NDS Accesories

spookymuffin

It's Christmas time in the Muffin household, and DSs are going to be passed back and forth as gifts (hopefully). If this ends up being a gift to the wife, what should I include with it? I might be getting one for a gift (or for myself) as well. I'm looking for 3 main things, and I couldn't find anything in the Forum Knowledge section.

Stylus: I want something cool, like one of those metal ones, or a retractable one. Are there ones that are better than others?

Screen Protector: To me, they're all the same. But, that may not be the case. I know that for anything that has a screen, that screen must be protected.

Case: I need something durable, but not huge and tacky. I don't need to carry the whole world in this thing, just the system and a couple must-haves.

Anything else you might have as far as "OMG YOU NEED ____ IF YOU HAVE A DS" would be greatly appreciated.

SporkAndrew

A USB power cord is pretty much a must. You can get them in the Pelican packs..

Or, if like me, and you happen upon a Gamestop employee that insisted there was no such thing ("and are you thinking of the psp where you can use usb to put movies into the memory cards") buy a Gamestop DS power brick that comes with a GBA-SP -> DS conversion dongle.. You can then attach that dongle onto a standard GBA-SP USB power cord and stop yourself from running out of fun whilst on a 10-hour flight with little to no entertainment..

Woodroez

SporkAndrew wrote:

A USB power cord is pretty much a must. You can get them in the Pelican packs..

Or, if like me, and you happen upon a Gamestop employee that insisted there was no such thing ("and are you thinking of the psp where you can use usb to put movies into the memory cards") buy a Gamestop DS power brick that comes with a GBA-SP -> DS conversion dongle.. You can then attach that dongle onto a standard GBA-SP USB power cord and stop yourself from running out of fun whilst on a 10-hour flight with little to no entertainment..

I'm sorry, USB power cable? Do you mean the standard charger? or am I missing something? I'm pretty sure the charger isn't an actual USB cable.


EDIT: And so to be more relevant to the OPer, www.play-asia.com is a solid place to find just about any DS accessory imaginable. Hori makes some well-liked stylus designs.

Mr_Rose

I'm pretty sure he means a USB->DS charging cable; a very simple device, which consists of a USB A-Type Male connector on ne end and a DS Type Male power connector on the other. I'm looking at one right now.
Cost me about $5 plus shipping from Lik-Sang (may she rest in peace) back in the day.

SporkAndrew

Mr_Rose wrote:

I'm pretty sure he means a USB->DS charging cable; a very simple device, which consists of a USB A-Type Male connector on ne end and a DS Type Male power connector on the other. I'm looking at one right now.
Cost me about $5 plus shipping from Lik-Sang (may she rest in peace) back in the day.

Exactly. Sucks the power down the USB so you don't have to go looking for an outlet..

ViolentChemistry

spookymuffin wrote:

Screen Protector: To me, they're all the same. But, that may not be the case. I know that for anything that has a screen, that screen must be protected.

That's not actually true. My DS has no screen protectors, and the previous owner had no screen protectors for it. My DS gets played more than any other system I own. My DS's screens are in perfect condition. Just don't go using a Rambo-knife as a stylus or anything.

AlphaTwo

ViolentChemistry wrote:

spookymuffin wrote:

Screen Protector: To me, they're all the same. But, that may not be the case. I know that for anything that has a screen, that screen must be protected.

That's not actually true. My DS has no screen protectors, and the previous owner had no screen protectors for it. My DS gets played more than any other system I own. My DS's screens are in perfect condition. Just don't go using a Rambo-knife as a stylus or anything.

I hope jeffc is online to show you how badly Trauma Center has been to his screen protector.

Boilerbird

spookymuffin wrote:

Stylus: I want something cool, like one of those metal ones, or a retractable one. Are there ones that are better than others?

If there were still a DS megathread, you'd already know the answer to this. I can't do it justice without the picture and link.

Zhou

This is kind of unrelated. But FutureShop in Canada was giving away 14k gold Stylus' the other week with the purchase of a DS Lite. Which I thought was weird.

Ravenlock

Boilerbird wrote:

spookymuffin wrote:

Stylus: I want something cool, like one of those metal ones, or a retractable one. Are there ones that are better than others?

If there were still a DS megathread, you'd already know the answer to this. I can't do it justice without the picture and link.

That's okay, I exist to provide you with the material you need! (Though you're right about the fact that there was once a glorious repository of ALL this information.)

Anyhow, it's time to promote the Touch Pen! Glee!



