Hand-held/Portable Game System for Tweener

My DD is now 10 1/2 and has outgrown her Leapster. She'd like a new game system - one that she can take on trips (car, airplane, etc.). A friend of hers has a Nintendo DS and another friend has a portable PlayStation.

I'd like to have more info on what's out there that might be a good fit for her. I am looking for something that has a good battery life, lots of fun games (games other than bloody/violent ones), comes out with new games every so often, and the games don't cost a zillion bucks. Ease of use would be nice too but I figure she'll figure it out even if it's more complicated than a NASA launch!

What do your kids/grandkids have? Do they like it? Recommendations??

Thanks.

We just bought an Apple iPod Touch for our daughter. She was looking at the Nintendo DS line, but we decided to go with the Touch for several reasons:

• HUGE selection of games / apps available through iTunes
• Games are much less expensive -- tons are free, and almost all are less than $10 (with many being $1 to $5).
• The device also doubles as a fantastic portable music player
• With the latest (3rd generation) hardware, the performance is very good
• Reading reviews and articles, the Touch / iPhone is rapidly becoming a well-respected mainstream platform as a portable game console.

She has it now and loves it. It was slightly more expensive than other portable gaming devices, but by the time you add 2 or three games (at $15 - $40+ each) to those other systems, it turns out to be a bargain.

Kurt

Our 10 year-old serious gamer grandurchin is pretty into his Nintendo DS. He can have any game system he wants and that one seems to be his choice for handheld. I think it's the X-Box 360 at home, but that isn't what you asked. I keep hoping he'll discover baseball, basketball, skateboards, bicycles; it's probably too early for girls. I just wish it was something more active than video games. Oh well, at least we know what his hands are doing.

Jim Ricks

For that age I think the Nintendo DS is a better choice- the Sony has more of the violent games. DS also has games that are somewhat educational. I hadn't thought about the Ipod touch but it would be almost double the price and would allow for unsupervised internet browsing which I don't think is such a good thing.

tlwmkw

My kids all like their Nintendo DSs--the youngest is 10 and got a DS last year. There are some really good games available.

My four grandkids, ages 3 to 12, all have Nintendo DSes. The older 2 have had several versions. I always tell their parents, if I keep the kids, send the DSes.

Nancy

tlwmkw said:

I hadn't thought about the Ipod touch but it would be almost double the price and would allow for unsupervised internet browsing which I don't think is such a good thing.

Click to expand...

You can disable the internet connection very easily -- that is what I have done.

As far as "double the price", I don't think so. The DS is about $130, the DSI is $170. I purchased the iPod Touch for $190. I loaded it up with over 30 games for a total of $3 (obviously, most of them were free). Try that with a DS.

Kurt

Thanks for the info so far!

DH just won an iPod at his comany picnic and DD has been using it for music. I guess I can figure out how to download some games onto it and she can give it a test run. If it works that may be the way to go as her portable CD player is also starting to fade.

We also told her she can get a cell phone when she goes into 6th grade next year (middle school here) "for emergencies" and while I am not into giving her the latest, greatest and most expensive, I am now wondering if the iPhone would be a good way to go... phone and games and music in one and cheaper over all than multiple units to do the same jobs. Of course I don't even know this minute if the iPhone plays games and music but I think it does (??). Any thoughts on that??

The Iphone does all of that, but last year as a 6th grader I think granddaughter went throught several cheap cell phones. Something that pricey maybe not so great for a kid to carry everyday.

JMHO
Nancy

jlwquilter said:

....she can get a cell phone when she goes into 6th grade next year (middle school here) "for emergencies" and while I am not into giving her the latest, greatest and most expensive, I am now wondering if the iPhone would be a good way to go

Click to expand...

An iPhone for a 6th grader?!?!?!? Holy Smokes! I guess I'm in the wrong generation. IMO, no 6th grader is important enough, or in enough danger to have something like that 'for emergencies' or not. If she 'needs' any cell phone for emergencies, she is in the wrong neighborhood, doesn't have enough adult supervision, or has waay too much time on her hands. If she truly needs a cell phone 'for emergencies, get one of those with 2 buttons on it- 911 and her parents numbers pre-programmed. That way the emergency won't be someone trying to steal the iPhone.

Sorry, I may be old and out of touch with todays youth, but that's the way I feel. Kids should be concentrating on being kids and not trying to be small scale adults.

