The DS touch screen -- wear?

[Psydd]

After talking to hybrid today I am seriously considering the purchase of a DS. I got the chance to play with one at Wal-Mart the other day (Yoshi Touch & Go apparently), but its touch screen was really scuffed up. It didn't really distort the image I was playing on very much, but it was sure as hell annoying. Is this expected to happen through regular gaming, or was it the result of some jackass just being far too rough with it? And if it is something that's to be expected, does anyone make any sort of protective cover for it that doesn't hinder response? I searched google and ebay but all I found were anti-glare covers or some such for the top screen.

[bonesquad]

[MrBot_38]

psp its dynomite psp itll win the fight psp its a power load psp WATCH IT EEEEEXPLOOOOODE

[Psydd]

Excellence in posting Conan. If I were any kind of official I would certainly give you a citation of merit!

But here's why I want a DS (I was initially thinking of getting a Micro when they come out).

• Plays GBA games as well -- so I'm fully covered in this area. Just keep the gameboy color and I can play the whole Nintendo handheld arsenal.
  
• Layout -- one of the things I like most about the original GBA is the layout. I like having a bit of distance between my hands when I hold things, it's less tiring on your hand muscles. They ditched that with the SP, putting 'em all close together again. Now I thought that the micro would alleviate my problems since it's gone back to the screen in the middle deal, but I don't approve of the start/select placement and that thing's gonna be damn small. I don't want small, I want comfortable.
  
• Backlit screens. Sure, SP has this but I don't have an SP, or else I wouldn't be in the market for a new handheld.
  
• Games games games, bitch. Where else am I going to get the new Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid, Kirby, Mario, and etc.? If I want some kick ass gaming on the go, it looks like the DS is where it's gonna be at. Hybrid and I have some similar interests in gaming, and from what he's told me (and I've since grabbed information on myself) the DS is gonna be an ass rippingly good time.
  
• The neat battery. Yeah, it's old news to people who bought an SP. But when I'm playing any GameBoy now, I have to be plugged into the wall or draining batteries. Both are fine but can be a hassle if I want to break the nerd code and go outside with it. Being able to play without going through batteries and having ~10 hours of on the go gameplay just for leaving it plugged in to charge like my cellphone is huge to me.

[MrBot_38]

But you can run emulators on the psp and play super nintendo games

[tN^SoUlBuRn]

I almost picked on up today at a pawnshop for $100.
I think I'm just going to wait until some new skins come out, but I'll have to get one eventually... castleVania.

[Hybrid]

Yes psydd, it was some jackass that did that. Honestly, you have to be trying to scrape hardened elios pizza cheese off a non-stainless steel pan to ruin the touch screen. Some games demand you poke the thing hard, but you can't notice any marks unless you adjust the light around you at the right angle. There are also screen protectors that dont REALLY ruin response time, but it's obviously not going to be 100% what with an extra layer of plastic and all.

If you've done research on your own, I'd suggest reading my E3 recap if you haven't already. The micro is tiny. It's a little longer than a credit card and about as thick as 1.5 gba games. The screen is backlit (as opposed to the ds being FRONT lit) but that screen is also smaller.

Here's the DS games I know I'm buying this year:

-Kirby: Canvas Curse
-Meteos
-Bomberman DS
-Nanostray (verticle shooter)
-Nintendogs (mock if you will but it's made by Miyamoto and incredible)
-Animal Crossing
-New Super Mario Bros
-Mario & Luigi 2
-Advance Wars: Dual Strike
-Lunar: Genesis (need more info)
-Castlevania
-Viewtiful Joe
-Trauma Center: Under the Knife (one of the most innovative DS games ive played)
-Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (maybe)
-Sonic Rush
-Mario Kart DS

Let me just note that I've seen all these games firsthand (cept Lunar) and played all but bomberman, advance wars and phoenix wright. I haven't decided on Metroid Prime: Hunters yet.

[bonesquad]

Questions:

1) Will the Wario Ware Twisted work with the DS?

2) Where is it that right now where DS comes with Mario 64 for free? GS?

3) Why is Nintendo advertising the heck out of Meteos of all games? Though I did see an ad with Good Charlotte for DKonga... and here I was almost going to get it (riiiight).

4) Was the DS recentlly hacked (so ROMs are available for d/l to one of those things for your GBA, but for DS)? Is that why Psydd is suddenly interested?

[Psydd]

pfft like I'd waste money on a flash rom. I think there have been some breakthroughs in DS hacking, for instance dslinux.org has run linux on the thing already. But those flash carts really aren't my thing...they're so damn expensive, and so many roms you get for emulation have bugs in this or that and it really wouldn't be worth it.

And Twisted should work in the DS, or at least I don't see why it shouldn't. The gyroscope that relates movement as input is internal (in the little cartridge), right?

[bonesquad]

Sure Psydd... sure.

Anyways, MAYBE I'd be more interested in a DS if 1) Metroid and Advance Wars were online. 2) It had a new ChuChu Rocket. Call me when either one of those happen.

[Hybrid]

[Psydd]

I just noticed in your E3 article that you didn't elaborate much on Nanostray, but I like those kind of games as well. PLEASE DIVULGE

[bonesquad]

I just noticed I think starting next week, Mario 64 will come with the DS at all "leading retailers"...

[MrBot_38]

Is the black guy on the corner near my work with a jacket full of electronics a "leading retailer"?

[Hybrid]

Did you ever play Iridion? I've played Iridion II and Nanostray is made by the same people with a similar engine. However, I didn't really like Iridion II. Nanostray keeps the same 3d aspect of things but the control seems faster and enemy placement/environment is better. It's also one of the best looking games on the DS thus far. As an owner of many shmups, I'll be adding this one to my collection.

Yes that black guy is a leading retailer, but most of his products have siphillis.