It is the best stylus ever, bar none. I've tried the metal Battle Stylus, it doesn't even compare. Unfortunately the only place that I know we USians can get them is Play-Asia and they're back ordered at the moment, but they are WELL worth the < $10, when you can pick one up. Someone in another thread mentioned seeing them at (I think) a Fry's Electronics, but I have no Fry's near me so I can't confirm or deny.

Gollom

If you're in/near Canada, you could pick up one of these 18K gold stylus from Future Shop.

I haven't actually been in store to see one, so no idea how they look feel.

ScottieBoy

Tell me more about this "Touch Pen." It looks longer than the DS Lite stylus. Is it a Phat stylus, or does it retract? What about do you like so much? Is it nice? Does it remember your birthday? Can it keep a secret?

sQuizirrel

This is the case that I have and it's pretty rockin'. I've only used the little strap on the bottom maybe once or twice, but it provides a nice little handle for carrying it aside from that.

As you can see it's got 3 pouches for games, 2 for DS games and 1 for GBA games. Though since the only GBA game I have is Wario Ware Twisted [with the hueg tiltometer], I just use it for DS games. You can fit two DS games comfortably in each of the smaller pouches, and since the GBA pouch is about twice as high you could put 4 DS games in there for a grand total of the case holding 8 DS games which is friggin' plenty.

It's also [as most Hori products] really well made, sturdy, provides good protection without being a hideous fucking metal briefcase.

Hope that helps!

EDIT: Goddamnit, I just saw that www.sfbags.com are now making a DS Lite Case. I got my PSP case from them which is mega high quality and aside from the Logitech Playgear PSP case, I think is the best. Especially for travelling.

Check it out here http://www.sfbags.com/products/nintendo-ds/nintendods.htm




Not as nice as the PSP case IMHO, I'm not a big fan of the shiny leather bits.

suadeo

That sfbag case is the exact case I am/was looking for. Holds your DS and a few games. Going to order this once I get home from work.

LCDXX

ScottieBoy wrote:

Tell me more about this "Touch Pen." It looks longer than the DS Lite stylus. Is it a Phat stylus, or does it retract? What about do you like so much? Is it nice? Does it remember your birthday? Can it keep a secret?

I don't have hands-on experience with the Touch Pen, but I can tell you that it is the heir to the greatest stylus for the DS Phatty - the "Rakuna" Touch Pen: http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-ic-49-en-70-11zz.html

I own that model and I absolutely love it. When I do finally upgrade to the DS Lite, I'm absolutely, positively, investing in the Touch Pen because it's a gift from Heaven.

Kewop Decam

Where the hell do you get DS Lite headphones? Not a pouch full of crap and some headphones... just headphones.

Lunker

Boilerbird wrote:

spookymuffin wrote:

Stylus: I want something cool, like one of those metal ones, or a retractable one. Are there ones that are better than others?

If there were still a DS megathread, you'd already know the answer to this. I can't do it justice without the picture and link.

I will never get tired of posting this.


From PDA Panache. Click John Rambo for link.

And those two cases above are beautiful. I like them better than the one I have now, although it's same basic idea.

Ravenlock

ScottieBoy wrote:

Tell me more about this "Touch Pen." It looks longer than the DS Lite stylus. Is it a Phat stylus, or does it retract? What about do you like so much? Is it nice? Does it remember your birthday? Can it keep a secret?

I will happily tell you more about the Touch Pen. I will happily tell you that it is much better than the Battle Stylus, no matter how much Lunker loves to post that picture. :wink: I purchased a Battle Stylus, didn't like it, sent it back.

The Touch Pen is in fact longer than the normal stylus, and also thicker - it is the full length of the Lite and a little thinner than your average pencil. The picture also shows (though it's hard to envision if you don't know what you're looking at) the clip that holds it to the DS - basically the clip locks on by sliding into the normal stylus slot and then rests against the back of the Lite holding the Touch Pen.

That was all a little more complicated than I wanted to deal with, though, so I just keep a normal stylus in the stylus slot and carry the Touch Pen separately in my DS case. Your mileage may vary.

The superiority of the Touch Pen comes from its length and its excellent grip. The ridges along it make sure that it will never slip around in your hands, no matter how sweaty you get when you play EBA, and the extra length makes it much easier to tap the full range of the DS screen while still being able to SEE the full screen (i.e. your hand doesn't get in the way). It feels just like a well-made, thin pen. Light as a feather but quite sturdy.

The Battle Stylus, by comparison, was too weighty for me, and that was its only major "benefit" - the metal feels good in your hands, but I don't WANT a heavier stylus, I want one that's easier to handle and maneuver quickly around the screen. The Touch Pen achieves that with ease. :^:

Cameron_Talley

Boilerbird wrote:

spookymuffin wrote:

Stylus: I want something cool, like one of those metal ones, or a retractable one. Are there ones that are better than others?

