DS Diva

Does the Nintendo DS ever go on sale?
The Nintendo DS Lite is pretty much price fixed by Nintendo at $129. People have seen them as low as $119 during the holiday season, but generally in order to get a price break on the DS console, you have to buy a “bundle” that includes games and/or accessories. Also, you should know that some store coupons (such as Kmart 10 percent off, or Toys R Us $10 off $75) exclude game consoles and sometimes game cartridges as well.

However, at some stores such as GameStop and Game Crazy, you can trade in an old system (such as a Game Boy Advance or the original Nintendo DS) and get $20, $30 or more off a new DS Lite.

Can I buy a used Nintendo DS?
Yes! There are plenty of places to purchase a used or refurbished Nintendo DS or DS Lite console.

Check eBay, of course (don’t forget to look at the sellers’ feedback!) and also Craigslist. I live in a college town and the systems come up for sale all the time, sometimes with a bunch of games included (although they’re often the more hard-core games, not “girly” ones, but I don’t mean to stereotype—women like all kinds of games!) Pawn shops often have a DS or two in stock for $100 or less.

Some retailers, such as GameStop (which also owns EB Games) and Game Crazy (owned by Hollywood Video), sell refurbished Nintendo DS and DS Lite consoles. The refurbished DS is usually around $80 and the DS Lite about $99. You may also be able to trade in an older system (such as GameBoy Advance or the original DS) and get $20 or more off the price of a DS Lite.

What about used games?
Some stores, such as Gamestop, let you try out games before you buy them. (Game Crazy, which is owned by Hollywood Video, even lets you try out new games.) You can also trade in used games for a few bucks. Used games are anywhere from $5 to $15 off the new game price, and sometimes even cheaper, especially if the case and manual aren’t included.

How much do new games cost?
The Nintendo DS games that are consider the “best,” such as New Super Mario Bros. and MarioKart, generally cost $34.99. However, most highly rated new releases run $29.99. Plenty of good games, especially puzzle-type games, run $19.99. Some are priced at $14.99, and anything cheaper than that is probably on clearance. Game Boy Advance games are cheaper, and can easily be had for $14.99, $9.99 or even less.

How do you use wifi with Nintendo DS?
The Nintendo DS Lite has wifi built in so consoles can interact with each other using the included Pictochat feature or compatible games, or at a retailer’s Download Station, or online with Nintendo Wifi Connection service (which is free, but you need a USB connector or wireless router). To find out which games can be played via wifi, look for the special symbol on the back of the game. For more information on wifi visit Nintendo.com.

So, the Nintendo DS Lite console plays Game Boy Advance games?
Game Boy Advance, also known as GBA, was introduced in 2001 and has since been phased out; no new games are being produced for it. But the cool thing is, there are tons of GBA games available in the $10 to $15 range, and even cheaper, and all of them work on the DS Lite!

When GBA games are being played, only one screen is used. GBA games are not touch-sensitive.

There are many more ECE (rated for early childhood, like preschool) games available for GBA, so if you’re looking to justify the purchase of a DS console, this is a big plus: You can share it with your little kid.

The DS consoles will not work with the original Game Boy games, nor Game Boy Color games.

How Do I Care for My Nintendo DS?
First thing, apply screen protectors to the top and bottom screen. Also, be sure to keep games in a holder. They’re small and easy to lose. I’ll have more on this topic in the future.