When they started taking preorders for Guitar Hero: On Tour, RedOctane revealed a second package containing not just the game and controller, but also a case decorated with a flame-enhanced version of the game's logo. That case is now available for preorder independent of the game, at a $16.99 price point. More choice is always better, but this seems like a strange option. Why not buy it and the game together and save yourself seven dollars?
You can then put that money into a five-pack of official pick styli! Alternately, if you aren't concerned with savings and would rather eschew the flames case in favor of something classier, you can get an identical case with an embossed black Guitar Hero logo. It's the more subdued way to carry your tiny fake guitar.
Read: Pick Stylus 5-pack
Read: Flames Carrying Case
Read: Emboss Carrying Case
When it comes to the DS, great games may be the order of the day, but when you're unprepared going into your gaming session, everything suffers. That's why we decided to take the time and put together a little list of accessories any DS owner shouldn't live without. It's by no means the be-all, end-all list for all time, so if we missed something, let us know! We want to know what you all have out there as much as inform any unaware gamers what's available on the market.
So, without further delay, click the button on the bottom right to get going. Then be sure to come back here and let us know what you think!
A question out there for our young friends: is Totally Spies really that popular? We might be out of touch with what kids like, but our experience with it was that it was just an unexceptional, poorly animated, anime-looking cartoon. But apparently it's enough of a big deal to have its own games, and now its own line of game accessories in Europe.
French accessories manufacturer Subsonic has revealed their Totally Spies DS accessories, including cases, styli, and chargers. The, uh, "WOOHP Bag" seen above actually looks pretty useful, if you don't mind the, uh, flower stuff and Totally Spies pictures.
Sometimes, extras and add-ons can be great ... but sometimes, even nifty ideas (like sewing machines) don't really go anywhere. The DS has already been home to several offbeat additional devices, though they tend to surface in the Japanese market only. Recently, Slide Adventure: Mag Kid featured a brand-new control mechanism, and the wildly popular Love & Berry brought a card reader to the DS. Let's not forget the camera, either, or Arkanoid, or ... we could go on.
The question is: do you want any of these? Of course, unless you import, it's probably a pointless question, but let's be hypothetical here.
Are you still waffling over whether or not you should hug your big ol' original DS goodbye and pick up a DS Lite? We know some of you are still clinging to the old ways, but never fear -- we're here to help! This week, we're going to look at ten reasons to make the switch ... and ten reasons to stick with what you've got. Oh, we never said we'd make the decision easy.
Of course, the minute we convince you, Nintendo's apt to completely redesign the hardware all over again! But don't worry -- you'll be armed with a list of reasons to wait on anything new ... at least, until we decide to start convincing you to upgrade again. It's the circle of Nintenfandom; you know you're used to it by now.
Nyko knows that playing the DS these days is a matter of survival. If you're hanging out in the jungle, as happens on occasion, then this accessory kit may save your DS's life. Are you willing to take your chances?
Furthermore, if you're charging your DS in the car, and there's a jungle inside your car, the included charger may be the difference between a stealthy escape and capture. By enemies, inside the jungle, inside your car.
All joking (briefly) aside, the Ultimate Kit Lite somehow looks pretty stylish in camo, and it holds 8 games. It might be a good choice for people looking for a new case and a car charger!
Portable game systems are completely self-contained. Unlike home systems, which require a TV, multiple outlets, and a separate controller unit, handhelds contain everything you need to play games, built right in to the unit. They are self-reliant. They are also-- and this goes without saying-- portable. They're designed to be small so you can carry them around.
Why, then, do jackasses feel the need to make accessories for handhelds? Accessories needlessly add bulk to Game Boys, effectively exiling them from casual pocket-drops. Here are five of the most pointless things you could ever graft onto a handheld system. We're giving a lot of attention to the Game Boy Color, as it turned out to be a focal point for idiotic doodads. Hopefully, these companies are still tired from their furious crap-assembling, and will largely pass over the DS.
Have you purchased any sort of DS stand? We admit, it's something we've thought about, but haven't gotten around to (there are so many games to buy instead!), but there are more of you than there are of us, so certainly (maybe!) someone has one. If not, have you also given it some thought? What kind of stand would you like? We can definitely see the benefit for stylus-only games.
Gametech seems to have a taste for the gaudy when it comes to DS Lite covers, but they totally got it right at least once. This DS Lite case features a kunoichi (female ninja) design in simple white on black fabric. It's cute and striking at the same time.
The design looks quite similar to R Stevens' I am Ten Ninjas t-shirt, although much more feminine and much less blocky. We'd love to clothe our DS in such mystery, but at 3,980 yen ($32.26) it's a little pricey for our tastes. But, then, so are most sandwiches.
