As portable gaming reaches more and more people, so an increasing number of DSes and other gaming devices begin to appear in public areas. Nowadays, it's perfectly typical to spot at least a couple of gamers on the morning commute to work, or in your local Starbucks.It wasn't always like this. Years ago, this blogger can recall how whipping out a gaming device in public would occasionally prompt odd looks, or even smirks from others. It's not quite as noticeable nowadays, but it does occur now and again, and there are still places I probably wouldn't play my DS -- in a bar, for example.
So here's what we want to know: what sort of reactions do you get from playing your DS in public? Where would you still not play it? And are you left frustrated by such reactions, or do you simply not care?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-23-2008 @ 10:35AM
Microx said...
Mostly little kiddies distracting me and saying "lolz wut r u doin omg that lukz soooooo koool"
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8-23-2008 @ 10:43AM
Roto13 said...
I remember one time I was playing Phoenix Wright in a coffee shop and apparently some kid was looking over my shoulder for like 15 minutes and I wouldn't have known if my husband hadn't told me.
Incidentally, I finished the game but I took my DS into the bathroom so I could quietly whisper the last "Objection" into the microphone. :P
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8-23-2008 @ 1:49PM
chibi_wings said...
your DS can pick up a whisper? every time I try, I have to scream, or else it won't register.... =/
8-23-2008 @ 7:13PM
divergio said...
Why not just point to him with your hand scrunched up strangely and yell: "Objection!"
8-23-2008 @ 10:43AM
Pestname said...
I usually don't play in public. Mostly because either I don't usually have to wait long anywhere (except in the bus, but there it's far too bumpy to play) and for the fear of getting it stolen. Although I never was robbed, one can't be too cautious about his DS, can't he?
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8-23-2008 @ 10:55AM
supa_s said...
girls here are fucking bitches so I get some weird looks and whispers and giggles. Why can't women enjoy video games I have no idea -___-
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8-23-2008 @ 11:39PM
Shin said...
Hey hey hey! I'm a woman and I enjoy gaming, excuuuuuse me. :p
8-24-2008 @ 8:34PM
chibi_wings said...
agreed. you guys tend to think that all woman are these bubbled headed idiots (dumb blond as the popular expression goes), trust me, there are a lot of more of us nice and geeky ones too, you just need to know where to look.
8-25-2008 @ 3:08PM
Ralph said...
So where do we look?
8-27-2008 @ 5:13PM
Katie said...
I was told by a guy in the game store that it was "hot" that I liked lots of different types of games, and not just 'girl' games.
I was vaguely offended by that.
Ralph, I try to share my gaming with guys all the time, but they either tell me I can't be any good or they are too weirded out to play. So just ask! We're around.
:o)
8-23-2008 @ 11:30AM
Mooga said...
I've got a long commute, so I play my DS most of the way. During my breaks I'll also play. I'll play it almost anywhere. :-P
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8-23-2008 @ 11:51AM
DAud_IcI said...
I live in a less fortunate country(in more than one ways), where handhelds aren't that common(most gamers has PC or x360). So when I once grabbed my old _Phat_ in class I've got some unwanted attention. And the local geeks(see my friends among the class :D) have been swarming around me^^.
At least I am not the biggest freak, 'cause two of the other class in the same grade brings laptops with them as handhelds and they play on LAN. Now THAT's ridiculous!
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8-23-2008 @ 11:58AM
skagirlie said...
My husband and I play clubhouse games in our local pub. At first the staff was curious, but after a couple of times, the hostess joined in on a game of rummy while watching the door.
The library where I work has wi-fi so there's always a couple of kiddies trading pokemans. The other staff is just used to seeing them around now.
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8-23-2008 @ 12:23PM
currynoodles said...
I used to have an Ice Blue DS. It was really out stock where I live so I got it anyway. I'd never bring it out to public because of it's girly color. haha.
Just sold my year and a half old ice blue and got a new manly black one. Never again will I be ashamed! haha.
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8-23-2008 @ 12:44PM
aj said...
O don't play too much in public, because I usually walk everywhere and I like to carry a book around for waiting times.
But when I do play in public, I play anywhere I damn well please. Who cares if people snicker or smirk? Or if the colour is girly? I'm having fun. If anyone says anything, I usually just glare, which is actually pretty fun.
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8-23-2008 @ 12:44PM
aj said...
O don't play too much in public, because I usually walk everywhere and I like to carry a book around for waiting times.
But when I do play in public, I play anywhere I damn well please. Who cares if people snicker or smirk? Or if the colour is girly? I'm having fun. If anyone says anything, I usually just glare, which is actually pretty fun.
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8-23-2008 @ 12:54PM
elsng said...
I remember an old article in Nintendo Power from an editor who was playing his Phat on a train and got weird looks.
I don't generally play my DS in public, but I will pull it out sometimes at school.
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8-23-2008 @ 1:01PM
Willllllll said...
as long as my hands are clean (im very protective over all my handhelds) ill play it anywhere.
Its my babe magnet :)
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8-23-2008 @ 1:04PM
Chadi said...
OH actually I've played in a bar/club once. It's just that my DS was in my pocket at the time and I brought it out to play a little. I forgot which game, but I think it was Phoenix Wright. I even dropped it in a floor cos of drunkenness. Still working!:-)
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8-23-2008 @ 1:21PM
Demotruk said...
I haven't noticed any negative reactions, and I play my DS in public all the time. I usually get sniggers for a completely unrelated reason.
Although I do remember one time on the bus, an eastern european kid was staring at me as I was playing pokemon. I thought he mustn't have one and is curious. But then unexpectedly he gave me advice on how to catch the pokemon I was looking for at the time.
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