DS Lite - just amazing

[KenToad]

That's sweet.  I just read through Frank Miller's Ronin miniseries on my DS Lite. 

[ChadTower]

The size of a portable screen could be an issue, though, with comics.  I read them on a 32" LCD via the Xbox. 

[SirPoonga]

I haven't tried it but I recall it works similar to the Opera browser.  You see the comic ont he bottom screen and touch a panel.  The panel shows up on the top screen.

[ChadTower]

It had better be pretty sharp to be readable on that tiny screen.  Or maybe I'm just old and my eyes suck.

[KenToad]

The size of a portable screen could be an issue, though, with comics.  I read them on a 32" LCD via the Xbox. 

It is an issue because sometimes you have to zoom a bit and then relocate the zooming square and then again after I did it for the first issue of Ronin, it became intuitive.  The somewhat awkward part so far for me is the resizing of dual pages onto the DS, where the scanner has merged the double page spread into a single page, which I love and usually I read side by side pages on my laptop monitor, but on the DS the type seems to be blurry even when zoomed, so that it is hard to read a lot of text on a dual page scan like that. 

However, when you feature in the portability of the DS, I have quite a bit of comic reading potential right there in my pocket.  And this software is amazing good with older and or classically laid-out comics, like Uncle Scrooge or really anything Disney, since on the one side you have the full layout and on the other you can intuitively and quickly scroll from box to box.

I bet it would be great for Spider-Man comics earlier than the 90's.  After that, layouts get so panoramic and dynamic that I bet the program is not ideal.  You would basically be limited to looking at either a grainy zoomed out giant image or a zoomed in portion of the larger image, if that makes sense.

I also think a lot of the "effects" that go into the current digital age of comics are not really suited to my taste anyway, so I don't really mind.

Obviously, though, a 32" LCD is a dream come true for comics and reading ebooks in general.

 

[KenToad]

I haven't tried it but I recall it works similar to the Opera browser.  You see the comic ont he bottom screen and touch a panel.  The panel shows up on the top screen.

It works like that or you can rotate the screen and hold the DS like a book, which is what I do, very comfortable.

[SirPoonga]

Ahhh, the Hotel Dusk/Brain Age approach.

[ChadTower]

I really like the DS concept and it looks like it does really cool, fun things.  I just wish handhelds didn't give me such a headache.

[KenToad]

I really like the DS concept and it looks like it does really cool, fun things.  I just wish handhelds didn't give me such a headache.

Reading glasses don't help?

Ahhh, the Hotel Dusk/Brain Age approach.

Yes, and I'm dying for a text reader that works like the Brain Age Text viewer.  The R4 has a built-in text viewer that almost works that way, but it has issues with cutting words in two pieces at the end of the screen. 

I gues
s somet
ime in th
e future.   

[ChadTower]

Reading glasses don't help?

No, not really.  They made it clearer but harder to track small and fast motion.

[KenToad]

The DS might be the best handheld for you, then.  Many games I play don't have too many small or fast things.   

Mario 64
Trauma Center
Mario Kart
Tetris DS
Brain Age
Cooking Mama
Hotel Dusk
Phoenix Wright
Gunpey DS

Not trying to get you to spend your money haphazardly.    I think the low resolution of the screens is the reason why there aren't many fast-paced shooters, etc.

[RTSDaddy2]

Ok, I downloaded the comic book file, ran Picto, and all I'm getting is streaky, partial images (I used the free "Heroes" comics to try it out).  What did I do wrong?  Only one of the photos in "Family Man" actually came out as a clear shot...the rest are distorted and won't change...just lines of pixels!

[KenToad]

I think, if you downloaded the free content, that they are already converted for use with the program.  The extension should be "cbds".  If you're using the R4, you will have to patch the Comic Book Ds.nds file with the DLDI file and just drag and drop the preconverted comic book files and the program itself onto the R4.  Again, you shouldn't have to use the PictoDS program if you're using comic files that already have the extension cbds.

Hope that helps.  I'm reading Alan Moore's Top Ten now.   

[RTSDaddy2]

Didn't work...I patched it, tried unzipping the Heroes file, tried it zipped, nada.  The only time it came close to working was when I tried running it through picto.  Anything else? I'd love to see it work - but don't knowwhat I'm doing wrong.  All files are in root directory, etc.

[SirPoonga]

Here's what I've been working on.  Uses ndsmotion.com

[KenToad]

SirPoonga, that is really cool and now I see why you were so keen to have full DLDI support with your slot-2 device.  Or is that motion sensor also a storage device? 

On an unrelated note, are any other DS owners on here Bomberman fans?  I've played Bomberman Land online, but people tend to disconnect after just one round.  In fact, I still have zero stats.  They really should get negative stats for disconnecting.  If you're interested in that or any other online DS game, post or send me a PM and we can swap codes. 

[RTSDaddy2]

Ignore above post - comic program working like charm!

[SirPoonga]

SirPoonga, that is really cool and now I see why you were so keen to have full DLDI support with your slot-2 device.  Or is that motion sensor also a storage device? 

Exactly.  Though you can remove and insert the R4.  The DSX you couldn't.  I am going to make this R4 friendly. But having a supercard or (working)cyclods would be better.

[ChadTower]

Don't have a DS but I used to be addicted to the original Bomberman series on the PC Engine.

[KenToad]

Don't have a DS but I used to be addicted to the original Bomberman series on the PC Engine.

Well, the dual screen does make it a bit different and also the guys move just a tad too slow for my taste.  Of course, upgrades and different types of levels can solve both of those problems.  It's nice, too, that it's up to 8 human players locally, but online you get 4 humans and 4 easy bots.  And I think several people who connect have slow connections, since several of my games have suffered from lag.  Still, worldwide online is really just a bonus and it is amazing that it's not some kind kind of extra pay service.  I will try Metroid soon once I get a bit more experience with the game.

[SirPoonga]

http://www.box.net/public/sqzv5223d9

Discalimer:  This is just a test of the physics.  But if you want to try out what's in my video hear you go.  You can use the stylus to control the ball.  I'll let you figure it out

[RTSDaddy2]

For those of you waiting, I was looking at a list of games / accessories coming out in quarter 2.  If your interested, apparently the US is getting the DS browser on June 4th!

[RTSDaddy2]

Whilst we're on this subject, if you haven't seen any yet, Yahoo games has video trailers for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for the DS. It can be found here:

http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=52457

[KenToad]

I think it looks kind of lame.  Hopefully, it'll be good.

[Minwah]

I got one for Xmas....soon after bought Mario Kart.  That is a cracking game with the multiplayer and wireless internet play.  I doubt I'll ever get bored of that game!