Jim Ricks

Passepartout said:

An iPhone for a 6th grader?!?!?!? Holy Smokes! I guess I'm in the wrong generation. IMO, no 6th grader is important enough, or in enough danger to have something like that 'for emergencies' or not. If she 'needs' any cell phone for emergencies, she is in the wrong neighborhood, doesn't have enough adult supervision, or has waay too much time on her hands. If she truly needs a cell phone 'for emergencies, get one of those with 2 buttons on it- 911 and her parents numbers pre-programmed. That way the emergency won't be someone trying to steal the iPhone.

Sorry, I may be old and out of touch with todays youth, but that's the way I feel. Kids should be concentrating on being kids and not trying to be small scale adults.

Jim Ricks

Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. Not to mention the possibility of loss/theft/damage.

I highly recommend the Nintendo DS for kids that age. I'm sure the
I Touch would be a big hit also. That is what my kids want now (ages 12 13, and 17), but they still play on their DS's - mainly on long car rides and
airplanes. One of their favorite games is Mario Kart.
Regarding phones - I purchased a $10 tracfone for each of them that they keep turned off unless they need to call me. Some of their friends do have
the expensive phones, but it seems mainly just to be able to show them off.
And they will get lost/stolen. The 17 year old lost his tracfone months ago and we haven't even replaced it yet - he borrows someone elses if he needs to call me. (Of course, he's not a socially active teenage girl either!).
For the tracfone - I do the 'family plan' - I autopay $28 a month for 3 phones, which keeps them active and adds a small number of minutes each month. It has been plenty for us, but you could always buy addtl minute cards to add on.

Passepartout said:

An iPhone for a 6th grader?!?!?!? Holy Smokes! I guess I'm in the wrong generation. IMO, no 6th grader is important enough, or in enough danger to have something like that 'for emergencies' or not. If she 'needs' any cell phone for emergencies, she is in the wrong neighborhood, doesn't have enough adult supervision, or has waay too much time on her hands. If she truly needs a cell phone 'for emergencies, get one of those with 2 buttons on it- 911 and her parents numbers pre-programmed. That way the emergency won't be someone trying to steal the iPhone.

Sorry, I may be old and out of touch with todays youth, but that's the way I feel. Kids should be concentrating on being kids and not trying to be small scale adults.

Jim Ricks

Click to expand...

Holy Smokes is right. I actually agree whole heartedly BUT have you been in a middle school lately? Even one that is in a solid middle to upper class area? Drugs, sex, violence... they got it all. And while my kid may be sweet and innocent (so far), being in the wrong place at the wrong time (like having to take a quick pee between classes) can end badly. How about this? I couldn't believe it when I was told this... kids in the middle school are/were actually REWARDED for not using the bathroom during the day! Well, that was the case 2 years ago (friend's child had just entered middle school). The pricipal had just moved over to it from the grade school and he's on top of things so I hope that things have "settled down".

We do not live in a ghetto. We actually live in a rural area. Crime is not rampant. But kids are kids and things happen. We do not have our daughter ride the buses either (although in grade school we are not really concerned) - and if my husband has his way, she never will. DH sufferes from the 'been there, done that and it isn't going to happen to MY daughter" syndrome.

Lack of supervision is exactly my concern... but that happens during the day at school! As of yet they won't let me accompany my daughter to every class.

And occassionally the emergancy is on my side. Last year I had a car accident literally on the way to pick her up. My first calls where to about 6 mothers trying to find one that could pick up my daughter too and have her until I could get there some unknown time later. I have also hit traffic on rare times and been late for pick up. It would have been great for me to have been able to call her and tell her directly what was going on. I can wish for the 'good old days" (and I do!) but my reality is to to deal with the present as best I can.

As for losing, stolen, etc. phones, that is a good point. In all my paranoia I hadn't got around to thinking about that yet! Definitely will need to factor that in. Thanks.

Ok, so far the DS is the winner. Any more thoughts??

Passepartout said:

An iPhone for a 6th grader?!?!?!? Holy Smokes! I guess I'm in the wrong generation. IMO, no 6th grader is important enough, or in enough danger to have something like that 'for emergencies' or not. If she 'needs' any cell phone for emergencies, she is in the wrong neighborhood, doesn't have enough adult supervision, or has waay too much time on her hands. If she truly needs a cell phone 'for emergencies, get one of those with 2 buttons on it- 911 and her parents numbers pre-programmed. That way the emergency won't be someone trying to steal the iPhone.

