Gameboy V's DS

jazzie

I have two little boys aged 5 and 4 looking for a Gameboy each of santa. Is there much difference in the Gameboy and the DS. What would you recommend I buy considering I'll have to buy two and were's best to buy them? Also any recommendations for games keeping in mind their age.

Thanks

Lisa

Rabies

Gameboy Advance is cheaper than the DS.
I'm fairly sure the DS can play Advance games.
Overall the cost of a DS isn't bad, faily cheap, but you have 2 to get.
Some DS games are multi player and only one version of the game is needed.

I would go with the DS, but that is my preference.
Games for the DS range from about €35-€45.

rainbow kirby

Honestly, I'd get the DS. Make sure you get them some screen protectors for them though (little plastic sheets to go over the touch screen, stops it from getting marked).
Games for kids their age? Super Mario Bros, Nintendogs, Sonic Rush, Lego Star Wars etc. Most of the licensed stuff (games related to kids movies) isn't particularly good, but the kids love it for some reason.
Where to buy them? Basically wherever has the most competitive deals going with the games that they want. I work for GAME, our deals are:
DS lite + Madagascar €149
DS lite + 1 from Brain Training, FIFA 07, Lego Star Wars, 42 All-Time Classics... (there's about 4 more on this list, but my brain's just blanked) €165
Older model blue DS + Nintendogs + accesory pack + 1 game from same choice of games as the €165 DS lite deal - €183

I'm fairly sure the DS can play Advance games.

Yep
GBA cartridge sticks slightly out of the Lite though.

Deals will be roughly similar from shop to shop, but most likely different games.

RE*AC*TOR

Its becoming increasingly difficult to buy GBA games, and fewer titles are being released all the time.

Therefore I'd go with the DS lite (avoid the original DS - screens are much better on the DS lite). Tonnes of great games.

Also I agree with rainbow kirby - definetly get the screen protectors and put them on them before you use them.

Vegeta

ok to be honest i don't think at those ages the kids would really appreciate the DS.

get the advance they are probably dirt cheap at this stage.

I agree with the lads, if i were to buy one it'd be the DS(its the better machine) but if I was getting something for my 4 year old nephew it'd be the advance as he'd probably destroy either one anyway so it might as well cost me less

Darnell13

Straight away, I'm thinking in terms of price.

2 GBA's would be way cheaper, and games would be cheaper too (usually).

I believe you'll have no trouble getting games for young kids on either system, though the GBA is reaching the end of it's lifespan (for want of a better phrase). This means you might have trouble getting games easily in a year or two.

Coincidentally, I have a niece and nephew around 4 and 5, who i had playing both my gba and ds a few weeks back. They enjoyed both (i had to fight to get them back!), and didn't show much preference for one over the other.

So i think we might get a couple of gba micros for them at Christmas.

For what it's worth, they were playing Mario and Mario Kart.

I don't know for sure where is best for buying them, but try GAME, Gamestop, HMV and Smyth's. If you're in Dublin, they're all on Henry Street, except Smyth's which is nearby (near the Parnell St cinema (that'll be Parnell st?!).
Unless you shop on the net, in which case try cdwow.

A slight concern with the gba is that some of the better games (the mario games for example) can be hard to get in regular stores. I don't know why this is but it's a bit of a pain.

Good Luck!

RE*AC*TOR

I have no idea what kind of games 4 or 5 year olds would play though.

Perhaps you could tell us what kinds of games they enjoy either on other consoles (playstation etc) or if they've played their friends' gameboy's or DS's.

Mostly to gauge the level they are at. Nintendogs srpings to mind as the one they would enjoy. However, for all I know they could be playing FIFA or GTA on the PS2.