If there were still a DS megathread, you'd already know the answer to this. I can't do it justice without the picture and link.

There is a Megathread:

www.dsarcadians.com

Shazkar Shadowstorm

Omfg, SFBags makes DS case... want now. I have SFBags case for MacBook. It is hotness.

You are winner.

Also is there such thing as a DS Lite game wallet? I don't like keeping my DS games in their boxes, the boxes are just for pretty.

Boilerbird

Shazkar Shadowstorm wrote:

Omfg, SFBags makes DS case... want now. I have SFBags case for MacBook. It is hotness.

You are winner.

Also is there such thing as a DS Lite game wallet? I don't like keeping my DS games in their boxes, the boxes are just for pretty.

I need a DS wallet, too. I've already filled two altoids tins. Something nice that holds 20 games, and maybe a few GBA games as well, would be an instant buy.

Lunker

Ravenlock wrote:

ScottieBoy wrote:

Tell me more about this "Touch Pen." It looks longer than the DS Lite stylus. Is it a Phat stylus, or does it retract? What about do you like so much? Is it nice? Does it remember your birthday? Can it keep a secret?

I will happily tell you more about the Touch Pen. I will happily tell you that it is much better than the Battle Stylus, no matter how much Lunker loves to post that picture. :wink: I purchased a Battle Stylus, didn't like it, sent it back.

The Touch Pen is in fact longer than the normal stylus, and also thicker - it is the full length of the Lite and a little thinner than your average pencil. The picture also shows (though it's hard to envision if you don't know what you're looking at) the clip that holds it to the DS - basically the clip locks on by sliding into the normal stylus slot and then rests against the back of the Lite holding the Touch Pen.

That was all a little more complicated than I wanted to deal with, though, so I just keep a normal stylus in the stylus slot and carry the Touch Pen separately in my DS case. Your mileage may vary.

The superiority of the Touch Pen comes from its length and its excellent grip. The ridges along it make sure that it will never slip around in your hands, no matter how sweaty you get when you play EBA, and the extra length makes it much easier to tap the full range of the DS screen while still being able to SEE the full screen (i.e. your hand doesn't get in the way). It feels just like a well-made, thin pen. Light as a feather but quite sturdy.

The Battle Stylus, by comparison, was too weighty for me, and that was its only major "benefit" - the metal feels good in your hands, but I don't WANT a heavier stylus, I want one that's easier to handle and maneuver quickly around the screen. The Touch Pen achieves that with ease. :^:

Admittedly, while I love the Battle Stylus for my DS Fats, I also have what PDA Panache calls a "stick stylus" (which is a fancy word for "ballpoint pen with a blank tip"), and depending on the game, that was my actual stylus of choice. Sounds like a barebones version of the Touch Pen. Honestly, since I moved up to the DS Lite I've had very little incentive to move beyond that system's default stylus, but I'm sure the Touch Pen would be great.

Shazkar Shadowstorm

Usually I never owned many games for any consoles, because I was a kid and my parents didn't buy me many video games relative to other people... but now that I'm older, and the DS has too many good games, and they are all cheaper than home console games... I have like way more DS games than any other system before. So a DS wallet is mandatory.

blanknogo

Kewop Decam wrote:

Where the hell do you get DS Lite headphones? Not a pouch full of crap and some headphones... just headphones.

The headphones from the SFbags site are iPod headphones.

Daedalus

Kewop Decam wrote:

Where the hell do you get DS Lite headphones? Not a pouch full of crap and some headphones... just headphones.

Um.

Anywhere?

It's a standard headphone jack. It's got some extra pins for a microphone that maybe two games use.

spookymuffin

I'm just following up here, don't mind me.

So as far as the case, that sfbags one looks frickin' sweet. Stylus, I like that pen thing, so I'll probably nab that. And the general opinion seems to be that screen protectors are not needed? I kinda got that from the lack of discussion about them. Lemme know if I'm wrong.

SageinaRage

I've had my ds phat for over a year and a half now, played the hell out of it, and never used screen protectors. There are a couple scratches which are noticeable when the screen is off, you can't see them when the screen is on. I think my ds is also starting to lose a little sensitivity, but only a little bit. Or maybe it's the fact that I've taken to using mechanical pencils as styluses, and they don't have as even a surface area.

Anyway, the main indicator of whether or not you need screen protectors is how heartbroken you think you'd be if your screen got a scratch.

Daedalus

I played Kirby Canvas Curse at the beach over the summer and my screen got all scratched up pretty badly. I ended up getting Hori screen protectors anyway, and after putting them on, I couldn't notice the scratches. Really, there's nothing I'd recommend more than those Hori screen protectors.

