod to be serial. I still don't have one =(

[Hisham]

Already have a 4 gig samsung MP3 player, so I don't need that.

[Xer0]

For a good, cheap game, you cant go wrong with Advanced Wars:Duel Strickers. Its long too and great fun if you like turn based RPG's

Brain Age is also a good buy, and you can get rdy for some good learning with it too

Mario Kart is also a good buy if you plan on playing online a lot, but it has yet to go down in price, dito Animal Crossing

You can get Castlevania:Dawn of Sorrow for cheap now too, great game

[Phoenix]

Totally buy a DS. It'll give you more fun than any 3 current PS3/360 games would, as well as more than a Wii would at this point of time (before the good games are out.)

Also add NSMB to Khaos' list.

[The Dude]

I love my DS more than any of the current home consoles. If you like 2-D games your going to love the DS.

[Markopolo356]

A DS has been one of the best investments I've ever made. I bought Mario Kart the day it came out, and still occasionally play it. The games that everyone else has mentioned are also loads of fun.

[Bloodman]

weren't they make SSB for DS? What's up with that?

[Phoenix]

That was just a rumor. It wouldn't be a very good idea, though.

[Xer0]

Id prolly buy it

[Zeep]

definitely buy it if you have that long a commute every day. everyone's made some good recommendations, i'd just add Elite Beat Agents to the list.

As for the wifi connector, you do have to install some extra software, but it runs in the background with almost no effect, and it only takes a minute or so to install and set up the first time. the range isn't great, but within your room it will work fine.

[Khaos]

I used to be all up in arms with my WPA2 wireless security, but now I have it to WEP. I am just assuming no one has the basic knowledge or wanting to crack my connection, and if they did, I'd probably see evidence in my router's logs. There's no exchange of data on my intranet that really needs high security anyway.

If someone has the tools to crack WEP, they can crack WPA. It just takes longer and has a somewhat lower success rate. WPA2 is the only real secure protection.

Just throwing some reasoning your way.

[Zeep]

in all honesty, i don't see the big deal. i don't even use any wirelesss security on my network. if someone was using it regularly, we'd notice. and if someone wants to use our internet every once in a while, who cares? it's not like we have to pay extra. and if someone's trying to hack into my computer, it's not like i have anything on my computer worth stealing.

[Hisham]

Originally Posted by Khaos

I used to be all up in arms with my WPA2 wireless security, but now I have it to WEP. I am just assuming no one has the basic knowledge or wanting to crack my connection, and if they did, I'd probably see evidence in my router's logs. There's no exchange of data on my intranet that really needs high security anyway.

If someone has the tools to crack WEP, they can crack WPA. It just takes longer and has a somewhat lower success rate. WPA2 is the only real secure protection.

Just throwing some reasoning your way.

Haha, like I said, I was tired when I was making my post. My encryption setup is WPA2...

And there is the thing that I have 3 wireless devices connected to my connection already, and for some reason WEP doesn't seem to want to work with my laptop, so I just use WPA2.

And I value my privacy, and I don't really want people leaching my bandwidth. I already have 4 computers and 2 consoles connected to my router. Having my neighbours log on would just strain my wireless more, and I do not want that.

Anyways, I am probably 90% leaning yes on the purchase, now I just have to get atleast 40 more bucks for tax and a game. Advance Wars sounds good for a first game, or maybe Castlevania.

Thanks for all the input from everybody.

[Xer0]

Originally Posted by Hisham

Haha, like I said, I was tired when I was making my post. My encryption setup is WPA2...

And there is the thing that I have 3 wireless devices connected to my connection already, and for some reason WEP doesn't seem to want to work with my laptop, so I just use WPA2.

And I value my privacy, and I don't really want people leaching my bandwidth. I already have 4 computers and 2 consoles connected to my router. Having my neighbours log on would just strain my wireless more, and I do not want that.

Anyways, I am probably 90% leaning yes on the purchase, now I just have to get atleast 40 more bucks for tax and a game. Advance Wars sounds good for a first game, or maybe Castlevania.

Thanks for all the input from everybody.

And if you do get it, after you beat Advance Wars go and find yourself a copy of Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis. Its a GBA game and it freaking rocks. Best turn based game i have ever played, imo. The class system is deep as all hell and the game sports multiple endings, so it'll last ya. Not to mention its a great story. okay, and thats it :D