Retr0gamer

Mario seems to appeal to all age groups. Mario Kart might be a bit too advanced. I'd take the DS over the GBa because decent GBA titles are so hard to find in the highstreet these days. You really need to shop online to get decent ones.

omalleyTown

Personally id get them to clarify what they mean by gameboy's. If they are expecting DS's and they get Advance's you might be dealing with a different problem on christmas day.
The overwhelming popularity of the DS will also mean next to no new games will be coming for the advance this time next year.

The DS will also let them play against each other wirelessly with only 1 copy of the game

monkey tennis

Vegeta wrote:

ok to be honest i don't think at those ages the kids would really appreciate the DS.

I'd agree - I think it's bananas thinking of buying €130-odd precision consoles for toddlers (jesus, when I was that age, I was lucky to get a box of lego!). Your average 5-year-old would have a DS snapped in two within a few weeks.

I reckon you'd get better bang per buck on a GBA (maybe a micro?). I'd recommend finding out what games you can play multiplayer of as well, to prolong the entertainment value.

omalleyTown wrote:

The overwhelming popularity of the DS will also mean next to no new games will be coming for the advance this time next year

That's true, but there will still be a rake of older (and still fun) GBA games on the shelves, probably for half the price of the DS games (I don't know where people get the idea that GBA games are already scarce btw, I see tons of them around, particularly the kind that toddlers are going to be intrested in - i.e. the ones starring [insert current popular cartoon/movie characters here]).

im...LOST

Yeah I'd go with the ds if I were you, largely because you can play multiplayer with a single cartridge which is great.

Like someone else said though make sure that you clarify what they mean by 'gameboys' as alot of people who are not in the know consider ds' as gameboys.(no offence intended btw)


If you were to get a ds though I'd advise getting ds lite.I know that they are more expensive and that you have to purchase two but I think that they are vastly superior than the older model, although they do play the same games..

Get screen protectors aswell.

btw I was playing games when I was younger than 5 and I know what I wanted

Attol

If you're looking for something cheap you can go for a DS (old style) second hand for €105 with any second hand game at Gamestop. That would probably be the best value if you're looking for something for younger kids. If you want the DS Lite that's €170 for the console in any colour and whatever game you want.

TBH I'd go with the old style one for kids. They're a lot sturdier imo and have a matte finish. The Lites are really shiny so any scratches will show and I think they're really not suited to younger kids as they're just a lot more likely to get damaged than the old ones.

Spuddie

I gave my original ds to my 7 year old niece a couple of months back when I got the lite and she has already lost it . Just something to think about !

Your better off gettin a ds than gba but I'd advise to get DS (old style).

CiDeRmAn

Given that the lads are 4 and 5 a pair of GBA SPs are in order, can be closed so that the screen doen't get scratched, games are cheap and can be found in most toy stores, not in the numbers that DS games are available but they are out there. Also keep in mind how bored kids get, they won't have their interests held for too long with a games machine at that age, hopefully, so investing 300 in two DS's would seem excessive.
A pair of GBA SPs along with Crash, Sonic and the likes of MarioKart should do them fine, the older of the 2 will probably move to the DS next year but for the time being the GBA SP is a durable and inexpensive option.

thebman

Get the cheap DS, it is stronger than the Lite one and it costs less.

I've had both. The DSLite is strong but the DS is industrial strength pretty much and is cheaper.

The DS can play GBA games but can't do multiplayer. It is likely they mean DS when they say Gameboy. My brother still calls my DS a gameboy. The DS is likely the replacement for the gameboy.

The old SD is a like the GBA SP but bigger. The DS Lite is a lot more portable if that will be an issue. DS Lite also has a design flaw with the hinge on some of the console where the hinge cracks. Nintedo will replace them if it happens but you'd be safer not having to worry about it with the old one with kids using them.

You might consider a case for the games. The cards that DS uses are tiny and easily lost by kids.

Retr0gamer

Just remember that the new Pokemon game will be out on the DS.

WarZoneBrother

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=480947

that fellow has replies for ds games for 5 year olds...

super monkey ball might be a good game for that age too..