Well, I just got my DS back from Nintendo, and...

MHYoshimitzu

I am at a crossroads.

I've never been very violent or neglectful of my video game hardware, so when I got it back, pristine and fresh from Nintendoland, I considered getting screen protectors for it. I own games like Trauma Center, so while I may not press down very hard when I play, I've heard that some of the later levels are pretty brutal in testing your touch screen.

I've also heard that screen protectors are a bitch to get on, and, if I misapply them, I could end up sending the DS back to Nintendo again for repair, with me paying a fee this time. I've also heard that the touch screen may lose sensitivity after putting on the plastic, so that's an issue, too.

Is it worth it putting screen protectors on my DS when I'm not really that rough with it?

Uncle Long

My thing with trauma center wasn't that I was pressing hard but that I was going fast from side to side and had to keep the stylus on the screen. I put screen protectors on mine because of this game. I beat the game with screen protectors and no real noticeable difference beyond the texture beneath the stylus. Sensitivity is affected but only marginally. Put them on now and you won't notice the difference.

NailbunnyPD

I always wanted to, but my first attempt was with a set of Hori protectors that came from a bad batch. Hori replaced them, but I never bothered to try again. A year later, my screen is still in good condition, though I have not played very stylus heavy games. The only scratches on the screen are actually from when I first got the lite and a speck of dirt got under the stylus while shaking a tree in Lost in Blue.

I'm going to replace the lite, since I have the hinge crack. I will probably put the protectors on this time, but after a years worth of usage, I don't think its absolutely necessary.

Hotlead Junkie

Can I just ask a general question about screen protectors? I'll admit, my phat DS is pretty damn battle scarred, but even though the screen is heavily scratched and such, this does not interfere with my gameplay in any way, when the DS is turned on you can't even see the scratches. Is there really any degredation in the sensitivity of the touchscreen even if you have a pretty badly scratched screen? Personally I'v not noticed any difference in sensitivity.

Lunker

It took me, like, four minutes to put the Hori protectors on. It's well worth the investment, and after the circles I've put on this bad boy from Ouendan/EBA/Electroplankton and the stabs from Trauma Center, I'm glad I did.

Hotlead Junkie wrote:

Can I just ask a general question about screen protectors? I'll admit, my phat DS is pretty damn battle scarred, but even though the screen is heavily scratched and such, this does not interfere with my gameplay in any way, when the DS is turned on you can't even see the scratches. Is there really any degredation in the sensitivity of the touchscreen even if you have a pretty badly scratched screen? Personally I'v not noticed any difference in sensitivity.

IMO, it's purely aesthetics, and even then it's really only when the screen's off. But a few bucks' insurance never hurt anyone. I went commando with my DS Phat, but when I got my Lite I decided to go ahead and get the Hori protectors.

In general: If you think about it beforehand, it's a good step to take, but if you feel it's too late it's not worth worrying about.

RedMageDarion

I'm really glad to have the screen protectors on mine. I scratched my first DS's screen because a little dirt got under the stylus. The trick is that you usually have to screw up putting on one set of protectors before you learn how to do it right.

My DS Lite also has the hinge crack problem, and I'm thinking about trying to get it fixed. Just curious, how long did it take for Nintendo to take care of you?

S-Starwind

I've had my Lite about a year now, either me or a friend will play trauma center and/or EBA almost daily which I'd consider quite stylus heavy games. Cant notice any loss of sensitivity on the touch screen though. I was advised by a friend that screen protectors were the way to go, but worried myself about possible sensitivity loss with them on. Decided against it in the end and yeah, no problems so far.

