Handhelds On Public Transport

[Ady]

I've not seen anyone else with a DS on public transport. Except one kid on the train last week when I was coming back from the Leeds meet.

Re wireless. If you are playing Mario for example, will the DS make any kind of sound at all to let you know there is another DS nearby, no matter what game the other person is playing? Or does the person HAVE to be playing the same game for it to register. Likewise for Pictochat..do you HAVE to have it switched on to be able to accept other perople or is there a little bell sound that interrupts your main game to let you know there are others around with a ds?

Unfortunately (and I think this is the DS' biggest failing) none of the above happens. Indeed, another user has to know you intend to use pictochat beforehand so they can ready their DS for it. The machines do not communicate automatically at all and have to be informed of one another - which pretty much defeats the whole purpose of Pictochat if you ask me. And yes, you the machine does have to be switched on in order to detect others.


You can detect and download a game at any time though.

[SharkAttack]

That's silly they didn't include the option into pictochat. They have Nintendogs looking for other DS units even in sleep mode! Would it have been so hard to add i into picto?

I have a small question actually - Can you switch the wireless on and off in the DS control panel?

[mr_fantazmo]

never seen anyone using DS or PSP full stop!! I know my brother in laws 3 kids have them and they pictochat all the time, i've never had chance to oh well i'm off to america with them all in december so i reckon 4 player games all the way !! Thats a point, will the wireless feature of the DS interfere with the aeroplane, surely it must do!!

[djjimbob]

Yup, the units they sell at the airport shops have a warning plastered all over them to that effect.

[Zapp$ter]

I've not seen anyone else with a DS on public transport. Except one kid on the train last week when I was coming back from the Leeds meet.



Unfortunately (and I think this is the DS' biggest failing) none of the above happens. Indeed, another user has to know you intend to use pictochat beforehand so they can ready their DS for it. The machines do not communicate automatically at all and have to be informed of one another - which pretty much defeats the whole purpose of Pictochat if you ask me. And yes, you the machine does have to be switched on in order to detect others.


You can detect and download a game at any time though.

It happens with Yoshi's Touch and Go IIRC. If you are playing the game and someone is chatting away nearby a little icon pops up and then you can I think tap it to allow you to reset the machine and enter pictochat. I think that's what it was, I might have gotten some of the details wrong but I know for sure that there is definitely something in Yoshi that can detect DSs in the same area.

[spagmasterswift]

Seen peeps on the tube playing both DS and PSP

[Lebowski]

i find the ds is too clunky to play on the bus especialy when its a bit packed as you have to stick your elbow out to use the stylus and hold the ds in the other hand, this hasnent stoped me playing zoo keeper though lol.

The psp and lumines or a few episodes of scubs or southpark are my current fave for public transport, makes the journey wizz by. The psps sleep function is fantastic too as you normaly find the 45 min trip will get you quite far into the challenge mode on lumines so its sleep mode ready for that resume at lunch time to carry on.

Dose anyone else play on there lunch hour like me, the peopel in the office think im a geek lol

[Ady]

I have a small question actually - Can you switch the wireless on and off in the DS control panel?

Not that I'm aware of.

From what Zapp$ter says, it looks like the ability to detect and inform can be done in software, which is something I suppose.

[spagmasterswift]

I dont play my DS much on public transport cos its too bumpy to use the stylus - Catch Touch Yoshi is challenging enough without that drama.

Tend to play in lunch hour and round at my girlfriend's flat. Was tempted to play it in the bath the other day o_O

[mr_fantazmo]

My bus ride isn't really that long so i tend to play zookeeper or Wario on the DS, i still suffer with the motion sickness playing ridge racer and i just find that the PSP takes too long to get started - Get PSP out of bag, take out of protective case, plug in headphones choose game, wait for it to load, choose race , feel sick playing it ......... with the DS it's so quick, open it up turn it on and away you go!I think i'll be selling my PSP, it's an amazing piece of kit, but i'm just not playing it! Plus i'm more excited about the upcoming DS games!!

Oh well!

[in5ane]

I play my PSP at my desk for precisely 1 hour every day, but people already know i'm a geek. I work at a uni tho, and some of the students are intrigued

Going way back to the original post- i was playing Ridge Racers on a plane last month, and i thought all the rumbling and shaking actually made playing the PSP more fun... like sitting inside a massive force feedback joystick

[mr_fantazmo]

The problem i had was on the bus, for example me trying to powerslide round a righthand bend whilst the bus takes a 90 degree left turn , confusing my brain by being back to front then my brain saying "Right i'll **** you up for trying to confuse me, have some of this sick feeling in your stomach ft: !!"

I can imagine it being better on planes, unless you're flying in a stunt plane!!

[Zed]

I drive to work so have only used my PSP as an MP3 player w.r.t. transport. But at work i'm the shift-boss, so i play it at my desk during work hours when there's no actual work on. I'm not totally mean, as i let my minions use it too - in fact i forced them all to have a game when i first got it. I'm now loved and hated in equal(?) measures from a number of PSP-drooling co-workers!

[son_of_bael]

I play my DS (well, GBA games on the DS) on the way home on the Tube. I can't play on the way to work due to overcrowding, but the clasp design means I can dump it in my pocket when its time to get off without worrying about the screen.

[nekroxide]

I only really use public transport when I'm getting the train home to see my folks and collect parcels every couple of weeks. It'd be nice to pick up someone on Pictochat (not "pick up" you perverts) but it sounds like that's not too likely. Shame.

Probably be some 12 year old playing Pokemon Dash anyway.