Are the small buttons putting anyone else off buying a DS?

[boatofcar]

I was dead set on buying a DS today. Today is the launch of the Mario Kart DS bundle. However, one of my cousins brought his DS with him on Thanksgiving, and I found Mario Kart to be-well, unplayable is the wrong word, more like not much fun to play, simply because the DS buttons are so small. I have pretty big hands, but I'm sure my thumbs are of pretty average size, and it was hard for me to not hit unwanted buttons while playing.

After being pumped about getting a DS, I find myself not wanting to get one at all anymore because of this. It's sad too, because I really wanted to play Animal Crossing, but I'm not going to buy a system for just one game.

[Drexel923]

Nope.

I have pretty big hands too and I don't have a problem at all. Maybe you just need to get used to them.

[tmc]

well, not just the buttons but the whole ds design in general really.

i would dearly like to get one but just can't see myself ever caring about it because of it's design. i never thought i would be so shallow and it'd all be about the games.. etc....etc...blar...blar - but the truth is that until there is a redesign i'm gonna be watchin from the sidelines.

[ty896]

The buttons are small. I have gotten used to them, but they could easily be improved.

Kinda ironic that the GB micro has bigger buttons .

[hydr0x]

the button size is not a problem for me, but somehow my left thumb hurts after playing Mario Kart for a while (only Mario Kart though). I have no idea why that is, but it sucks...

[Tritoch]

To be honest, my only hang up with the system right now is the touch pad. For some reason I'm still worried that I'll never get comfortable while gaming with a stylus.

Regarding Mario Kart, I had a lot of soreness in my trigger fingers from having to hold down the buttons while sliding in Super Circuit on GBA. Getting a Game Boy Player and playing it on a Wavebird made it a totally different experience though, and I've easily played it more on TV than I did on my actual GBA.

[philosophyst]

No problems here. The buttons may be small but I don't find it to be an issue, maybe I just got used to it. I love my DS and for someone to pass up a new Animal Crossing game is a sin.

Just kidding....hey, if it's not for you then so be it. I'm just saying, I wouldn't let something like small buttons stand in the way of me and a new Animal Crossing.

Get the Target catalog and take it to the store so you can get one for $99.

[oesiii]

I have big hands and I just got a DS last week. It certainly not well designed for big hands and could stand to be improved but I've found playing Mario Kart no problem if you only play it for an hour or so at one time.

The buttons are too small and overall the unit doesn't feel as comfortable as the SP because it's too wide to be held comfortably when you're laying down on the couch (if that makes any sense ) There's just no sweet spot for holding the thing unless you are seated upright and holding it around your lap, at least for me.

But all that didn't stop me from buying it for the great games.

[heyricochet]

Hate the buttons and d-pad with a passion, most uncomfortable buttons ever, d-pad is only beaten by the gamecubes d-pad. Games are amazing though, thats why I still love it.

[s1lence]

The buttons kinda suck, but it doesn't stop me from loving it.

[boatofcar]

You guys....gosh darnit, maybe I should buy one...

[DarkStraw]

i like everything about the DS except where the L+R buttons are, i think i liked the regular GBA better in that respect.

[icbrkr]

No problems here.. and I have a long... hand.

[Joker T]

Not a big problem for me at all you get used to it after about a minute. Plus alot of games use the touch screen for gameplay.

[stuffedmonkey]

I didn't like the button placement at first... but I got used to it quickly. The only hard button for me to do is the l-trigger.

At any rate it is a wonderful system and recommended highly!

[njiska]

Big hands, small buttons, no problem. The buttons are small but they're spaced far enough apart that they don't create a problem.

[Lothars]

I got a ds earlier this month and I've been playing Mario Kart for the last couple days straight

I don't find the buttons bug me at all actually they are really comfortable

They could be bigger but all in all it's alright.

[unwinddesign]

I didn't like the button placement either. The way the thing is designed, the buttons are almost flush against the system body. This makes it a bitch to control games properly. =(

That's probably why I didn't buy any more games for it when I owned one, other than Feel the Magic and Super Mario 64. Feel the Magic was GREAT because it didn't use the D-Pad at all, and just utilized the system's unique features. No pain in the fingers, and a kick ass game to boot.

[Gamereviewgod]

My only problem is that they're so close to the edge of the system. The PSP has a similar issue. Your thumb needs to be almost vertical to hit the buttons closest to the end. That's painful after a long period.

[Vectorman0]

It's one of the reason's I haven't gotten one yet for sure. With all of the DS lovin' that's been going around I have had a mighty hard time from not getting one. I think I will wait for nintendo's next upgrade to get one. They seem to be on a spree with new handhelds, at least they were, and since the revolution seems a ways off I am counting on a DS revision to come out in a few months.

I honestly don't know why companies seem to be afraid to make portables bigger. I'd rather be able to play it comfortably for twenty hours between charges than be able to fit it in my wallet. The last portable that I found to "work" without cramping my hands or anything was the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Who knows, maybe I will have to bust out the tools and mod a DS myself.