As I mentioned yesterday, I purchased a DS lite. One of the things I was sure to do when purchasing a machine that’s just as good looking as it is functionally is protect it from the elements. I purchased a scratch proof "Armor" for the outside shell, and a set of screen protectors to protect the delicate screens that come into constant contact with finger and the stylus.
I played several of my DS games on my new DS lite. The screen, of course, is much brighter. In fact, games that were dark, like Metroid Prime Hunters are much more playable as a result. The difference between the size of the two machines jumps out at you when you hold the Lite for an extended period of time. Less "numb hands" from extended sessions of gaming is what I predict. This is a good thing. I do not like the fact that the GBA cartridges I’ve been playing on my DS phat now stick out absurdly on the DS lite, but that’s what the cool "dust guard" that comes with the DS lite is for. If I don’t want to break the aesthetic design, I can keep it in place and just carry around my spare carts in a holder. The buttons are more rubbery, and while less prone to slip, are actually a little less clicky and responsive. It requires no adjustment, but it feels a little different for the first few minutes.
I managed to affix screen protectors with the "no dust" method I learned on an internet gaming forum. First, you get your "dust free room" prepared. Go into a bathroom and turn on the shower. The goal is to "steam up" the room. Once the room is nice and steamy, shut the door and let all the dust in the room settle for ten or fifteen minutes. Bring your DS lite and screen protectors into the room. Apply the screen protectors in the now dust free bathroom. If you happen to get dust on the screen wipe it with a shammy and remove excess dirt from the protector with scotch tape. This should let you have a gaming system without any dust or grit which can provide a nasty distraction or cause your stylus to slip during a frantic game.
My Japanese launch DS phat has served me well with close to two years of constant gaming. I’ll be keeping it in my Nintendo Console family for the the potential of multiplayer. Now all I need is a game my wife and I can play against each other on the DS that she will like. I’ve been searching for a while and nothing has come up yet, so I’ll just have to hope.
