I've owned 10 PDAs since 1998 and never had an issue with scratching the screen and I've never used screen protectors. You might get an occassional light scratch, but its always invisible when using the device. The DS won't hold up to abuse, but normal use should be fine and it should last years.

This is a sign of just how weak the PSP software lineup has been so far in Japan. Eventually some must have titles will get on the shelves and sales will pick up. PSP is doing okay, but Nintendogs is just dominating right now.

It does show that Nintendo's direction is working for handhelds. I just don't know if it will be as successful on for their next console. Substance is more important that style with a handheld game, but when it comes to consoles eyecandy is a much bigger factor.

You're an adult, so i would figure after plopping down $200+ for a PDA you'd take care of your investment.

However, my concern comes from the fact that a DS isnt a PDA, it doesnt have the price tag and its a system that is aimed at kids as well.

I've seen the way kids treat thier used games/systems...i used to work in a game store.

But since we're adults and take of our DS's I doubt we'll ever have the need for a replacement. They should more than hold up until the next Nintendo handheld comes out. After that we'll just pull them out occasionally (if at all) so there's no reason with that limited use that they shouldn't last indefinitely.

Most collector types tend to pick up a second new system for dirt cheap a gen or so after the new one comes out as well.

Point being, I don't think there's any reason for anyone to be concerned besides parents worried about having to replace their kids DSs because they're too rough with them.

Just thinking of the condition of the controllers of the demo units in stores makes me shudder.

But there should be some concern.

In 2015 (or whenever the DS isnt in production for a good 6-7 years), where would the source of used DS systems come from?

They certainly aren't coming from adult collectors who have taken care of thier systems.

Not sure where the concern lies. I'm not going to pass on the DS just because I may not be able to play the games in 2015. You do realize Nintendo will keep repairing these units for a long time after they stop making them. You can still get the N64 repaired by Nintendo if you send it in and that has been out of production for years. Spending $50 for a new touch screen is not an issue if playing your DS means that much to you.

Yeah, some kids may ruin their systems, but so will some adults. There are careless people out there of any age that will ruin anything including the discs for the games and movies. I bet there are a lot more kids out there that can take care of their DS units than you think.

If the DS does well enough who there might even be a second generation one that will play the old DS games. Who knows.

My point was if you take care of the system you shouldn't need a new one, even in 2015. Unless you keep playing it a ton after the next Nintendo portable comes out, which I know I won't do as portable games simply tend to not have much replayability.

I know. Doesn't mean the GBA 2 won't.

I'd be surprised if they had GB or GBC support in the GBA 2.

Really not worth the effort. I don't think there's that many people that want to play the old colorless GB games these days. They just didn't hold up well.

GBC I could see, but there really weren't very many good, original titles on it. Really just the two Zelda games a a handful of other games. A lot of other stuff was just NES ports and what not or total shovelware.

Factor in that GB's seem to last for damn near ever, there's not really much benefit to them putting that support in. Especially since GBA2 will probably be a fully 3D system.

I bought screen protectors for both of my kids (better safe than sorry). I haven't gotten one for mine and probably won't.

Dr. Mario never gets old...

That being said, I have 10 other GameBoy systems and the player for the SNES and Cube if I want to play it.

Yep, I have the SNES Dr. Mario/Tetris cart myself. Puzzle games are the one exception for GB/GBC games holding up extremely well, but most of the good ones got ported to the NES and/or SNES anyway and can be played on those consoles (and will probably be available to download on the revolution).

Three.[/nitpick]

GBC also had accurate translations of Dragon Quest I, II, and III.

Well, I said "original" games, so that ruled out the colorized version of Link's Awakening and the DQ games.