Quesion for nintendo DS owners

[LaughingHyena]

The kids are asking for DSs for Christmas so we're thinking about all our options and there seem to be so many!

I gather the DSi lets you download the games, while not having the game cartridges around to lose or break sounds appealing I'm not sure how the sharing aspect would work. Is it possible to swap the games from one to another in any way or do you have to play the game on the console it was downloaded on.

[poetlizabeth]

DSiShop content can not be transferred or shared amongst multiple devices, as it is locked to the original DSi that it was downloaded onto. Only physical cartridges can be swapped between systems.

Depending on how old they are and what they want, a smart phone or an iPod touch is a good alternative. The kiddo I help take care of always loves to play games on my phone. A tablet is a good option as well, as my boyfriend is excited for the Kindle fire which can play android games (and isn't nearly as expensive as an iPad) but also read books and listen to music.

[meemee]

the DSi also has many options. like the camera feature. you can download scribblenots and make little animated movies. dd plays more with these features than the games itself. i believe blockbuster rents out game cartridges. i prefer the cartridges because that way the kids in school share games.

[LaughingHyena]

Thanks

I was hoping we would be able to get them each their own DS and share the games, so it sounds like the downloads won't be that much use for us. I will also check out whether our library has games to borrow, I know they do for some of the other consoles.

The kids are 5 and 7. I think we'll defiantly go for the DS rather than one of the other options. We got them each a Gameboy Color last year to see if they would get used much (or indeed too much ) so they are already familiar with some of the Nintendo games.

[meemee]

honestly if you ask me i'd prefer really an xbox. or those kinda wii fit games - those games where you are doing way more physical stuff on the tv screen with friends. 

Originally Posted by LaughingHyena 

Thanks

I was hoping we would be able to get them each their own DS and share the games, so it sounds like the downloads won't be that much use for us. I will also check out whether our library has games to borrow, I know they do for some of the other consoles.

The kids are 5 and 7. I think we'll defiantly go for the DS rather than one of the other options. We got them each a Gameboy Color last year to see if they would get used much (or indeed too much ) so they are already familiar with some of the Nintendo games.

[~cassie]

No the downloads won't be very useful unless they are sharing the DS.  We do have some downloaded games but they aren't any of the cool ones(they aren't available for download) but they still like them. 

My 2 oldest(4 and 6 yrs old) really love playing their games.  You can link certain games so you just need 1 game and both Nintendo's can play the game.  Though mine don't do it often. 

[K1329]

IMO, the Dsi over the DS. my kids use the camera & other DSi features more than the games, too. We've never used the download feature, but, the other DSi features make it well worth the extra 40.00.