Sorry, I may be old and out of touch with todays youth, but that's the way I feel. Kids should be concentrating on being kids and not trying to be small scale adults.

Jim Ricks

Click to expand...

I know you didn't mean it the way it can be read so I am not picking a fight. But really, my soon to be 6th grader is the MOST important person on the earth to me. Bar none.

Back to on topic!

I do like my kids' DSs. And although they're expensive, they're so common in our area that they're not much of a target for thieves or unwanted attention from other kids. A fancy cell phone or iPhone or iPod is unusual enough and desirable enough that it would attract a light-fingered tween or teen.

In fact, I just helped a friend buy a new iPod for her 16yo grandson online, and she wanted to buy it from Apple so that she could get the free engraving on the back and put the boy's name there. His first iPod had been stolen, and although the boy knew very well who had stolen it, he had no way to prove that the iPod the thief had was really his. Hence the engraving.

My kids keep bugging me to switch from Nintendo DS to an IPOD touch (10 and 13 yo boys). The IPOD touch has so many more features than the DS--music, games, downloading things, and now video camera, etc. I vote IPOD touch (but, no, my kids are not going to upgrade yet!).

DS

My DD (who is 15) says the itouch games are "boring" FWIW.

Another vote for the DS. I would wait on the Itouch until she is a froshman. By then it will have upgraded and she will probably be more inclined to want the latest gizmo out.

We are indeed leaning more toward the DS right now, but haven't made the final decision by any means.

Any input on the DS vs. the DSi Lite? And I read that there's actually a 3rd generation out now which would be the a newer version of the DSi on the DS Lite platform. Anyone have expereince with that comparison?

Geez, it gets confusing!!

I just asked my 10yo this question. She says she prefers her DS Lite b/c it will play GameBoy Advance games, and she has some of those handed down from her sisters.

The new DSi is about $50 more expensive and includes a camera and PhotoShop, she says (or something so you can mess with the pictures you take).

I would still stick with a DS Lite--the price is less, there are lots of fun games for the age group, and, again, it keeps your kid away from having the very newest, latest, most appealing-to-thieves item.

Update - DD got the DS Lite for Xmas. She loves it. I also bought one for DH - he's a big kid anyway.

Does anyone know how to pause a game while playing???

Close the lid. It will pause.
Or you can press the start button and a pause menu should pop up.

Nuts About Dee Ess Eye.

jlwquilter said:

What do your kids/grandkids have? Do they like it?

Click to expand...

Never heard of Dee Ess Eye till this Christmas, but now our grandson (7) & our grand-nieces (11 & 13) & our honorary niece (17) are all bigtime fans of their new Christmas-gift Dee Ess Eye hand-held video game devices that also take pictues.

I've been out of touch with video games since the days of Pac Man, so for all I can tell Dee Ess Eye is some kind of up-to-date video game player. It's the approximate size of a cell phone, hinged side to side, with 2 little bitty TV screens -- 1 each above & below the hinge -- plus push buttons for operating the device along the sides of the part below the hinge.

Who'd a-thunk ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Stricky said:

Close the lid. It will pause.
Or you can press the start button and a pause menu should pop up.

Click to expand...

I'll try closing the lid in mid-game and see if it works - thanks for the suggestion.

I have to admit I don't even know where the start button is! - unless you mean the on/off switch? But that turns it off complettely...?

AwayWeGo said:

Never heard of Dee Ess Eye till this Christmas, but now our grandson (7) & our grand-nieces (11 & 13) & our honorary niece (17) are all bigtime fans of their new Christmas-gift Dee Ess Eye hand-held video game devices that also take pictues.

I've been out of touch with video games since the days of Pac Man, so for all I can tell Dee Ess Eye is some kind of up-to-date video game player. It's the approximate size of a cell phone, hinged side to side, with 2 little bitty TV screens -- 1 each above & below the hinge -- plus push buttons for operating the device along the sides of the part below the hinge.

Who'd a-thunk ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Click to expand...

Little girl got the regular DS Lite... no picture taking or internet. I read that the internet connection was really lame so you end up not using it anyway and I wasn't willing to fork out the extra $$ for the camera feature on the DSi. She seems happy enough