Nintendo Games

You finally did it–you went out and bought yourself a Nintendo DS Lite. Or maybe you were lucky and someone bought one for you as a gift. You even got a few games to play, enough to keep you entertained for awhile. Now, as the proud owner of the new system, what accessories should you get to keep your Nintendo DS in tip-top shape for as long as you want to play it?
First of all, you need to think about a case for your system. The Nintendo DS Lite has two LCD screens, one of which has touch-screen technology–you definitely want to keep these well protected. Granted, the way this system is constructed allows it to fold closed to keep the screens sheltered inside the housing. But, it is a good idea to have a case for yourDS for storage (to keep it safe from dust when not in use) and for transportation. Especially for transportation–you want to have a padded case that holds theDS secure just in case it gets dropped.
There are literally dozens of different case designs for the Nintendo DS Lite out on the market, costing from as low as $2.99 to upwards of $29.99. So, how can you choose? Basically, the most important feature is the padding and how rigidly it holds the system in place. A zipper bag with light padding is not going to be adequate–you want to get something that has thick padding, preferably with a sturdy outer shell. A solid leather-covered case can work well, as can an aluminum case. Why do you need the hard outer shell? Why can’t you just get one of the cases that is more like a bag? Well, you can, but they aren’t as safe against knocks and drops. And, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a good case. Here are a couple that I especially like:
Now, the case you end up choosing may or may not have space for your games. But even if it does have space, chances are it won’t hold your entire Nintendo DS game collection. So, you need to get some kind of storage case for your games. You could, of course, choose to keep them in their original cases–the large, cumbersome cases that include the instructions. But many people don’t have the storage space for that, or they don’t like how that looks. If you want a good storage case for your games, here’s one I recommend. Yes, it only stores three games (and an extra stylus), but it holds them securely in foam padding, which is better than the cases that are made completely of plastic.
Now, about that stylus. Do you need to buy extra ones? No, it isn’t necessary–the Nintendo DS Lite system comes with two when you buy it, so you already have an extra. Of course, many people like to purchase a different stylus because there are quite a few fun ones out on the market. As for me, I’ll pass. The stylus that comes with the system fits perfectly in the system slot, so it works great for me.
One item you definitely need to purchase, though, is a good cleaning cloth. The screens on the DS seem to be dust magnets, and they are also excellent at capturing fingerprints. So, you will likely need to wipe down the screens before each time you play. If you go to an electronics store or video game store and ask for a screen cleaner, you will probably pay at least $5 for one–if you can find one that is sold separately, that is. Oftentimes you can only find cleaning cloths being sold as part of a starter kit. What do I suggest? Go to the drugstore and head for the eye product section. There you will find several different types of lens cloths–these are, of course, meant to be used to clean eyeglasses, but they work wonderfully to clean the screens on the Nintendo DS. They are lint-proof and will not scratch the screens–just be sure to get the dry, reusable type, not the moistened ones.
There are a lot of other accessory products you can purchase for your Nintendo DS Lite–wrist straps, car adapters, screen protectors, headphones, graphic skins, and more. Do you need any of those items? Maybe–it depends upon how you intend to use your game system. If you are planning to use it during travel, then you likely need a car adapter. Or, if you usually play your DS at night and don’t want to disturb anyone else, plan on buying a pair of headphones. But none of these items are what I would call essential–none of them are absolutely necessary for you to enjoy your Nintendo DS. If you just get a good storage/travel case for your DS, possibly a case for your games (if you need one), and a lens cloth, you will be all set.
Enjoy your new system!

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