best hand-held gaming devices

[mahatista]

Okay, I'm not a gamer and I have no knowledge of any of the devices. However, my aunt is going to buy a GBA or Nintendo DS(?) for my niece's birthday. She's only eight (my niece, not my aunt). I know it's insane, but they take a lot of trips and I know it would help her to pass the time. Anyway, she likes games with simple adventures ... like an 8 yr old.

Any advice on which one to get? Which has the best variety of games available? Which has the longest battery charge? Stuff like that.

Thanks for any help at all!

[Deleted]

Between GBA and the DS you should get the DS. The DS can also play GBA games so there is really no point in getting a GBA, this gives you a wide variety of games to choose from. Charging wise their not that different, but getting get her a DS you will get more for your money. If you have any other questions I'd be glad to answer them for you.

[Paraiba Ocean]

I think this should be in the Video Game section in the Other Media board...it's not really Avatar relevant.

[mike1921]

I don't like the DS,it can only play gameboy advanced games,the majority of my gameboy games are game boy color.

[mahatista]

^^ Well since this will be a completely new thing for them, they probably won't mind if it only plays certain games.

Sorry for putting this in the wrong section. And thanks avatarazula for the advice. My aunt will be thrilled. She came this>< close to buying a GBA the other day and then asked me.

Any games that would be good for a 7/8 year old? Race games, girly games. No fighting games...yet. Simple adventures. Stuff like that.

Thanks!

[Consonant***]

Super Mario Bros. Advanced? Pokemon FireRed or LeafGreen? Nintendogs?

[mikael]

If somebody says PSP I'm'a smack you.

[mahatista]

^^ What's PSP? Oops! I said it.

[Chevalier Vi Liberté]

mahatista said:

^^ What's PSP? Oops! I said it.

Playstation Portable for those who do not know. I actually enjoy playing the PSP and the DS. I have a DS Lite (onyx black) currently.

[Aura of Cruxis]

Cooking Mama, Nintendogs, I'm sure there's a Kim Possible game out there. Um Harvest moon...

Those are the only games that come to mind...but i know that Kim Possible is the only game that I listed that was adventure.

[attonbitus]

If you're very tech savy and don't mind grey[/b] market products, I suggest getting a "smart" flash card + pass key combo for the DS. It turns your DS from just a game player to a multi media device where you can watch videos, listen to music (mp3 etc), and run home brew apps. Some also have built in emulators so you can play old nes, snes, gbc etc roms (roms are software images of the old game cartridges).

one of the most popular is the M3 www.m3adapter.com/

But definitely not for use by the "casual" gamer.

[Deleted]

I would get her games like pokemon, nintendogs, or mario kart DS, the list goes on. There are girly games like Barbie, Kim Possible, and Finding Nemo; she may really enjoy those. You have so many games to choose from.

[mahatista]

Okay, here's what they got. Nintendo DS lite - black - with a pony riding type game and something called 'Starshine Magic' or something like that which seems like an animeish adventure game rated E. It was actually quite a bit more expensive than the GBA, but the recommendations here made the difference. So it's on your heads.

Thanks for the help!

[Mako]

A PSP would be ideal if she likes to watch movies as well. But for Mario and stuff like that, a DS is ideal.

[Consonant***]

mahatista said:

Okay, here's what they got. Nintendo DS lite - black - with a pony riding type game and something called 'Starshine Magic' or something like that which seems like an animeish adventure game rated E. It was actually quite a bit more expensive than the GBA, but the recommendations here made the difference. So it's on your heads.

Thanks for the help!

It was more expensive because the Game Boy Advance is the precursor to the DS, it came beforehand. Kinda sucks, but it looks like they've given up on Game Boy.