Namrok

I always wondered how people scratched up their screens in the first place. Maybe the original DSes were more susceptible to scratching, or something, I don't know. I've played the living hell out of Elite Beat Agents without any protectors and haven't noticed any scratching. Maybe I have magic fingers, who knows. I guess I've owned my DS about a year now. I know the ones at Walmart are always scratched to pieces, but those are the ones at Walmart and I can only imagine what a bunch of semi-retarded unsupervised children with no respect for property can do to them. I saw a video once of a guy who appeared to be playing Elite Beat Agents with a pen (for better visibility and he got all 300's on Jumpin' Jack Flash), and it looked like his screen was scratched to hell and back, but you know... HE USED A PEN!

MHYoshimitzu

RedMageDarion wrote: »

My DS Lite also has the hinge crack problem, and I'm thinking about trying to get it fixed. Just curious, how long did it take for Nintendo to take care of you?

Are you covered under warranty?

I had a few dead pixels and decided to send it in before the warranty was up because it was beginning to bother me in games like Bleach 2nd and Pokemon Diamond. I filled out a repair form for Nintendo, they sent me a shipping label to use on the 22nd of April. Since I was studying for finals, I waited until the 12th of May to send it in, and I just got it back today. The total round trip would be about 11 days, from my house in PA to Redmond, Washington. Apparently, after they processed it, they sent me a new one from their new division in New York. I wonder if sending it to that address beforehand would have saved me time...

Anyway, it wasn't that long, though I did miss playing my DS games.

RedMageDarion

MHYoshimitzu wrote: »

RedMageDarion wrote: »

My DS Lite also has the hinge crack problem, and I'm thinking about trying to get it fixed. Just curious, how long did it take for Nintendo to take care of you?

Are you covered under warranty?

I had a few dead pixels and decided to send it in before the warranty was up because it was beginning to bother me in games like Bleach 2nd and Pokemon Diamond. I filled out a repair form for Nintendo, they sent me a shipping label to use on the 22nd of April. Since I was studying for finals, I waited until the 12th of May to send it in, and I just got it back today. The total round trip would be about 11 days, from my house in PA to Redmond, Washington. Apparently, after they processed it, they sent me a new one from their new division in New York. I wonder if sending it to that address beforehand would have saved me time...

Anyway, it wasn't that long, though I did miss playing my DS games.

Man... 11 days?

I don't think I can survive 11 days without my DS right now.

*sigh*

MHYoshimitzu

I played my other, neglected systems to pass the time.

In fact, I've been playing Halo 3 a lot lately, so I haven't really missed it, except for when I drive somewhere and need to wait in line.

MinionOfCthulhu

RedMageDarion wrote: »

MHYoshimitzu wrote: »

RedMageDarion wrote: »

My DS Lite also has the hinge crack problem, and I'm thinking about trying to get it fixed. Just curious, how long did it take for Nintendo to take care of you?

Are you covered under warranty?

I had a few dead pixels and decided to send it in before the warranty was up because it was beginning to bother me in games like Bleach 2nd and Pokemon Diamond. I filled out a repair form for Nintendo, they sent me a shipping label to use on the 22nd of April. Since I was studying for finals, I waited until the 12th of May to send it in, and I just got it back today. The total round trip would be about 11 days, from my house in PA to Redmond, Washington. Apparently, after they processed it, they sent me a new one from their new division in New York. I wonder if sending it to that address beforehand would have saved me time...

Anyway, it wasn't that long, though I did miss playing my DS games.

Man... 11 days?

I don't think I can survive 11 days without my DS right now.

*sigh*

I didn't think I'd make it when I sent mine off.

Then I stole my little brother's Lite. That made the time fly by. :rotate:

Lindsay Lohan

On the screen protectors thing - I did put a protector on the bottom screen because even though I'm really easy on my DS, I was afraid someone else might not be if I let someone else play. Plus, it's much more fun for stuff like EBA when playing to not have to worry about being too rough on the system. I'm not constantly checking the stylus tip for foreign objects anymore either.

With that said, I messed up putting the protector on my top screen and never worried about replacing it. I don't really see the need, my DS is treated well, and I can't think of a reason to really be concerned with protecting the non-touch screen.