Buying a DSi

Heartlash

Hey all,

So I'm strongly considering buying a DSi. I've never had a DS, but I've enjoyed the games I've tried through friends. What I'm wondering is the following:

How neccessary is the SD card? Will the internal 256megs be good enough to store most game saves, etc? What about photos/sound?

If I buy an SD card, how do I get music on there? I've heard it needs to be in an AAC format. Are there any good converters out there?

That's about it for now, if anyone has any other advice before I buy regarding peripherals, etc. I'd be happy to hear it.

Thanks!

EDIT: Oh, and I'll also take game recommendations. Right now I'm only thinking Mario Kart, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy Tactics 2.

VisionOfClarity

SD cards are so cheap there is no reason not to get one.

OmnomnomPancake

VisionOfClarity wrote: »

SD cards are so cheap there is no reason not to get one.

This. Although to be honest DSiWare has been absolutely terrible thus far, so your SD card won't be getting any love.

Chrono Trigger is an excellent RPG. Other games to consider would be GTA: China Town Wars, Rhythm Heaven, and Professor Layton and the Curious Village, to name a few.

Raiden333

There is NO REASON not to get an SD card though...

They're less than a buck fifty a gigabyte.

Just don't buy it from a brick and mortar store and you can find SD cards for pocket change.

xeviq

I think iTunes can convert audio files to .AAC

Willeth

Heartlash wrote: »

How neccessary is the SD card? Will the internal 256megs be good enough to store most game saves, etc? What about photos/sound?

Game saves are stored on the cart itself, so you won't need to worry about that.

Hypatia

Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Trauma Center, Brain Age -- all if you like puzzle type games.

Taya

You probably don't need an SD card. I personally don't use the photo/sound features all that often but I have an SD card that I share between the DSi and the Wii.

But I can help with game recommendations! The DS is my all-time favourite game system. In no particular order:

Wario Ware Touched
Daigasso! Band Bros (import)
Kirby Canvas Curse
Meteos
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (the first one)
Trauma Center Under the Knife
Mario Kart DS
Mario & Luigi Partners in Time (but play the GBA one first, if you haven't already)
Lost Magic
New Super Mario Bros
Dragon Quest Heroes Rocket Slime
Elite Beat Agents
Final Fantasy III
Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright: Justice For All (the second one)
Hotel Dusk Room 215
Custom Robo Arena
Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass
Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations (the third one)
Dragon Quest Monsters Joker
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! (import)
Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii (Ouendan 2, import)
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice (the fourth one)
The World Ends With You
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2
Harvest Moon Island of Happiness
Dragon Quest IV
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Dragonball Origins
Rune Factory 2
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy IV
Retro Game Challenge
Pokemon Platinum
Rhythm Heaven
Trace Memory
Lost in Blue
Touch Detective
Super Mario 64 DS
Animal Crossing Wild World
Contact
Dragonball Z Supersonic Warriors 2

All of the above games I have owned and personally recommend. Not all of these games are AA titles though, so use your best judgement. And games like Contact and Lost Magic are not universally appreciated.

UncleSporky

iTunes will convert your MP3s to AAC easily, it's what I used.

OmnomnomPancake wrote: »

Although to be honest DSiWare has been absolutely terrible thus far, so your SD card won't be getting any love.

Not entirely true, it has three excellent puzzle games: Aquia, Dr. Mario, and Pictobits. And they just announced the animation studio and Mario vs. Donkey Kong at E3.

Heartlash

Thanks guys, another quick question. When you've converted your music to an AAC format (m4a in this case), how do you put it on the card? Does the DSi easily connect to a computer via USB or some other medium?

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up

Taya wrote: »

You probably don't need an SD card. I personally don't use the photo/sound features all that often but I have an SD card that I share between the DSi and the Wii.

But I can help with game recommendations! The DS is my all-time favourite game system. In no particular order:

Wario Ware Touched
Daigasso! Band Bros (import)
Kirby Canvas Curse
Meteos
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (the first one)
Trauma Center Under the Knife
Mario Kart DS
Mario & Luigi Partners in Time (but play the GBA one first, if you haven't already)
Lost Magic
New Super Mario Bros
Dragon Quest Heroes Rocket Slime
Elite Beat Agents
Final Fantasy III
Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright: Justice For All (the second one)
Hotel Dusk Room 215
Custom Robo Arena
Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass
Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations (the third one)
Dragon Quest Monsters Joker
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! (import)
Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii (Ouendan 2, import)
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice (the fourth one)
The World Ends With You
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2
Harvest Moon Island of Happiness
Dragon Quest IV
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Dragonball Origins
Rune Factory 2
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy IV
Retro Game Challenge
Pokemon Platinum
Rhythm Heaven
Trace Memory
Lost in Blue
Touch Detective
Super Mario 64 DS
Animal Crossing Wild World
Contact
Dragonball Z Supersonic Warriors 2

All of the above games I have owned and personally recommend. Not all of these games are AA titles though, so use your best judgement. And games like Contact and Lost Magic are not universally appreciated.

nowhere on that list do i see advanced wars

which is necessary

skeldare

Heartlash wrote: »

Thanks guys, another quick question. When you've converted your music to an AAC format (m4a in this case), how do you put it on the card? Does the DSi easily connect to a computer via USB or some other medium?

Probably the easiest way is to get a USB Memory Card Reader. They're pretty cheap.

Ace Jon

That list is desperately lacking Advance Wars and rudely including LostMagic.

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up

Ace Jon wrote: »

That list is desperately lacking Advance Wars and rudely including LostMagic.

hi5 ace

we totally agree

Heartlash

Alrighty, I bought it today along with Chrono Trigger and a newer game called Knights in the Nightmare that actually looks intriguing.

Thanks a ton all. I've also got access to my roomate's game library which includes lots of must haves like Mario Kart, etc.

I'm now putting some m4a files on my SD card, hopefully it'll all go according to plan.

Captain Vash

I know it's off topic, but I was reading this thread last night before I went to sleep...
and I had a dream that I bought a DSi and it was basically the coolest thing ever.

think Clamshell Zune HD, in metallic orange with black highlights.

Heartlash

Having successfully gotten music on it and played around a bit, it's safe to say it's a good buy. A great buy if you've never had a DS.

Taya

Lost Magic is fun and unique, despite its many flaws. Don't be hatin'.

The DSi is a great purchase if you don't have a DS (or if you're still using the DS Fattie). If you have a Lite and it's working fine, I'd wait. So, you made the right decision.

xeviq

Taya wrote: »

Lost Magic is fun and unique, despite its many flaws. Don't be hatin'.

The DSi is a great purchase if you don't have a DS (or if you're still using the DS Fattie). If you have a Lite and it's working fine, I'd wait. So, you made the right decision.

HEY! My DS Phat is doing just fine. Even after all these years of being dropped and abused. I've seen Lites explode into dust by closing them too hard.

Big Red Tie

i recommend

the world ends with you
final fantasy tactics a2
professor layton and the curious village
advance wars: days of ruin

and whatever people might say, phantom hourglass
there is also the disgaea port, which i have not played, but i played the original and it's great

Captain Vash

this thread combined with my aforementioned dream encouraged me to go out and buy a DSi today.