Straight out of Japan comes this accesory, which adds grips to your DS Lite, along with some more speakers. Should you be of the mind that there nearly isn't enough to hold on to on the DS Lite alone, nor is there enough sound coming from those two speakers that flank each side of the top screen, then this might be the accessory for you. Through battery power, gamers can get 12 hours from this bad boy, rivaling the charge time of the handheld's lithium battery.
Of course, we wonder if placing speakers in the grips is all that functional, but in a land where people cannot possibly get enough of the DS Lite (and it's available accessories), we're sure it'll find a market.
All it really takes to have a good time with your DS is a game or two, but we tend to add in a few accessories for comfort's sake ... and maybe for a bit of personalization as well. What do you go in for? Case, special headphones, or perhaps a different stylus? We want to hear about your choices. What accessories do you consider absolutely necessary? Screen protectors -- that's our pick, and yet we're surprised by how many people venture out with a bare screen.
Ubisoft seems to really hope that legions of non-Japanese girls will materialize, frenetically demanding to be allowed to design their very own fashion line -- just as soon as they're finished with their Horsez, that is. They've announced Fashion Designer, a game that allows players to -- you guessed it -- design their own outfits and accessories, and send models catwalking out for praise.
Eventually, a Love and Berry-style frenzy really is going to take root among younger girls outside Japan, but we're not sure this is going to be it. If nothing else, however, it's nice to see that Ubisoft is really trying to keep up with Nintendo's market expansion. We may not love everything they're producing, but we admire the effort. High five! Though perhaps a little eyelash-flutter may be more appropriate here.
NIS America just opened their own online shop, and it's already decently stocked with neat stuff. This kimono-style DS Lite cover isn't exactly one of them right now-- it's available for preorder only-- but as soon as it's available we're considering getting one.
The cover comes in eight colors, all of which add an air of serene beauty to your DS as well as a barrier against unwanted contact. Touching is good, unless it's your keys "touching" your DS in your pocket.
Posted Mar 6th 2007 10:00AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News
Are you a fan of earless cartoon robot cats from the future? What are we saying-- of course you are. Hori is releasing a new suite of DS Lite accessories in a blue checkerboard theme with Doraemon adornments. 980 yen ($8.42) gets you a pack containing decals for the inside and outside of the DSL, an extending stylus, and screen covers. A soft cloth carrying case with pockets for DS and GBA cartridges goes for another 980 yen.
Those are surprisingly reasonable prices for DS accessories! Hopefully NCSX or someone will pick these up for sale in the US. That case looks exceptionally handy to us, with all the pockets.
We've got to say, this charger beats our previous favorite. Sure, that one has USB support, which really drives the value up for us, but this one matches our Wii and cradles our DS Lite in such a loving manner it looks as if the DS Lite is a trophy. Some kind of reward for our hard work beyond our calloused hands and high stress level. The only thing we'd change is the huge Intec logo right on the face of it.
Sometimes, extras and add-ons can be great ... but sometimes, even nifty ideas (like sewing machines) don't really go anywhere. The DS has already been home to several offbeat additional devices, though they tend to surface in the Japanese market only. Recently, Slide Adventure: Mag Kid featured a brand-new control mechanism, and the wildly popular Love & Berry brought a card reader to the DS. Let's not forget the camera, either, or Arkanoid, or ... we could go on.
Have you purchased any sort of DS stand? We admit, it's something we've thought about, but haven't gotten around to (there are so many games to buy instead!), but there are more of you than there are of us, so certainly (maybe!) someone has one. If not, have you also given it some thought? What kind of stand would you like? We can definitely see the benefit for stylus-only games.
Gametech seems to have a taste for the gaudy when it comes to DS Lite covers, but they totally got it right at least once. This DS Lite case features a kunoichi (female ninja) design in simple white on black fabric. It's cute and striking at the same time.
All it really takes to have a good time with your DS is a game or two, but we tend to add in a few accessories for comfort's sake ... and maybe for a bit of personalization as well. What do you go in for? Case, special headphones, or perhaps a different stylus? We want to hear about your choices. What accessories do you consider absolutely necessary? Screen protectors -- that's our pick, and yet we're surprised by how many people venture out with a bare screen.
Ubisoft seems to really hope that legions of non-Japanese girls will materialize, frenetically demanding to be allowed to design their very own fashion line -- just as soon as they're finished with their Horsez, that is. They've announced Fashion Designer, a game that allows players to -- you guessed it -- design their own outfits and accessories, and send models catwalking out for praise.
NIS America just opened their own online shop, and it's already decently stocked with neat stuff. This kimono-style DS Lite cover isn't exactly one of them right now-- it's available for preorder only-- but as soon as it's available we're considering getting one.