Brodo Faggins

You know how on the DS touch screen, you can see the little grid of dots below the clear plastic? I'm staring to be able to see it even when the unit is on, especially when the screen is white.

bruin

spookymuffin wrote:

I'm just following up here, don't mind me.

So as far as the case, that sfbags one looks frickin' sweet. Stylus, I like that pen thing, so I'll probably nab that. And the general opinion seems to be that screen protectors are not needed? I kinda got that from the lack of discussion about them. Lemme know if I'm wrong.

About half the people think they're a waste of money, half think they're a necessity. I scratched up my DS before I protected it, so I think they're good to pick up.

These are considered the best ones, I have them and they're great - http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-b7-49-en-70-196x.html

slash000

So...

I need a small case to carry my DSLite in, as well as small earbuds, and at least 8 games, and is well padded. Having a small handle would be nice too.


I've looked all over, and I can't find anything that serves those purposes.




I actually use a camera bag right now -- it's small and has a nice handle. The camera pouch holds the DSLite easily, and the film pouch holds about 4 games and earbuds. The whole thing is very well padded and pretty small. Problem is, the bag is falling apart after 8 years of use (camera, GBA, DS, now DSLite)




Maybe I should look for another camera bag, instead of a "DS Carrying Case" or something. But I'd really just like something durable and small that might hold 8 games and some earbuds.

Houk

All I can say about screen protectors is, why not get them? They affect sensitivity almost not at all, they're less than $10, and they guarantee pristine screens. I didn't use one on my old DS phattie, it got scratched up. I have one on my DSLite, it doesn't.

SpazMuffin

I picked up the Hori retractable stylus over the weekend for $5. I needed them mainly for spinners in EBA, and I am happy with them. They could be sturdier, when extended they bend a tad, which is kind of annoying. Other than that, they get the jerb done.

I also like the looks of the big Touch pen, but I like having it fit perfectly in the DS.

Ravenlock

Houk wrote:

All I can say about screen protectors is, why not get them? They affect sensitivity almost not at all, they're less than $10, and they guarantee pristine screens. I didn't use one on my old DS phattie, it got scratched up. I have one on my DSLite, it doesn't.

This is how I feel about them as well. I picked up the re-branded Pelican ones that Gamestop was selling for $5 when I bought my Lite, put them on that day, and they've been fine ever since. No scratches, no loss of sensitivity, no visual indication that they're there at all.

Opinions vary, but the facts are quite simple: some people do get scratches on their screen if they don't have protectors. They aren't imaginary. If you don't have protectors, you may scratch your screen, and you may not. If you DO have protectors, you almost certainly won't scratch your screen. This is not just true of the DS, it's true of any PDA-like device where you're constantly rubbing a stylus on it.

For the minimal cost, being sure the screen stays scratch free seemed like the right choice to me.

bruin

SpazMuffin wrote:

I picked up the Hori retractable stylus over the weekend for $5. I needed them mainly for spinners in EBA, and I am happy with them. They could be sturdier, when extended they bend a tad, which is kind of annoying. Other than that, they get the jerb done.

I also like the looks of the big Touch pen, but I like having it fit perfectly in the DS.

Stores in the US sell these? I'd totally buy one for five smackers.

Eliot Dubois

Two pages without this picture? Shame on you.



I have the old one, anyone ever get the Lite version? Impressions?

slash000

Eliot Dubois wrote:

Two pages without this picture? Shame on you.

[im ]http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/eliotdubois/stylus9ok.jp[/img]

17th post on the first page.

Eliot Dubois

slash000 wrote:

Eliot Dubois wrote:

Two pages without this picture? Shame on you.

[im ]http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/eliotdubois/stylus9ok.jp[/img]

17th post on the first page.

Oh well, super beat'd. But the image warrants being posted again. It is one of the better stylii for the phatty, so I regret nothing.

Boilerbird

So does anyone know of a good DS game wallet/binder/folder/whatever? Carrying around altoids cases gets a little annoying.

bruin

Boilerbird wrote:

So does anyone know of a good DS game wallet/binder/folder/whatever? Carrying around altoids cases gets a little annoying.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7695078&st=ds&lp=6&type=product&cp=1&id=1138084373410

Boilerbird

bruin wrote:

Boilerbird wrote:

So does anyone know of a good DS game wallet/binder/folder/whatever? Carrying around altoids cases gets a little annoying.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7695078&st=ds&lp=6&type=product&cp=1&id=1138084373410

I was talking more in terms of 20 games, not 3.